COMMUNITY AND RECREATION CENTER SERVICES
Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center School Supply Drive: Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center will begin collecting school supply donations on July 27, for Enderly Park community families that are economically challenged. School supplies needed include: notebook filler paper, spiral notebooks, 3-ring binders (of any size) crayons, scissors, markers, colored pencils, rulers, etc. Donations will be accepted through August 21. Call Ariel Henderson at 704-393-0044 for more information.
Girl Spirit Foundation Day Camp at Albemarle Road Recreation Center: Girls ages 5-15 meet each Saturday from 9 a.m. – 12 noon in July and August. This special week-end camp offers workshops on self awareness, career goals and fitness. A camp celebration and Princess Gala is scheduled for August 22. For more information about the Girl Spirit Foundation Day Camp, contact Michelle.Hitselberger@mecklenburgcountync.gov or 704-567-1941.
Senior Adult Day Camp: "Leisure and Learn" for active seniors is being sponsored by Albemarle Road Recreation Center. Ninety-one seniors from Mecklenburg County participated this week. The Senior Day Camp meets every Tuesday in July from 9:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Each weekly camp includes a day of fun and learning with key note speakers, interactive fun and breakout sessions including: Chef Jason Wolf - cooking demonstration, Moses Blue from Best Buy of Independence - Tech 101; Art Instructor, Tina Farney; Organic Garden expert, Don Rosenberg and Jewelry making with Verlean Campbell. Generous partnerships from local businesses and organizations made this program possible and affordable for participants. The venue was held at William Davie Park Conference Center. For more information about the Leisure and Learn Program, contact Michelle.Hitselberger@mecklenburgcountync.gov or 704-567-1941.
Senior Adult LIFEchoices: Active Seniors ventured to Carmel Place Senior Living for lunch and a tour on Wednesday, July 15. LIFEchoices is a program designed to educate seniors of leisure and lifestyle opportunities available within Mecklenburg County. Any empty nester, retiree, or boomer is welcome to participate the third Wednesday of each month. The next adventure is Summit Place of SouthPark on August 19. Departure is from Albemarle Road Recreation Center. To participate, contact Michelle Hitselberger at Michelle.Hitselberger@mecklenburgcountync.gov or call 704-567-1941.
Duke University Interns Help Youth Make Wise Choices: Interns from Duke University are conducting money management sessions for youth in Summer Camp at Albemarle Road Recreation Center. Information on making money, saving and budgeting are discussed and taught with interactive projects. Thus far each Camper has made a coin bank and budget sheet.
RAY Shines Brightly: Ray, the mascot, visited children at Albemarle Road Recreation Center summer camps and passed out coloring sheets and gave many hugs last Friday to end another great week of Summer Camp.
Best Buy of Independence Blvd. Treats Children: Staff members of Best Buy visited Albemarle Road Recreation Center Thursday to pass out fruit and snacks to all the children in camp and the Senior Adults participating in Oil Painting at the time of their visit. Best Buy is in partnership with the Recreation Center providing support for the Summer Leisure and Learn Senior Day Camp and Children's programs for the future.
Martin Luther King School Recreation Site’s Mecklenburg All*Stars: The 10 and under RedSoxx baseball team reinvented themselves as the Mecklenburg All*Stars in the Statewide Athletics Committee Tournament held in Moore County July 16 - 18. They rallied hard through three rounds of the tournament with true grit. They vowed to clinch the championship next year. Way to go MLK.
Winget School Recreation Site: On July 18, Winget held it first of four open houses to showcase a buffet of activities to the community. An all out promotional blitz brought many newcomers to the facility. Parents were excited about having an opportunity to sign up for a flag football team closer to home and look forward to upcoming fall programs at Winget. The open house series is a great way to get the community into the facility and see all the programs we have to offer and meet new neighbors.
