The Friday Letter | April 25, 2013

Volume 2 ISSUE

15

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK AND RECREATION

April 25 2013

DEPARTMENT

FridayLetter THE

this issue

In The News:

Park News P.1 Enterprise Services P.2

Park and Rec Hosts Free Golf Classic for Veterans and Active Duty Military

Nature Preserves & Natural Resources P.5 Community & Recreation Center Services P.6

All military veterans (including National Guard and Reserves) and active duty military personnel are

Park and Recreation— Park News

invited to sign-up to play in the 8th annual Veterans &

Memorial Garden dedicated in Honor of Slain Officer Sean Clark

Reservists Golf Classic at Sunset Hills Golf Course, 800 Radio Road, on June 27, 2013. This event features a free round of golf on a fine course plus lunch provided

by Texas Land & Cattle Steak House at no charge for those who qualify to play.

The Golf Classic is presented by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and Mecklenburg County Community Support Services-Veterans Services Division to show appreciation to men and women who serve and have served our country in the armed forces.

More than six years after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Sean Clark was shot to death in the line of duty, he was honored Sunday with the dedication of a memorial garden in Huntersville.

The new garden and park, located on nearly a quarter-acre in Blythe Landing, features walking paths, a wooden eagle and a granite plaque dedicated to Clark, who was killed along with his partner, Jeff Shelton.

Pictured below, Peter Cook, MCPRD

In later phases of the park, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation hopes to install a cedar swing, a cabin playhouse and a bronze statue of deer to honor Clark’s love of hunting, said Peter Cook, park operations superintendent for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.

“This has been a long time coming,” Clark’s widow, Sherry Lancaster, said after the ceremony at Blythe Landing. “I couldn’t be happier with what Parks and Recreation did.”

A park named in honor of Shelton opened in Locust in October 2007.

Read the complete story here

In The News: CPRP Awarded Enterprise Services — Jason (Jay) Tryon recently received the distinction of Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP).

Tournaments & Adult Athletics Adult Athletics Volleyball: The championship game for winter women’s Co-Rec B volleyball league was held at Wallace Pruitt Recreation Center on Monday, April 22. Plan B was the league winner. Tuesday night grass volleyball at Nevin Park is finishing up its third week and adult softball at Nevin Park and Renaissance Park is nearing the season halfway point.

Congratulations to Jay and to the Department!

It’s more than just letters after your name – it’s an investment in

your career that demonstrates your practical knowledge and that you have the current realworld skills necessary in today’s changing park and recreation environment.

Powerade State Games of NC April Update The Powerade State Games is returning to the Charlotte region in 2013 and we want YOU to be a part of the largest sports festival in North Carolina! Held throughout the month of June, the Powerade State Games will feature over 12,000 athletes participating in 19 different sports across more than 30 venues in a true Olympic-style sporting event. Please read this information carefully to ensure you won't miss out on all the FUN in Charlotte this June!

Mecklenburg County Event Highlights:

Enterprise Services News

Powerade State Games Softball Information

Youth Fastpitch Softball June 22-23 Mallard Creek & other area fields Click Here for Info Registration is underway for the Powerade State Games Softball Tournaments. This year we will be offering both Youth and Adult Divisions in addition to the High School Showcase. For the Youth Tournament this year we have partnered with Top Gun Sports Softball. Click here for more information.

Adult Slowpitch Softball June 22-23 Nevin Park Divisions: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Recreation This year's High School Showcase, as in the past, will feature a high school senior East- Entry Fee: $275/ West series and an eight team underclassmen tournament. Try-outs for the various re- team ($225 for Rec) gions have already begun but it's still not too late to sign up!

We have partnered with NSA for the Adult Tournament this year, which will feature Gold, Silver, Bronze and Recreation divisions. To register and for more information, please visit www.carolinansa.com. Click here to visit the 2013 Powerade State Games Softball webpage for additional details.

Service Awards Congratulations to Preston Buckman (Recreation Coordinator, Supervisor) who is accepting his 5 year length of service award from Director Jim Garges.

Online registration for the Powerade State Games is ongoing for all sports at www.ncsports.org.

Registration deadlines are approaching quickly, so make sure you sign up today to guarantee your spot in the event of your choice!

High School Showcase June 24-27 Wingate University Try-outs are currently underway with upcoming dates as well. See the website for information.

Try-out fee: $15

In The News: CPRP Awarded

Aquatics

13 Special Needs Teachers got recertified at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on Tuesday, April 23 Enterprise Services — Venfrom 1 – 3pm. The American Association for Physical tress Williams recently reActivity and Recreation conducted the re-cert. Students ceived the distinction of Certifrom Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools participated fied Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP).

193 Special Olympic Swimmer participated in the local games at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on Wednesday, April 24 from 10am – 2pm. The top 3 swimmers in each event will move on to the regional’s in Raleigh.

Citizen Information Outdoor Pool Season begins Memorial Day Weekend.

Congratulations to Ventress and to the Department!

