Meck Cty Park & Rec Update

Capital Planning and Alliance Development Services:
Ø Alexander Street Park: Staff met on site with Trinity Episcopal School and consultant to review final plans for redevelopment of Alexander Street Park. Trinity School is proposing to relocate the park's existing playground and shelter to an adjoining site in conjunction with the new Charlotte Housing Authority's Siegle Point Development. This new development will also include six new tennis courts. An extension of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway will also be a part of this total project. A private capital development campaign by Trinity School will fund the park redevelopment.

Ø Trust for Public Land Carolina Advisory Council Retreat: Staff attended and participated in the Trust for Public Land Carolina Advisory Council Retreat held at Mahlon Adams Pavilion in Freedom Park. The Council discussed its mission and updated components of its Strategic Plan for the next 2, 5 and 10 years.

Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø Spring 4-H Plant Sale: Mecklenburg County 4-H is holding its annual spring plant sale throughout the month of February. All proceeds from the sale directly support scholarships for Mecklenburg youth and teens to attend summer camp and leadership retreats. For more information on the plants available for sale and how to order, call the 4-H office at 704-336-4015 or visit www.mecklenburgcounty4h.org.
Ø Disc Golf Course: Staff at the 521 Recreation Center walked the proposed disc golf course with Park Planners and Alan Beaver (Park and Recreation Disc Golf professional) this week to approve the design of the proposed course. Two 18-hole courses are proposed for the property with one beginner’s course and a Championship level course. The courses were designed by Stan McDaniel, a local citizen and disc golf legend. Most of the construction of the course will be conducted by the Charlotte Disc Golf Association. After all approvals, construction could begin as early as April.
Ø Teen Summit: On February 7 Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department will partner with the Girl Talk Foundation, Power 98 - WPEG fm for a Teen Summit at West Charlotte Recreation Center. Local personalities Janine Davis, No Limit Larry and Tone X will host the event for teen boys and girls. This is the second of five Teen Summit events planned in the community. These activities are to garner information on teen needs and issues by direct feedback and interaction from teens. The summits create opportunity for real dialogue and some real direction from our youth. Other agencies involved include Stratford-Richardson YMCA, The Chemical Dependency Center, The Males Place and Gang of One. This event is free and also includes food and fun activities.

Enterprise Services:
Ø Partnership: Staff along with representatives from the American Golf Corporation and Ratcliffe Golf Services met with the City of Charlotte Engineering and Property Management and Hart & Hickman Environmental Consultants on January 28 at the Renaissance Park Golf Course for an annual landfill training session entitled “Working Safely Around Closed Landfills”. The training session was pertinent to Renaissance Park, Renaissance Park Golf Course and the Charles T. Myers Golf Course. The main objective was to heighten worker awareness of landfill gas production, composition, persistence, movement, methane gas, methane gas hazard mitigation, methane management and other health and safety issues.

Ø Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center: Staff is hosting the Mecklenburg County 4A Western Swimming Championship on Friday, February 1 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 3. More than 450 local high school swimmers are expected to participate. Learn to swim lessons will be held as scheduled from 8 a.m. – 12 noon on February 2.

Ø Ray’s Splash Planet: Staff hosted more than two hundred (200) girls and their leaders from the Hornet’s Nest Council/ Trailblazer District Girl Scouts on January 25-26, for their Annual Lock-In. Through out the year, the girls earn their opportunity to participate in this yearly event. The group enjoyed exclusive use of the water park from 8-10 p.m. then hunkered down in the Irwin gymnasium for a night of games, crafts, and movies until 8a.m. Saturday morning. Participants enjoyed an extremely popular event in a programmed and safe environment. Staff and CMPD are to be commended for an excellent job as they accompanied this group throughout the night.

Ø Grady Cole Center: Staff will host the NCAA Division II women and men’s basketball games between Queens University and Pfeiffer University on February 2 at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively. Both teams are members of the Conference Carolinas. Doors open at 5 p.m. and admission is $5.00.


Park Operations and Athletic Services
Ø The Marine Buddy Challenge was held at Reedy Creek Park on
Saturday, January 26. Seventy-two teams competed in the challenge. The buddy challenge consisted of a three-mile run and four fitness challenges. This was the first of three physically challenging events in the 2008 Semper Fi Racing Series. Each event benefits a Marine Corps-related non-profit organization. For more information and results please visit: www.marinebuddychallenge.org

Ø The Frosty 5K Walk/Run Series was held at Mallard Creek Greenway on Saturday, January 12. This was the first of three (3) races that will be held this winter; McAlpine Creek and Freedom Park will host the next races. Over 205 participants participated in the 5K. This event was sponsored by Lowes Foods, Charlotte Health & Fitness magazine, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department, Play It Again Sports and Run for Your Life.

Ø RAY on the Move: Ray attended the WSOC-TV Healthy Living Fair on Saturday, January 26 and enjoyed greeting folks of all ages who came out to learn about ways to live better. An information booth, manned by Park and Recreation staff, exposed attendees to a multitude of choices on how to “Recreate all Year”!

Ø Park Watch Reorganization Update: The consolidation of Park Watch under one management team is almost complete. The regional supervisors started this week, filling out the new organizational structure. Congratulations to Darryl McCallister and Marielayna Rosillo for being promoted into the regional Park Watch supervisor positions and welcome to Charlie Romines. Over the next several weeks and in time for peak season, we will begin transitioning the operations of Park Watch under these new supervisors.