NATURE PRESERVES AND NATURAL RESOURCES
New Partnership with Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation: Latta Plantation Nature Preserve is now serving as a base of program operations for Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, Inc. (CRF). CRF was formed in 1997 and is an award winning 501(c) (3) non-profit operating in the fourteen counties of the Catawba River watershed. CRF trains and leads five locally based Covekeeper Programs on Lake Hickory, Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie and Lake Wateree. CRF will be offering kayak programs for youth on Mountain Island Lake and will be storing kayaks and equipment at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve's kayak-canoe compound.
Parents Guide to Natural Wonders Workshop: Want to learn how to help your children appreciate nature? If so, join staff at Reedy Creek nature center for our Parent’s Guide to Natural Wonders workshop. This 2 hour workshop will show you how to make the most of time you and your children spend outdoors. Saturday, July 25, 9:30 – 11 a.m. Registration required. For more information call 704-598-8857.
Certification: Michael Campbell, Southwest Nature Preserves Manager, recently obtained his professional certification and is now a Certified Park & Recreation Professional by the National Recreation and Park Association.
PARK OPERATIONS AND ATHLETIC SERVICES
Park and Recreation Youth Flag Football and Soccer Registration Offered: Registration continues through next Thursday, July 31, for youth ages 5 through 12 interested in participating on a recreational flag football or soccer team this fall. Teams will form soon after registration closes and games will begin after Labor Day. To register, contact your local recreation center, visit parkandrec.com or call 311 for information. Cost of the program is $55 per child, which covers the cost of a uniform and trophy.
Southern Slam Tennis Tournament Held at Jeff Adams Tennis Center: The annual Southern Slam Tennis Tournament was held at Jeff Adams Tennis Center from Monday, July 20 through Wednesday, July 23. Nearly 100 youth, ages 8 to 18, participated in this USTA-sanctioned tournament this year, and enjoyed great weather while at the complex.
Mecklenburg County Selected as Site of 2010 Softball World Series Event: The National Softball Association has announced plans to bring the 2010 Girls Fast Pitch “A” World Series back to the Charlotte region next year and anticipates that over 300 teams will participate in the weeklong event. The dates of the event will be finalized in November at the NSA~BPA Annual Convention in Panama City Beach, Florida. Athletic Services looks forward to hosting this large scale event, which features top caliber national competition, at its facilities next year.
CAPITAL PLANNING AND ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT
Elizabeth Small Area Planning: Planning staff attended a meeting this week with City of Charlotte Planning Dept. staff regarding comprehensive planning efforts for the Elizabeth Area Small Area Plan. Included in this effort is a look at park and open space needs. Independence Park is the focal park for this neighborhood along with the Grady Cole Center/Memorial Stadium complex.
Morningside Development (Veteran's Park): Staff met with County officials regarding unfinished work in Veterans Park that was to be incorporated as part of the 32 acre mixed-use redevelopment in the Morningside Neighborhood. This project unfortunately, has felt the impact of the recent economic downturn and its future is in jeopardy. The department's interest is in seeing that the terms of the contract are met regarding improvements to the park and greenway (some of which have already been initiated but not completed).
First Ward Park: Planning staff continues to stay actively involved in this new park's design and development. Focus this week has been on the final design for the Dixie's Tavern area of the park. This structure is privately owned and will have an impact on the functionality and uses that occur in the adjacent park.
GREENWAY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
New Greenway Surface Experiment: Staff is experimenting with a new resin bound aggregate surface type on an entrance to McAlpine Creek Greenway. This surface is highly pervious and requires a much shallower base than the current standard asphalt or pit gravel trail. A private company installed a 10 ft. x 10 ft. plot in an area of this greenway that is repeatedly washed out from flooding. Staff is interested to see how the surface will hold up in this location to determine if the surface could work on a larger scale.
Four Mile Creek Greenway Article: Look for a front page article on this greenway in this week's issue of the South Charlotte Weekly newspaper. The article focused on the upcoming signage installation and also discussed the popularity of the greenway and the many community benefits of this and other greenways. Although a complete signage program is being designed for McMullen Creek, McAlpine Creek, and Four Mile Creek Greenways, only a portion of the program will be implemented at this time due to budget cuts.
