The Friday Letter | June 7, 2013

Volume 2 ISSUE WEEKLY

21

NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

June 7 2013

FridayLetter THE

this issue

In The News:

Park News P.1 Enterprise Services P.2

Construction work on the

Community & Recreation Center Services P.4

two I-485 bridges that pass over Lower McAlpine Creek and McMullen Creek greenways will cause sections of both trails to close periodically over the next year.

The section

of

Park and Recreation— Park News

McMullen

Creek Greenway underneath the I-485 bridge will close beginning Monday, May 13, and will remained closed through the rest of the year.

It will reopen in early 2014.

Benefit Concert Help Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and Partners for Parks build a playground. Come enjoy a night of Jazz under the stars at Freedom Park with Nnenna Freelon and The Branford Marsalis Quartet.

Saturday, June 15, 2013 - 7:00PMTicket Price: $5 per person - $20 for families of 4 or more

The section of Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway under the I-485 bridge will close

Purchase tickets by donating here

later this month and will remain closed through early summer 2014.

Veteran’s and Reservists Classic

Greenway visitors can follow detour signs along low volume roads to continue on the

greenway

nearby

Four

and Mile

use Creek

Greenway during trail closures.

Detours

signed by NCDOT.

will

be

Mecklenburg Nearly 300 active duty and retired military personnel will get to play a free round of golf at the Sunset Hills Golf Course on June 27, but many will get a lot more out of the experience than just swinging the sticks for a few hours. Now in its 8 th year, organizers of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department Veterans and Reservists Golf Classic are honored to provide a day of recreation to America’s heroes. But in recent years, the event has become a major player in connecting veterans with various agencies that can provide them with benefits information .

For more information contact Robert Anderson Robert.Anderson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

at

704-336-3590

or

30th Annual TriLatta Triathlon 30th Annual Tri-Latta Triathlon will be held on June 15, 2013 at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. The start of the event is at 6:30am that will host a 750 Meter Swim Course first which is 1/2 mile. Then a 17 Mile Bike Ride through Huntersville Business Park and a 5K Run Course throughout the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve trails. Tri-Latta Triathlon is presented by Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department.

The categories are Open Male, Open Female, Masters Open Male, Masters Open Female, Age Group Male, Age Group Female, Clydesdale, Master Clydesdale, Athena, Novice Male, Novice Female, Novice Masters Male, Novice Masters Female, Male Relay, Female Relay, and Mixed Relay.

Tournaments & Adult Athletics 10th Annual Volleyball Bash The 10th Annual Volleyball Bash at Historic American Legion Memorial Stadium was a success . Ninety (90) teams played in three different levels of competition for the volleyball bash (BB- intermediate, A-competitive, and Open- very competitive/ professional). Saturday, June 1 there was competition in a men’s division and a women’s division only. Sunday games featured competition for co-rec players only.

10th Annual Volleyball Bash During the week of June 3, “All City” won the Men’s softball championship in the Division I Tuesday night spring tournament. Team “Scared Hitless” won the Men’s softball Division II Tuesday night spring tournament. Team “Sons of Pitches” won the Men’s softball Division I Wednesday night spring tournament. Team “Tilted Kilt” won the Men’s Division II Wednesday spring tournament. All softball tournaments were played at Renaissance Park.

Sons of Pitches

Scared Hitless

All City

30th Annual TriLatta Triathlon All participants must complete the race in under 2 hours-30 minutes.

The minimum age allowed for participating in the TriLatta Triathlon presented

by Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville is 10. The capacity for this event is capped at 800 participants. this event is sanctioned by the USAT and there will be a Champion Chip Timing System being used with all participants .

Horticulture News: Partnership Updates Internal County Partnerships with Enterprise and Real Estate Services helped to finance Hort inhouse design and install of a brand new landscape at St. Mary’s Chapel.

And with CMPD and many others to develop the Officer Sean Clark Memorial Garden at Blythe Landing Park.

