Ø Faithful Together Walk: The Faithful Together walk will take place at Phillip O. Berry Recreation Center on April 5, 9 a.m. - noon. This is a collaborative effort between the Health Department, Park and Recreation Department and Johnson C. Smith University. The recreation center will be the inclement weather site. If we are graced with clear skies, Stewart and Irwin Creek Greenways will be the route.
Nature Preserves and Natural Resources:
Ø McDowell Nature Preserve: The construction of the new bathroom/shower house at McDowell Nature Preserve campground is nearing completion. We are in the final stages of inspection and should have occupancy in the next week or two. This will be a significant improvement to customer service as we enter the busy camping season.
Ø Carolina Kayak Polo Club: The President of the Carolina Kayak Polo Club has again requested McDowell Nature Preserve as a practice site for the team. In 2007 this sport drew an international crowd to Charlotte as the host of the 2007 Kayak Polo Championships. Park and Recreation played a large supporting role in this event and it has been nominated for a 2008 NACO award. The team practices on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings from April-October at the waterfront dock area. Come out and catch the action!
Ø CPCC Welding Technology at Evergreen Nature Preserve: College students have been practicing their welding skills at Evergreen Nature Preserve. Staci Clark, Environmental Educator and Steve Gore, Program Chair for CPCC Welding Technology Division, have partnered up in a win-win project. Students master their newly learned welding skills while removing metal from old dump sites within the preserve. This scavenged metal will be recycled into sculptures of native animals, including a red tailed hawk that will go on display for the public at a future date.
Ø Humming Bird Festival: Staff is busy planning the 2nd annual Humming Bird Festival at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve on August 23. The Link (107.9 FM) may join as a sponsor, which already includes Dr. J.B's Hummingbird Products, Chirp 'N' Chatter and News 14.
Ø Civil War Reenactment: Civil War Reenactment is at Historic Latta Plantation this weekend from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This is always a popular event and, with good weather, we expect about 600+ people each day.
Ø Loch Norman Highland Games: Mark your calendars now for the Loch Norman Highland Games, April 18-20, at Rural Hill. This is one of the most popular Highland Games in the region. For tickets or more information, call 704 875-3113.
Ø New Nature Center Managers: The Division welcomes two new nature center managers; Christopher Horrigan at McDowell Nature Center and Stephen Hutchinson at Latta Nature Center.
Capital Planning and Alliance Development Services:
Ø Master Plan: Planning staff has worked closely with other division staff within the department and Pros Consulting to complete final work on the Comprehensive Park and Recreation Master Plan. Specifically, the Capital Needs Assessment has been reviewed and finalized along with the Capital Improvement Plan;
Ø CPCC – 7th and Independence: Staff met with CPCC President Tony Zeiss and others to continue discussions regarding their proposed plans for a parking deck, field house and high school at the corner of 7th St. and Independence Blvd.
Ø Center City Partners: Staff met with Cheryl Myers of Charlotte Center City Partners to jointly plan the Center City Urban Parks Master Plan.
Ø Berewick Regional Park: Staff conducted a community workshop on Thursday, April 3 at the Berewick Community Manor House to discuss the Phase 1 development of the new Berewick Regional Park. Construction of this new park will begin late this year. Park and Recreation is also working jointly with CMS for a recreation center at the new elementary school which will be sited at this park.
Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø West Charlotte Recreation Center Spring Break Camp: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation offers a Spring Break Camp 2008, April 7-11 at West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Dr. This camp for youth ages 10-15, runs each day 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The camp includes an array of activities such as bowling, teambuilding, a college tour, skating, talent show, and curriculum-based activities.
Ø DJ Spring Break Camp: Park and Recreation hosts a spring break camp called Two Turntables and a Microphone April 7-11. This camp is for teenagers, ages 13-16, who are interested in learning about possibly becoming a disc jockey. This camp will meet at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center, from 9am-1pm each day during spring break from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Ø Charlotte Bobcats Host Park and Recreation Youth Basketball: Oaklawn Recreation Center Bobcats 10 and under, played Tom Sykes Recreation Center and Ray's Splash Planet as a part of the halftime entertainment for the Charlotte Bobcats vs. Toronto Raptors game on Monday night. This was a part of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation night the Charlotte Bobcats offered to the department. This experience was one that the participants will never forget.