Torrence Creek Greenway: County Stormwater has received federal economic stimulus funds to begin Stream Restoration at Torrence Creek. Due to delays in obtaining a right-of-way (ROW) encroachment agreement at Gilead Road, the greenway project will not be able to bid concurrently with the stormwater project, however, grading and clearing for the trail may be able to proceed to simplify trail construction. In order to leverage NCDOT grant funds for the greenway project, a phasing approach will be adopted that will build as much of the greenway and provide as much connectivity as possible in lieu of obtaining a ROW encroachment agreement. The Gilead section would be constructed once a ROW encroachment agreement is obtained.
Long Creek Greenway: Staff met with CDOT bike/pedestrian coordinators to discuss the possibility of building a pedestrian bridge alongside Beatties Ford Road at Long Creek Village, which is located near Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road. The bridge will have bike lanes in the future, but pedestrians could be accommodated with a pedestrian bridge; this bridge would also provide connection to Long Creek Greenway. Staff will continue to work with CDOT to determine an ideal solution for bike/pedestrian connections at this site.
Toby Creek Greenway: Plans and specifications have been approved by NCDOT. We hope to advertise for bids very soon.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway – Baxter to Morehead: The central fountain is being poured. The pedestrian bridge veneer has started and the informal steps to the lower plaza have been poured.
ENTERPRISE SERVICES
Memorial Stadium: CST Environmental installed construction fencing on July 20 - 21 and a portion of Armory Drive adjacent to Charlottetown Avenue has been closed for placement of a crank to begin excavation of the affected seating area in the closed end of the Stadium. Work is set to start on Monday, July 27 and last 45-60 days. Staff also informed the Livingstone University and Johnson C. Smith that the stadium is not available for their football games October 3 and October 17. Staff has been informed that the October 3 game will be played at Livingstone University. The CMS Athletic Director, promoters for the fall Oktoberfest, North Carolina Tech Football, Band Beat, Shrine Bowl and the Carolina Panthers have also been informed that the stadium and field is unavailable for their events. A total of eighteen (18) dates have been affected.
Renaissance Park Golf Course: City Engineering will be upgrading the methane detection system at the Renaissance Park golf course clubhouse, maintenance shed and concession stand at Renaissance Park. A pre-bid conference is scheduled on Tuesday, July 28 at 9 a.m. at the clubhouse to provide an opportunity for prospective bidders to present questions and familiarize them with the project. Bids will be accepted until August 4, 2009. The estimated cost of the project is $65,000.
West Charlotte and Providence High School Swimming Pools: Staff has presented an agreement to CMS to open the West Charlotte and Providence pools from August 1-21, 2009 for open swim, groups, camp participants and casual swim lessons. Staff has also reserved the option to open the West Charlotte swimming pool on Saturday mornings when school is in session to conduct organized swim lessons. Staff will hand carry the agreement through the proper channels to expedite full execution once CMS finalizes and signs off on the agreement.
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center: The North Carolina Swimming Senior Long Course Meet will be held at the MCAC through Sunday, July 26, 2009. More than 500 swimmers will participate in the event. The event will feature Tucker Dupree, the world’s 4th ranked swimmer who is preparing to compete in Edmonton, Alberta for the Speedo Cam-Am Paralympic Swimming Championships, where he hopes to earn a place on the U.S. Paralympic World Championship team. For more information visit www.teamunity.com
Revolution Park Golf Course: Clearing and rough grading continues on new holes #7 and #8 (pictures attached). Work is projected to begin on new hold number #2 during the week of July 27, 2009 weather permitting. Work continues on construction of the water reuse pond.
