Park & Recreation Update - We've Got A Lot Going On For Mecklenburg County

Deputy Director:

Ø Master Plan PublicMeetings The proposed Master Plan for parks and recreation facilities/programs in Mecklenburg County for the next ten years will be presented to citizens at the following public sessions:

February 25, 2008: 2-3:30 PM Senior Center – Tyvola Rd., Parker Hall A & B
Community Workshop (Senior Citizens)
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm - Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Beatties Ford Road – General Public

February 26, 2008
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm - CMGC, 600 E. Fourth Street
Room CH-14

February 27, 2008
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm - Matthews Town Hall
232 Matthews Station St.
Matthews
February 28, 2008
6:30 pm – 8:00 p.m.
Cornelius Town Hall
21445 Catawba Avenue


Capital Planning:
Ø Linear Park Agreement: Staff met with RES to discuss the proposed Linear Park Agreement near Romare Bearden Park.

Ø Revolution Regional Sports and Learning Academy: Staff met with RES and Neighboring Concepts to discuss the budget and construction documents for the Revolution Regional Sports and Learning Academy.

Ø Irwin Open Elementary School and Ray's Splash Planet : Staff met with CMS to discuss current and future Joint Use Projects including the proposed mixed use development at Irwin Open Elementary School and Ray's Splash Planet.

Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø Spring Senior Games Wellness Fair: The planning committee for the Spring Senior Games Wellness Fair is meeting weekly to further plans for the upcoming event. The event will take place Thursday, March 6, 10am-1pm at Eastland Mall. There will be screenings, educational information, entertainment, door prizes, and other give-a-ways. Best of all, this event is FREE to those 55 or better!

Ø Web pages for Hearts and Hands: The new web pages are now live for information on our soon to be built “Accessible Playground” During this part of the project, the pages provide information to the community on how to become involved with the project through volunteering and through financial support for building the playground. There is also a page where committee members can share meeting minutes, presentations and accomplishments, or provide forms for download. Once the build begins, we will have streaming video on the web pages so everyone can keep up with the progress. Take a look and get ready to be a part of this exciting project! Go to www.parkandrec.com <http://www.parkandrec.com/> and click on the link "Help Us Build Our First Fully Accessible Playground"

Ø Youth at Risk Coordinator Kiana Thomas: Youth at risk Coordinator Kiana Thomas hosted a Girls Night Lock Up sleepover for 18 girls ages of 10 - 13 from 5PM Sunday, January 20th until 5PM Monday, January 21st for the MLK Holiday. The girls started Sunday evening by going to play Laser Tag and followed that up on Monday with a day at the Charlotte Bobcats game. In between, they played board games, video games, danced and watched movies. They also took part in a girl talk session on “Choosing Friends and Avoiding Conflict" that was presented by one of our partner organizations, Beyond Expectations Inc. City Dive, Papa Johns and Chick-fil-A all got involved by providing all the meals for the program. And most importantly, the girls are ready for the next lock up!





Ø ADA Accommodations: To improve Park and Recreation services to persons with a disability, a new PDF form has been developed for Park and Recreation SharePoint. This new form can be printed for or e-mailed to anyone who requests an ADA accommodation. The person filling out the form may send it by hard copy or by e-mail to Therapeutic Recreation for follow up. The form will be uploaded to the Park and Recreation web site after a test period.

Ø Summer Day Camp 2008: The Summer Day Camp 2008 listing is now available on www.parkandrec.com and has been sent to media. It lists all of our summer day camps, plus those we partner with other organizations to present. Most registrations this year will be online or through 311.

Ø Partnership opportunities with North Carolina Dance theatre: Recreation Center Operations staff met with North Carolina Dance Theatre to discuss possible partnership opportunities for the future. The first two programs will be this summer: a one week dance education camp at Tom Sykes Recreation Center and an eight week Summer Enrichment Dance Program incorporated into the traditional day camp at Mallard Creek Recreation Center. Future classes will involve all age groups (preschool through senior citizens) and feature all forms of dance, from ballet to hip/hop and jazz.

Ø Charlotte Bobcat game .vs. the San Antonio Spurs On M.L.K. Jr. Day, youth at Merry Oaks recreation center attended the Charlotte Bobcats.vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA game, with great excitement. This was the first time some of them had ever been to Bobcat Arena. A special thanks for the tickets goes to the M.L.K.Jr. City/County Planning committee.

Park Operations and Athlectic Services:
Ø Northwest Park District: Hornets Nest Park will host the Second Annual Birdies For Birds Disc Golf Tournament Saturday January 26th and Sunday January 27th. The tournament is sponsored by the Charlotte Disc Golf Club to raise money for the Carolina Raptor Center at Latta Plantation Park. Last year's tournament raised more than $1,500. The club hopes to raise even more this year.

Ø ParkWatch: Park Watch completed their training in Spanish on January 23. Park Watch will receive laminated language aid sheets for their vehicles, to help them provide direction and assistance about park regulations to patrons who do not speak English. The aid sheet has commonly used phrases and questions, along with pronunciation guides. This should help Park Watch better serve all visitors.

Stewardship Services
Ø Grand opening of the Center for BioDiversity Studies: Everyone is invited to join staff, public and distinguished guests for the grand opening of the Center for BioDiversity Studies at Reedy Creek Nature Center at 10am tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 26. This new Center houses the recently donated UNC Charlotte herbarium and zoological collections - over 42,000 specimens - making it the 4th largest such facility in NC and the 3rd largest serving SC. Brief remarks by guests will be followed by tours of the facility, plus activities for children of all ages and refreshments.

Ø Big Rock property designated as a Nature Preserve Big Rock property designated as a Nature Preserve: Staff will begin the process for having the Big Rock property designated as a Nature Preserve, per the recommendations of the public and staff. The 23 acre site in southern Mecklenburg contains an impressive rock outcrop and woodlands. Historic Landmark designation of the property is also being pursued.

Ø Master Plan: The draft Nature Preserve Master Plan portion of the County’s new park and recreation Master Plan is being reviewed by staff.

Enterprise Services:
Ø Renaissance Golf Course:
Staff met with Brian McMahan (City Stormwater Services) at Renaissance Golf Course on January 24 to assess repairs to a cavity that has formed in the creek area near #3 tee box. Work is projected to start February 4 and last two weeks, weather permitting. The front nine will be closed Monday – Friday weekly because heavy equipment needs access to make the repairs. Golf course staff will inform golfers of the closing when tee times are made. Signs will also be posted at the clubhouse.


Ø Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center:
Staff is hosting the Charlotte Christian Swim Meet on Friday, January 25, 2008 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm for more than 125 local high school swimmers. Staff is also hosting the Masters Swim Meet on Saturday, January 26 from 8am-5pm and Sunday, January 27, 2008 from 8am – 2pm for more than 200 master swimmers.

Ø Ray’s Splash Planet:
The MLK holiday brought kids to Ray’s Splash Planet on Monday, January 21! Staff hosted more than 150 kids from local No School Day programs and conducted a RSP Martin Luther King No School Day Camp. The camp doubled in size from last year, with a record 26 registrations. Recreation Specialist Ramona Staton and staff provided all day activities including aquatic recreation, fitness, and social opportunities through sports, games, arts and crafts

Ø Grady Cole Center:
Staff will host the Victory Christian vs. Charlotte Christian boys basketball game on January 25 at 7:00pm. Both teams are two of the top competitors in the region.


Ø County-wide cheerleading competition: Ray’s Splash Planet will host the County-wide cheerleading competition on Saturday, January 26, starting at 2pm. This competition features teams from various recreation centers and from Splash Planet.