Citizen Information FREE SWIM LESSONS AT THE OUTDOOR POOLS Registration for swim lessons will be accepted, beginning on Wednesday June 13, at the pool you wish to attend. Registration will be taken every Wednesday beginning at noon for the following week only.

Registration for lessons is done It’s more than just letters after week-by-week and must be your name – it’s an investment in done in person. No phone resyour career that demonstrates ervations will be taken. All resyour practical knowledge and ervations are first come, first that you have the current realworld skills necessary in today’s served and spots are limited. The outdoor pools will also have daily programs throughchanging park and recreation out the summer, so contact each pool to see what exciting event is happening that parenvironment. ticular day.

Cordelia Pool2100 N. Davidson St.Charlotte, NC 28205704-336-2096 Double Oaks Pool1200 Newland Rd.Charlotte, NC 28206704-336-2653

Coastal Adventure Trip: Reedy Creek Nature Center staff took a group of 12 participants to the North Carolina Coast last weekend. Participants hiked the Croatan National Forest and were lucky enough to spot Red-cockaded woodpeckers, a threatened species mainly due to habitat loss. Participants also had the opportunity to see wild horses at Shackleford barrier. Everybody helped to collect trash from the island and we ended up with 6 large bags that were too large to bring back to main land with us.

Scenes from Events: Coastal Adventure Trip

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Powerade State Games of NC April Update

The Powerade State Games is returning to the Charlotte region in 2013 and we want YOU to be a part of the largest sports festival in North Carolina!

The Sugaw Creek Recreation Center and it’s YWCA program partnership hosted their First Annual “Tea Party” on Tuesday, April 23. Staff provided lessons and discussed the importance of etiquette in which approximately (26) participants arrived dressed in stylish attire. The girl’s wore colorful dresses with pearls while the boys were suited with bow ties. The kids enjoyed themselves and experienced how to properly prepare a variety of tea, sandwiches, and scones. The YWCA program partnership sites also include West Charlotte and Tuckaseegee Recreation Centers. For more information, contact each facility site coordinator.

Held throughout the month of June, the Powerade State Games will feature over 12,000 athletes participating in 19 different sports across more than 30 venues in a true Olympic-style sporting event. Please read this information carefully to ensure you won't miss out on all the FUN in Charlotte this June!

Powerade State Games

Sugaw Creek Recreation Center

2013-14 Charlotte 2015-16 Triangle 2017-18 Piedmont Triad 2019-20 Charlotte

For more information, contact Brett.Krizanik@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Revolution Park Sports Academy Youth Baseball in Full Swing: April showers (as they came in such downpours on Friday, April 19th), brought on Saturday morning games, t-ball, coach pitch & player pitch! Thanks to the field maintenance crews & the Youth Sports’ staff, most fields were ready for play at game time on Saturday morning, to the pleasure of all the players, coaches & parents-alike. The ‘ting’ from the aluminum bats, the ‘crack’ from the wood bats & the ‘phiff’ from the t-ballers swinging at the ball on the tees, ‘Play Ball’ was the order of the day. Come out & catch a game or two of America’s favorite spring/summer pastime-baseball, in its purest form!

Awards & Recognition

For more information about youth baseball or our other countywide youth sports leagues, please visit your closest Recreation Center, go to www.parkandrec.com or email us at YouthSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

________________ Park & Recreation Receives the NC DOL Silver Safety Award Several members of our Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Safety Committee were present to receive a Silver Safety Award from the North Carolina Department of Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry on Friday, April 26, 2013. The Silver Award is for a substantial reduction of injuries and illnesses and the promotion of safer working conditions in 2012.

Park and Recreation News: 5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

Submissions for the Newsletter

Recreate All Year!

As the weather changes, look forward to new and exciting way to continue recreating during the late winter and spring months. Subscribe to the Park and Recreation ENewsletter to stay up to date on activities that may be available to you.

www.parkandrec.com

Please submit all news for the Friday Letter to your Division Director for review and routing.

Park Partners may contact Kesha Meads at Kesha.Meads@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 2 • Issue 15• April 25, 2013

Upcoming Events: Powerade State Games of NC February Update The Powerade State Games is returning to the Charlotte region in 2013 and we want YOU to be a part of the largest sports festival in North Carolina! Held throughout the month of June, the Powerade State Games will feature over 12,000 athletes participating in 19 different sports across more than 30 venues in a true Olympic-style sporting event. Please read this information carefully to ensure you won't miss out on all the FUN in Charlotte this June!

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Senior Leadership Team Jim Garges, Director

Online registration for the Powerade State Games is open for most sports at www.ncsports.org. You can save up to $20 on registration fees by registering online through the step-by-step Powerade State Games registration system.

Michael Kirschman, Deputy Director James Alsop, Enterprise Services Renea Barber, Human Resources Mario Chang, Budget Administration Lee Jones, Capital Planning Lola Massad, Community and Recreation Center Services Jeff Robinson, Park Operations