PARTNERS FOR PARKS
Charter Properties Inc. Check Presentation: Please mark your calendars to attend a check presentation from Charter Properties Inc. to Partners for Parks on Thursday, July 30 at 12 noon at 8700 Long Creek Club Drive. Please see the attached invitation for details and RSVP instructions for this luncheon event
Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center School Supply Drive: Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center will begin collecting school supply donations on July 27, for Enderly Park community families that are economically challenged. School supplies needed include: notebook filler paper, spiral notebooks, 3-ring binders (of any size) crayons, scissors, markers, colored pencils, rulers, etc. Donations will be accepted through August 21. Call Ariel Henderson at 704-393-0044 for more information.
Girl Spirit Foundation Day Camp at Albemarle Road Recreation Center: Girls ages 5-15 meet each Saturday from 9 a.m. – 12 noon in July and August. This special week-end camp offers workshops on self awareness, career goals and fitness. A camp celebration and Princess Gala is scheduled for August 22. For more information about the Girl Spirit Foundation Day Camp, contact Michelle.Hitselberger@mecklenburgcountync.gov or 704-567-1941.
Senior Adult Day Camp: "Leisure and Learn" for active seniors is being sponsored by Albemarle Road Recreation Center. Ninety-one seniors from Mecklenburg County participated this week. The Senior Day Camp meets every Tuesday in July from 9:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Each weekly camp includes a day of fun and learning with key note speakers, interactive fun and breakout sessions including: Chef Jason Wolf - cooking demonstration, Moses Blue from Best Buy of Independence - Tech 101; Art Instructor, Tina Farney; Organic Garden expert, Don Rosenberg and Jewelry making with Verlean Campbell. Generous partnerships from local businesses and organizations made this program possible and affordable for participants. The venue was held at William Davie Park Conference Center. For more information about the Leisure and Learn Program, contact Michelle.Hitselberger@mecklenburgcountync.gov or 704-567-1941.
Senior Adult LIFEchoices: Active Seniors ventured to Carmel Place Senior Living for lunch and a tour on Wednesday, July 15. LIFEchoices is a program designed to educate seniors of leisure and lifestyle opportunities available within Mecklenburg County. Any empty nester, retiree, or boomer is welcome to participate the third Wednesday of each month. The next adventure is Summit Place of SouthPark on August 19. Departure is from Albemarle Road Recreation Center. To participate, contact Michelle Hitselberger at Michelle.Hitselberger@mecklenburgcountync.gov or call 704-567-1941.
Duke University Interns Help Youth Make Wise Choices: Interns from Duke University are conducting money management sessions for youth in Summer Camp at Albemarle Road Recreation Center. Information on making money, saving and budgeting are discussed and taught with interactive projects. Thus far each Camper has made a coin bank and budget sheet.
RAY Shines Brightly: Ray, the mascot, visited children at Albemarle Road Recreation Center summer camps and passed out coloring sheets and gave many hugs last Friday to end another great week of Summer Camp.
Best Buy of Independence Blvd. Treats Children: Staff members of Best Buy visited Albemarle Road Recreation Center Thursday to pass out fruit and snacks to all the children in camp and the Senior Adults participating in Oil Painting at the time of their visit. Best Buy is in partnership with the Recreation Center providing support for the Summer Leisure and Learn Senior Day Camp and Children's programs for the future.
Martin Luther King School Recreation Site’s Mecklenburg All*Stars: The 10 and under RedSoxx baseball team reinvented themselves as the Mecklenburg All*Stars in the Statewide Athletics Committee Tournament held in Moore County July 16 - 18. They rallied hard through three rounds of the tournament with true grit. They vowed to clinch the championship next year. Way to go MLK.
Winget School Recreation Site: On July 18, Winget held it first of four open houses to showcase a buffet of activities to the community. An all out promotional blitz brought many newcomers to the facility. Parents were excited about having an opportunity to sign up for a flag football team closer to home and look forward to upcoming fall programs at Winget. The open house series is a great way to get the community into the facility and see all the programs we have to offer and meet new neighbors.
