Lakeside Park - Mooresville, NC

Lakeside Park, since its inception, has brought luxury housing to the Mooresville and Lake Norman area, including Mooresville’s only million-dollar homes. Longtime residents rarely wish to part with their houses, making buying property in the area challenging. However, high-end apartments now operate in the area, providing short- and long-term rental options.

The Mooresville Museum presents a glimpse into local history, with artifacts and histories dating back to the city’s early days as a mill town. An ongoing oral histories project currently includes 100 DVDs featuring interviews with longtime local residents.

The annual Working Fingers Craft Show showcases the work of local artists. A juried show, the event features the best of Mooresville’s local artists, photographers and crafters.

The Lakeside Park area houses many local restaurants, ranging from diners and takeout joints to health foods and international cuisine. Unique dining options lie throughout the area, though the primary restaurant districts make their homes near Market Place Drive and Brawley School Road.

Joel's Asian Grill serves authentic Filipino, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes. Repeat customers rave about the sushi rolls, avocado tuna salad and kaldereta. With a large menu of dishes that can be made with tofu, Joel's provides vegetarians with many options. Leisurely service and a casual ambiance makes Joel's the ideal place to enjoy an evening out without feeling rushed.

Caruso's brings high-end Italian cuisine to Lakeside Park. Chefs create a limited menu of appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees and desserts, with only four to nine options available for each course, allowing them to perfect each dish. Diners favor the calamari fritti, linguini santa margherita and rollatini di melanzane. The elegantly appointed dining room creates an intimate atmosphere perfect for a romantic night out or hosting a small, private event.

Diners seeking a healthier option find it at Field of Greens. The restaurant crafts salads, wraps, soups and paninis from fresh-cut vegetables. Customers particularly enjoy the veggie wrap, chicken with roasted pepper panini and sweet Asian orange chicken salad. The restaurant includes patio seating for outdoor dining, and customers can order takeout or catering.

Charlotte Magazine awarded Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse the title best Craft Beer Selection two years running. With 46 beers on tap, Duckworth's always has something new even for seasoned beer aficionados. Any draft beer pairs well with the award-winning cheesesteaks.

Touted by ESPN as a runner-up for "Best Sports Bar in North America," the Hickory Tavern meets all your game day needs, whether pro or college. An extensive menu features your typical bar food, but it also offers a variety of sandwiches and sophisticated meals such as salmon, crab legs and juicy steaks.

Lakeside Park lies within half a mile of I-77, which provides access to Charlotte. Generally a 30-minute drive, commuters should allow at least another 15 minutes during rush hour traffic.

No buses available to the general public operate in the neighborhood. However, elderly and disabled residents may use the Iredell County Area Transportation System (ICATS) demand response and subscription services, which pick up passengers at their doorsteps for any medical appointments in the county, with an allowance of one personal trip per week. Uber operates in the neighborhood, as do many taxi services and airport shuttles, though hailing a cab proves impossible – riders must call instead.

Pedestrians find a lack of sidewalks and non-centralized residential and commercial areas make Lakeside Park difficult to navigate. Cyclists ride along main roads, and drivers generally share the road, but cyclists must exercise caution, as many main roads have only two lanes and no dedicated bike lanes. Most residents find cars necessary. Fortunately, free parking is available throughout the neighborhood.

Hope Park serves as Lakeside’s neighborhood park. An expansive playground, featuring standard playground equipment as well as clubhouses based on neighborhood kids’ designs, provides hours of exercise and creative play. All play areas feature cork and Astroturf floors as an added safety feature. During summer, a splash pad provides a fun way to cool off.

Lake Norman State Park lies 11 miles north of Lakeside Park. Located along 13 miles of Lake Norman shoreline and encompassing another smaller lake, the park provides ample opportunities for fishing and boating. The park hosts a series of guided hikes and interpretive programs, such as Fashion a Fish and Mammals of Lake Norman, both focusing on the animals that make their home in and near the lake. Hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and campgrounds complete the park.

The cost of living in Lakeside Park runs significantly higher than elsewhere in Mooresville, primarily because of housing costs. A one-bedroom apartment in Lakeside Park rents for $1095 per month, compared to the typical Mooresville price of $860.

Residents eligible for the ICATS bus pay a dollar per ride. Traveling by car, drivers find gas prices 2 percent higher than the national average.

Local taverns offer craft beers for $3-5.

Shops operate throughout Lakeside Park, with no single centralized area of commerce. Thus, exploring the neighborhood reveals many hidden gems.

The Charlotte Observer honored the Nellie Jane Home Boutique as 2014’s Best Local Boutique. The shop carries new and antique furniture and home décor to complete or fully redesign any room, as well as gifts and trinkets suited to all occasions. Sip & Shop nights invite guests to explore the shop while enjoying cocktails.

My Aloha Paddle and Surf brought the sport of stand-up paddleboarding to Lake Norman. The shop carries paddleboards and the necessary accessories, from storage racks to LED lighting systems to illuminate boards and kayaks. Resident instructors teach stand-up paddleboard lessons and offer ongoing training courses.

Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and Food Lion serve as the primary neighborhood grocers. Josh’s Farmers Market, open 7 days a week, carries fresh local produce brought in daily, as well as seafood, local honey and baked goods.