If people just want to get together for a cookout, mingle, and have the option to do some outdoor activity, there are a couple of parks in the charlotte area. i am not from charlotte, so i don't know how these are and how they compare to other parks in the area.
the first one is the US National Whitewater Center (820 Hawfield Road,
Charlotte, NC 28214). it is a man-made white-water river for paddlers. there is also hiking and mountain-biking trails. i thought there were picnic areas but the website does not mention it, so i think a cookout would not be an option there.
US National Whitewater Center //// TAKE IT OUTSIDE !!! \\ - Home
the second park is McDowell Nature Center and Preserve (15222 York Road in southwestern Mecklenburg County). picnic areas are available here as well as hiking trails and fishing.
McDowell
maybe someone in the Charlotte area knows of some other parks with picnic facilities. I most likely will not be able to make it for a June 7 meet as we are expecting our baby to be born on May 28...our first! i don't know how i forgot about it when i first read this thread...lol...i guess spending time on this forum tends to make one forget what's going on outside of the FJ realm. if by chance we are able to make it, i think it will be fun and nice to meet some other people on this forum.