NATURE PRESERVES AND NATURAL RESOURCES
New Partnership with Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation: Latta Plantation Nature Preserve is now serving as a base of program operations for Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, Inc. (CRF). CRF was formed in 1997 and is an award winning 501(c) (3) non-profit operating in the fourteen counties of the Catawba River watershed. CRF trains and leads five locally based Covekeeper Programs on Lake Hickory, Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie and Lake Wateree. CRF will be offering kayak programs for youth on Mountain Island Lake and will be storing kayaks and equipment at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve's kayak-canoe compound.
Parents Guide to Natural Wonders Workshop: Want to learn how to help your children appreciate nature? If so, join staff at Reedy Creek nature center for our Parent’s Guide to Natural Wonders workshop. This 2 hour workshop will show you how to make the most of time you and your children spend outdoors. Saturday, July 25, 9:30 – 11 a.m. Registration required. For more information call 704-598-8857.
Certification: Michael Campbell, Southwest Nature Preserves Manager, recently obtained his professional certification and is now a Certified Park & Recreation Professional by the National Recreation and Park Association.
PARK OPERATIONS AND ATHLETIC SERVICES
Park and Recreation Youth Flag Football and Soccer Registration Offered: Registration continues through next Thursday, July 31, for youth ages 5 through 12 interested in participating on a recreational flag football or soccer team this fall. Teams will form soon after registration closes and games will begin after Labor Day. To register, contact your local recreation center, visit parkandrec.com or call 311 for information. Cost of the program is $55 per child, which covers the cost of a uniform and trophy.
Southern Slam Tennis Tournament Held at Jeff Adams Tennis Center: The annual Southern Slam Tennis Tournament was held at Jeff Adams Tennis Center from Monday, July 20 through Wednesday, July 23. Nearly 100 youth, ages 8 to 18, participated in this USTA-sanctioned tournament this year, and enjoyed great weather while at the complex.
Mecklenburg County Selected as Site of 2010 Softball World Series Event: The National Softball Association has announced plans to bring the 2010 Girls Fast Pitch “A” World Series back to the Charlotte region next year and anticipates that over 300 teams will participate in the weeklong event. The dates of the event will be finalized in November at the NSA~BPA Annual Convention in Panama City Beach, Florida. Athletic Services looks forward to hosting this large scale event, which features top caliber national competition, at its facilities next year.
CAPITAL PLANNING AND ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT
Elizabeth Small Area Planning: Planning staff attended a meeting this week with City of Charlotte Planning Dept. staff regarding comprehensive planning efforts for the Elizabeth Area Small Area Plan. Included in this effort is a look at park and open space needs. Independence Park is the focal park for this neighborhood along with the Grady Cole Center/Memorial Stadium complex.
Morningside Development (Veteran's Park): Staff met with County officials regarding unfinished work in Veterans Park that was to be incorporated as part of the 32 acre mixed-use redevelopment in the Morningside Neighborhood. This project unfortunately, has felt the impact of the recent economic downturn and its future is in jeopardy. The department's interest is in seeing that the terms of the contract are met regarding improvements to the park and greenway (some of which have already been initiated but not completed).
First Ward Park: Planning staff continues to stay actively involved in this new park's design and development. Focus this week has been on the final design for the Dixie's Tavern area of the park. This structure is privately owned and will have an impact on the functionality and uses that occur in the adjacent park.
GREENWAY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
New Greenway Surface Experiment: Staff is experimenting with a new resin bound aggregate surface type on an entrance to McAlpine Creek Greenway. This surface is highly pervious and requires a much shallower base than the current standard asphalt or pit gravel trail. A private company installed a 10 ft. x 10 ft. plot in an area of this greenway that is repeatedly washed out from flooding. Staff is interested to see how the surface will hold up in this location to determine if the surface could work on a larger scale.
Four Mile Creek Greenway Article: Look for a front page article on this greenway in this week's issue of the South Charlotte Weekly newspaper. The article focused on the upcoming signage installation and also discussed the popularity of the greenway and the many community benefits of this and other greenways. Although a complete signage program is being designed for McMullen Creek, McAlpine Creek, and Four Mile Creek Greenways, only a portion of the program will be implemented at this time due to budget cuts.