With Charlotte Housing Authority and McColl Visual Arts creating an environmentally sound and very functional Native Plants’ Garden at Anita Stroud Park.

Carolinas’ Healthcare System volunteers to beautify the Little Sugar Creek Greenway . (pictured in order below)

Beneficial Programming.

Developing Character.

Enriching Lives.

Baseball Prep It & They Will Come!: As the 2013 Regular Baseball Season wines down, the Youth Sports Development Division extends our 'shout-outs', via a pictorialCaught Doing Good, to the maintenance crews that put in work, weekly, to make sure our baseball fields were Gold Medal worthy! Come out & catch the last regular season games, Saturday, of America’s favorite spring/summer pastime-baseball, in its purest form!

Crochet Club Gives Back at Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center: The Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center's Crochet Club and the Senior Nutrition program, crocheted and knitted blankets, hats, mittens, and footies for the children of the Levine Children's Hospital.

For more information on Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center Crochet Club contact 704-432-3048 or BetteRaeThomasRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov.

As a member of the TreeCharlotte collaborative, planting new trees at Shuffletown and Southside Parks at no cost to the County.

With our friends at the City of Charlotte, partnering to add much needed trees at Flat Branch and Mallard Creek Parks at no cost to the County.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Elmo Visits Tom Sykes Recreation Center: Last Thursday, Elmo visited with preschoolers Tom Sykes Recreation Center. During this program, preschoolers interacted with Elmo, enjoyed story time, colored pictures and made two special arts & crafts project. Families from all over the county now attend these preschool themed programs!

For more information about upcoming preschool programs, contact TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-432-4803.

Princess Day at Ivory/Baker Recreation Center: Last Friday, May 24th, Princess Day was held at the Ivory Baker Recreation Center for 8 princesses and their parents/guardians. A special appearance by Batman, who wanted to make sure all the princesses were safe, stopped by for the fun. Activities included decorating crowns, listening to stories of other princesses, played Pin the Kiss on the Frog, FillIn a Fairy Tale Story and Guess Which Princess. Each princess also received their very own wand to take home. Both adults and children had a great time.

For more information on programs happening at Ivory/Baker call 704.432.4580 or email IvoryBakerRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov .

Hort news cont...Also, partnerships with several Recreation Centers and the fine carpentry work of the North County Jail inmates to develop gardening programs like Lil’ Sprouts and expose the children to Going Green!

Horticulture: Memorial Tree, Brick & Bench Program Make a gift in honor of a loved one, organization or event by dedicating a tree or brick in a park, greenway or nature preserve (natives only in the preserves).

The gift represents a lasting tribute as it grows and flourishes for years to come. Trees are an important resource, offering habitat, oxygen and beauty.

...and with partnerships with many of our patrons, fulfilling their Memorial wishes.

For more information on Horticulture and volunteer opportunities, call Tim Turton at 704-336-8840.

Beneficial Programming.

Developing Character.

Enriching Lives.

Wallace Pruitt Gardening Club

Romare Bearden Bad weather has forced Park and Rec to push back the opening of Romare Bearden Park in Third Ward until September.

Park officials now hope to open the park around Labor Day, which would coincide with what would have been the 102nd birthday of the park’s namesake.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 the Wallace Pruitt Gardening Club got a surprise visit from Mr. Wallace Pruitt, affectionately called the "Mayor" by the Seversville residents. He was accompanied by Mr.Edward Brown, the Serversville Block Captain Chairman and Head Garderner. The gentlemen shared their gardening knowledge with participants and the participants were really attentive and respectful to our guest. The club meets once a week and they are anxiously waiting to harvest the garden and share the vegetables with the residents of the Seversville Community.

For more information regarding Community Out-reach Events or programs, please contact WallacePruittRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Tee Ball at Winget and Berewick: A big congratulations to the tee ball team at Winget and Berewick Recreation Centers! Their season concluded with an awards program on June 3rd. Parents and players enjoyed refreshments as the players received their trophies.

