If you aren't familiar with the area you'll have to look for Independence Park because most of it is set well below street level, but it's one of North Carolina's best urban parks (if not *the* best) and it's absolutely worth going to.
The park is very old, you can tell by the beautiful stone work that runs throughout both sides of it (the park is bisected by Hawthorne Lane), and sits within a charming neighborhood of restaurants, shops, and lovely homes. Independence Park is much cooler (literally, as in has a lower physical temperature) than Freedom Park because of its massive tree canopy which makes it a more pleasant experience during Charlotte's often brutal summers.
There are two stadiums at one end of the park, including a small Legion Ball stadium made entirely of stone by the WPA, and a wonderful rose garden at the other end. It's a great place to take the kids or even just to have a relaxing stroll.