Ø Tuckaseegee Recreation Center: Tuckaseegee's Tots Safety Fair was a huge success on Monday March 31. Preschool students from Saint Paul's Recreation Center, Freedom Christian School, home school students, and neighborhood residents with small children had fun at the event. The fun included meeting firemen and touring a fire truck from Station 13 and learning about Ebony and Ivory the animal care and control police dogs. There were also coloring, crafts, games, prizes, and snacks. Even Ray showed up to get hugged and pose for pictures.
Ø Fire and Life Safety Bowl: On Thursday, Fitness Recreation Specialists John Kelley and Erin Bayer attended the Annual Fire and Life Safety Bowl, an annual quiz contest intended to educate students from across Mecklenburg County about fire and life safety. Various agencies and organizations set up booths to educate the students about health and wellness. John and Erin represented Fit City Challenge and Park & Recreation information, educating the 4th and 5th graders about physical activity and healthy eating.
Ø 4-H Helps CMS Teachers Meet Science Competency Goals: Mecklenburg County 4-H is partnering with elementary school teachers to make science education fun, exciting and more relevant to the students. Merry Oaks Elementary 4th grade students are experiencing the “Magic of Electricity” through fourteen hands-on science experiments. Students at Highland Renaissance and Winget Park Elementary are studying the life cycle through the 4-H Embryology program, a 26-day process that allows the students to become active participants in the incubation process of birds. 4-H provided curriculum and training to help these classroom teachers meet the required North Carolina Standard Course of Study competency goals.
Ø Regional Jr. NBA, Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge: Michael Leary of the Albemarle Road Buckeyes (8 and under) youth basketball team has been selected to compete in the Regional Jr. NBA; Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge competition April 5 at the Bobcats Arena in Charlotte during halftime of the Charlotte Bobcats game. On January 21 The Albemarle Recreation Center held the Jr. NBA/ Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge local competition. This event showcased each athlete's speed, agility and basic basketball skills. In order to qualify for the regional competition you had to be named local champion in your age group. Great job Michael and good luck and have fun.
Ø Youth Violence Prevention Conference: Isaac Applewhite, Park and Recreation Coordinator/Supervisor, participated in the 3rd annual Youth Violence Prevention Conference: Girls Gone Wild: The rising tide of Violence in Young Females. The conference identified how to make changes through the power of relationships and how each agency can make a difference. One item of interest to the Park and Recreation Department was the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – Cyber Bullying Prevention presentation and information. This information can be used to assist us in our youth and teen’s use in our computer rooms.
Greenway Planning and Development:
Ø Blue Line Extension: Greenway planning staff participated in stakeholder meetings for the future Blue Line Extension in the Northeast Corridor. The corridor will be an important link to Little Sugar Creek and Toby Creek Greenway trails.
Ø LSC GW Update to BOCC: Jay Higginbotham, Project Manager with County Real Estate Services, Gwen Cook, Julie Clark and Beth Poovey with Land Design, presented a status update of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Uptown Charlotte (<
Enterprise Services:
Ø Memorial Stadium: Staff is negotiating with two local historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) to potentially play two high profile football games at the Memorial Stadium in October 2008. Staff is awaiting decisions by the athletic directors of both Universities to finalize dates, game details and contracts.
Ø CPCC – Grady Cole: Staff met with Dr. Tony Zeiss, President of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and Ms. Kathy Drumm, Executive Vice President, on April 2 to discuss a potential partnership opportunity. CPCC expressed an interest in conducting a feasibility study to rebuild the Grady Cole Center and construct college facilities on top of the Center. More research is needed and future meetings will be scheduled.
Ø CPCC - Memorial Stadium Parking Deck: Staff met with Ms. Wanda Towler, Associate Vice President for Facilities, Central Piedmont Community College, to discuss the construction of a 1000 space parking deck adjacent to Memorial Stadium. The College presented three construction options for staff review. Option 2 impacts the existing surface lots at the corner of Charlottetown and 7th Street and appears to be the preferred option. CPCC will hire an architect to provide more design details.
Ø Queens University – Grady Cole: Staff met with Dr. Pam Davies, President of Queens University, on March 31 to discuss a potential partnership for use of the Grady Cole Center. The University has expressed an interest in using the Center as the home site for conference basketball games. The University will submit a written proposal for consideration by the Director of Park and Recreation.
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center: A public meeting was held on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Morgan School (former Second Ward High School Gymnasium) to collect citizen input for a comprehensive feasibility study of the aquatic center. Seventy (70) citizens attended the meeting and recommended changes and amenities to the aquatic center. Nationally recognized aquatics consultant Scott Hunsaker is expected to complete his assessment in 90-120 days.
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