For more information about youth sports and other activities, contact Berewick Recreation Center at 704.432.4934.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities

Southview Recreation Center Southview's Dance Team Has Another Great Performance!: The Sister's With Amazing Gifts Dance Team, also known as S.W.A.G., was invited to perform at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church Spirit of David Dance Event. The 15 young ladies, ages 9-17, wowed the crowd with three dances, one of which they created themselves! This dance team allows young ladies to express themselves through dance and is made possible through a partnership with City Dive Inc., a non-profit agency.

West Virginia University Basketball Standout Visits “The View”: West Charlotte High School Alum and West Virginia University Women’s Basketball standout Christal Caldwell stopped by Southview Recreation Center to speak with the teens about college life.

Christal shared her story about staying focused on her academics and basketball throughout high school, affording her the opportunity to earn a college scholarship. She spoke with the teens about the importance of making their education a top priority while balancing their social life and extracurricular activities. The teens listened intently and asked some very good questions. Thanks to Christal for giving back to her community!

Community Activist and Motivational Speaker Stops by "The View": DeVondia Roseborough, a community advocate with a passion for helping young women build their self-esteem and recognize their self worth, visited the teen girls group at Southview Recreation Center. DeVondia conducted a workshop on "Relationships", having an in-depth conversation with the 12 young ladies present and discussed overcoming family isssues and engaging in healthy relationships. The young ladies received great advice and were really attentive to what Ms. Roseborough shared.

Baseball and Disc Golf reach Mid-season in Full Stride: The 2013 Youth Baseball and Inaugural 2013 Youth Disc Golf Leagues have both reached week 4 of their 8 week Regular Seasons. 705 Participants from 46 Youth Baseball Teams (Countywide) and 31 Youth Disc Golf League Participants (2 Regions – North @ Reedy Creek Park and South @ Elon Park) have found their stride and will begin the second half of their seasons this Saturday at 7 different parks throughout the County.

Both programs will run through early June and conclude following their post-season countywide tournaments. Good luck to all the participants. Youth Soccer and Flag Football registration begins July 1!

For more information about youth sports leagues, email YouthSports@MecklenburgCou ntyNC.gov or call (704) Creativity Has No Age-Limit at "The View": Southview's senior arts and crafts program is 432-4963. booming! Seniors meet every Thursday to engage in various craft projects and get their creative juices flowing while socializing with their peers and having a good time. Stop by Southview and check out some of the artwork on display! Occasionally, staff will throw in activities to fire up some friendly competition. The seniors love and look forward to it!

For more information on Senior programs at Southview contact SouthviewRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Park and Recreation News: 5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

Submissions for the Newsletter

Recreate All Year!

Subscribe to the Park and Recreation E-Newsletter to learn of new and exciting way sto continue recreating during the spring and summer months. Subscribe to the Park and Recreation E-Newsletter 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 21• June 7, 2013

Upcoming Events:

Benefit Concert:

Park and Recreation and Partners for Parks are holding a Jazz concert to help build playgrounds. Come enjoy a night of Jazz under the stars at Freedom Park with Nnenna Freelon and The Branford Marsalis Quartet. All proceeds from Donations, Tickets and Alcohol sales will go to Partners for Parks to build a Playground at Park Road Park in Memory of the victims of the Newtown, CT tragedy. Saturday, June 15, 2013 - 7:00PM—$5 per person - $20 for families of 4 or more 7:00PM—Nnenna Freelon 8:30PM—The Branford Marsalis Quartet Tickets are available at partnersforparks.org

Golf Classic:

8th Annual Veterans & Reservists Golf Classic will be held on June 27, 2013 at Sunset Hills Golf Course

Tri-Latta Triathlon:

30th Annual Tri-Latta Triathlon will be held on June 15, 2013 at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. Tri-Latta Triathlon is presented by Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department. All participants must complete the race in under 2 hours-30 minutes

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