Torrence Creek Greenway: County Stormwater has received federal economic stimulus funds to begin Stream Restoration at Torrence Creek. Due to delays in obtaining a right-of-way (ROW) encroachment agreement at Gilead Road, the greenway project will not be able to bid concurrently with the stormwater project, however, grading and clearing for the trail may be able to proceed to simplify trail construction. In order to leverage NCDOT grant funds for the greenway project, a phasing approach will be adopted that will build as much of the greenway and provide as much connectivity as possible in lieu of obtaining a ROW encroachment agreement. The Gilead section would be constructed once a ROW encroachment agreement is obtained.
Long Creek Greenway: Staff met with CDOT bike/pedestrian coordinators to discuss the possibility of building a pedestrian bridge alongside Beatties Ford Road at Long Creek Village, which is located near Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road. The bridge will have bike lanes in the future, but pedestrians could be accommodated with a pedestrian bridge; this bridge would also provide connection to Long Creek Greenway. Staff will continue to work with CDOT to determine an ideal solution for bike/pedestrian connections at this site.
Toby Creek Greenway: Plans and specifications have been approved by NCDOT. We hope to advertise for bids very soon.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway – Baxter to Morehead: The central fountain is being poured. The pedestrian bridge veneer has started and the informal steps to the lower plaza have been poured.
ENTERPRISE SERVICES
Memorial Stadium: CST Environmental installed construction fencing on July 20 - 21 and a portion of Armory Drive adjacent to Charlottetown Avenue has been closed for placement of a crank to begin excavation of the affected seating area in the closed end of the Stadium. Work is set to start on Monday, July 27 and last 45-60 days. Staff also informed the Livingstone University and Johnson C. Smith that the stadium is not available for their football games October 3 and October 17. Staff has been informed that the October 3 game will be played at Livingstone University. The CMS Athletic Director, promoters for the fall Oktoberfest, North Carolina Tech Football, Band Beat, Shrine Bowl and the Carolina Panthers have also been informed that the stadium and field is unavailable for their events. A total of eighteen (18) dates have been affected.
Renaissance Park Golf Course: City Engineering will be upgrading the methane detection system at the Renaissance Park golf course clubhouse, maintenance shed and concession stand at Renaissance Park. A pre-bid conference is scheduled on Tuesday, July 28 at 9 a.m. at the clubhouse to provide an opportunity for prospective bidders to present questions and familiarize them with the project. Bids will be accepted until August 4, 2009. The estimated cost of the project is $65,000.
West Charlotte and Providence High School Swimming Pools: Staff has presented an agreement to CMS to open the West Charlotte and Providence pools from August 1-21, 2009 for open swim, groups, camp participants and casual swim lessons. Staff has also reserved the option to open the West Charlotte swimming pool on Saturday mornings when school is in session to conduct organized swim lessons. Staff will hand carry the agreement through the proper channels to expedite full execution once CMS finalizes and signs off on the agreement.
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center: The North Carolina Swimming Senior Long Course Meet will be held at the MCAC through Sunday, July 26, 2009. More than 500 swimmers will participate in the event. The event will feature Tucker Dupree, the world’s 4th ranked swimmer who is preparing to compete in Edmonton, Alberta for the Speedo Cam-Am Paralympic Swimming Championships, where he hopes to earn a place on the U.S. Paralympic World Championship team. For more information visit www.teamunity.com
Revolution Park Golf Course: Clearing and rough grading continues on new holes #7 and #8 (pictures attached). Work is projected to begin on new hold number #2 during the week of July 27, 2009 weather permitting. Work continues on construction of the water reuse pond.
PARTNERS FOR PARKS
Charter Properties Inc. Check Presentation: Please mark your calendars to attend a check presentation from Charter Properties Inc. to Partners for Parks on Thursday, July 30 at 12 noon at 8700 Long Creek Club Drive. Please see the attached invitation for details and RSVP instructions for this luncheon event
