Capital Planning and Alliance Development Services:Ø YMCA: Staff met with Michael Duval of the YMCA to discuss mutual long range planning goals and objectives with an emphasis on future partnership opportunities.
Ø Double Oaks/Anita Stroud Neighborhood: A meeting with the Charlotte Housing Partnership was held to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Double Oaks/Anita Stroud neighborhood.
Ø Joint Use Task Force Meeting: Staff attended the Joint Use Task Force Meeting to review and provide commentary on upcoming City, County, collegiate and Charlotte Mecklenburg School initiatives.
Ø Berewick: A meeting was held with CMS to review the joint use master plan for Berewick. Topics included connectivity, storm water management, grading, cost sharing and timelines.
Ø Romare Bearden and Second Ward Parks: Staff gave a presentation to the Charlotte Center City Partners Board of Directors on Romare Bearden and Second Ward parks.
Park Operations and Athletic Services
Ø Christmas Tree Lighting: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department along with the Art Institute of Charlotte presents the 3rd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Toy/Clothing Drive at Freedom Park on December 8, 4 – 6 p.m. The trees will be lit at the band shell around 6 p.m. Guests are invited to bring and donate an ornament for the trees. Prior to the ceremony there will be musical entertainment, Santa’s workshop (crafts), face painting and hayrides around the lake and Santa will make an appearance along with our RAY. Limited refreshments will also be available. The toy/clothing drive will benefit the Salvation Army’s Center for Women and Children sponsored by the Art Institute of Charlotte. For additional information please contact Jackie Hemingway at 704-353-1246.
Enterprise Services:
Ø Grady Cole Center: On December 1 – 3, 2007 the Grady Cole Center was the location for the making of a Gillette commercial. WWE Professional Wrestler, John Sena along with NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin and others were on the set to film various wrestling moves to promote the new Gillette Fusion product.
Ø The First Tee of Charlotte: Staff met with The First Tee of Charlotte (TFTC), Clyde Johnston Golf Architect Design, Inc. and Wirth & Associates on December 5 to assess the affect of the proposed changes to the Revolution Public Golf Course. The cost of all changes, potential timelines, permitting process and the grow-in season were discussed. A site visit at the golf course is scheduled on December 7 to view the actual alignment of the proposed changes. Staff requested a final site plan and a letter of commitment from TFTC to support all contract discussions.
Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø Adult/Senior Programming: Mallard Creek Recreation Center has tripled their fitness and trip participation for adults and seniors due to Erin Bayer, Recreation Fitness Specialist, and Caroline Carver, Recreation Specialist, implementing Yoga, Women/Men on Weights, trips around town and special events. Much work has gone into building up programming for this age group over the past six months and the response has been exciting.
Ø BRIDGE Jobs Program: The BRIDGE Jobs Program celebrated their 20th Anniversary this past Tuesday with an annual luncheon highlighted by guest speaker Jake Delhomme at Bank of America Stadium. The program provides classes and services to teens and adults that have dropped out of high school and includes G.E.D training, job placement and mentoring opportunities. BRIDGE utilizes the Greenville, West Charlotte and Merry Oaks Recreation Centers to help carry out its mission. The Centers have specifically hosted job fairs and served as sites to recruit potential clients that might need some assistance with G.E.D or High school completion.
Ø Toys for Tots: First Ward Recreation Center will be hosting Toys for Tots on Friday, December 14. Children of families from the St. Paul Ray of Hope Center, Greenville Recreation Center and First Ward Recreation Center will be provided with toys and coats for this holiday season. The families will take part in Christmas caroling, decoration making and a visit from Santa.
Ø Junior NBA/WNBA Skills Challenge: Amay James Recreation Center will be hosting the Junior-NBA/WNBA Skills Challenge sponsored by SINGULAIR which is open for youngsters to showcase their passing, dribbling and shooting skills. This event will be held on December 29 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. This will be one of 250 competitions across the country this winter. Local winners may advance to the regional championships and national finals in Orlando, FL in May. To participate in this challenge is FREE. Boys and Girls ages 7 -14 compete separately.
Ø Youth Basketyball: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation's Youth Basketball League will kick off this weekend at our Recreation Centers. We have over 1600 children on over 150 teams registered to play in our Jr. Bobcats league. Our certified volunteer coaches, parents, staff and these great youngsters are ready to start play with sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork skills that they have been practicing over the past month. If you're looking for a fun time, please stop in at your local recreation center and cheer for the Jr. Bobcats.
Ø Reorganization: The Community and Recreation Center Services Division and The Park Operations and Athletic Services Division have recently been reorganized. All of the six Recreation Coordinators in the park districts will move into one of the two new sections created in Community and Recreation Center Services, Recreation Programming and Special Events section. A more structured strategic approach will be made in recreation program areas and special events with this new organization structure. These core program areas will fall under the Recreation Programming section, Cultural Arts, Fitness, Senior Citizens and 4-H. The Special Events section will oversee all county and district wide special events and grand opening and special dedication events.
With this reorganization a Recreation Program Manager position will be available and posted in the county's vacancy listing. This position will oversee and supervise the Recreation Programming section and plan and develop program standards, strategic plan and program development for these program areas. This position will be posted and available to apply for immediately and open through mid December. Once the interviews have been concluded and the candidate selected and has started then the existing six Recreation Coordinators will roll into the new sections in their new role. All of the existing programming and special events in the park districts will continue but under this new structure
Greenway Planning and Development:
Ø Irwin Creek Greenway: The first step of the reconstruction of Irwin Creek Greenway from Frazier Park to Summit Ave. is now complete. An asphalt greenway crossing was installed across the railroad at the southern end of Frazier Park near the I-77 underpass. The greenway, which was moved off of the abandoned railroad per NCDOT-Rail Division’s request, will instead run parallel to the rail and will be reconstructed by the Greenway Maintenance and Operations team.
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway: Po Shu Wang, one of the two artists selected to produce artwork for Little Sugar Creek Greenway, visited Charlotte to learn more about the plans for Little Sugar Creek Greenway. He toured the future greenway between 7th St and Morehead St. with staff on Monday afternoon and met with the Greenway Advisory Council Monday night. Po Shu’s work will likely be located somewhere between Elizabeth Ave and Charlottetowne Ave. He is very interested in the study of physics and the natural world. His art is often interactive and engages the mind. We look forward to seeing his creations.
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