The Friday Letter | September 6, 2013

Volume 2 ISSUE WEEKLY

31

NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK AND RECREATION

September 6 2013

DEPARTMENT

FridayLetter THE

this issue

In The News:

Park News P.1 Enterprise Services P.2

Romare Bearden Park

Community & Recreation Center Services P.3

Please Join Us at the Romare Bearden Park For Music Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in September

Park and Recreation— Park News Romare Bearden Park Opens with Grand Weekend Celebration

Party in the Park Series: WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 5PM -8PM Join us after work for weekly performances featuring new and upcoming talent. The series will start in September 2013 and pick up again for the 2014 series in April.

The series will take place on the Small Oval on Church Street.

ENJOY Great Music

The Grand Opening of Romare Bearden Park Friday, August 30th was a day of celebration as Romare Bearden Park opened to the public. Watch the Opening Ceremony by clicking the photo (on right).

and Beverages. September schedule 9/11

The

Extraordinaires

(Classic Rhythm and Blues) 9/18 The Matt Stratford Band (Party Band) 9/25 Natural Wonder (Stevie Wonder Tribute)

Romare Bearden Park—Uptown Success (Charlotte Observer) A once desolate block in uptown’s Third Ward is now a verdant 5.4 acres where flowers and plants, waterfalls and child-like whimsy create the long-awaited tribute to Charlotte-born artist Romare Bearden.

The $11 million public Romare Bearden Park – which opens Friday with three days of events – slopes along the curvy “Evocative Spine” walkway that stretches from Church and Third streets, between two grassy ovals, to Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Join the ACC in Charlotte for the ACC Football Championship on December 7th!

Because you are associated with Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec, you have the ability to reserve tickets to the ACC Football Championship game for only $25!

Your Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec ticket package includes: FREE ACC Championship

Tournaments & Adult Athletics Highlights for the Past Weeks Men’s 30 and Over Basketball championship game was held on Sunday August 25 at Bette Rae Recreation Center. The winning team was God’s Chosen. There were a total of 9 teams participating this season.

Volleyball Women’s A championship game was held on Thursday August 29 at West Charlotte Recreation Center. The two teams competing for the championship were Time-Out and Volleygirls. There were a total of 7 teams participating this season.

Hat FREE Chick-Fil-A chicken

sandwich Ticket to see the ACC crown its 2013 champion LIVE! This $46 value is only available in advance.

A minimum ticket purchase of four tickets is required per order.

To reserve your seats at the special Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec $25 rate, please call Timothy Cole at 336-331-3823 by October 25th and mention you are associated with Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec.

Men’s 30 and Over Basketball hosted an All Star game on Tuesday August 27 at Bette Rae Recreation Center. The winning team was from the East. The team consisted of players for God’s Chosen, ARJ, and Black Ice regular season teams.

Record Breaking Cross County Meet

Tournaments The Annual Dick's Sporting Goods Charlotte Invitational Tournament hosted by Charlotte Soccer Academy concluded this past weekend. The tournament was held at Elon Park, Flat Branch Park, Colonel Francis Beatty Park and William R. Davie Park over two weekends August 17 -18 and August 24-25. More than 500 teams participated in the tournament coming from states all over the country including; the Carolinas, Georgia, Flordia, Tennesse, Virgina, New York and Pennsylvannia. The tournament was a complete success on all fronts from the participants working hard on the field to achieve success to our department and CSA working together to produce a great experience for all.

Record Breaking Cross County Meet Records Fell at the Providence High School Invitational Cross Country Meet: Over 1600 competitors filled McAlpine Creek Park Saturday, August 24. It was a perfect day for running and the times reflected that. Seventeen runners were under the 16:00 minute mark in the Boy's Invitational Race. Ian Milder from Mt. Tabor beat Wyatt Maxey from Providence HS by a fraction of a second, in a sprint to the finish. Ian Milders time of 15:09 beat the old meet record by 11 seconds. Mt. Tabor took top honors in both the Boys Invitational and Girls Invitational races. Kayla Montgomery from Mt. Tabor won the individual Girls Invitational with a time of 18:04, beating a meet record by 8 seconds. (Story and photos continued in side column and to right)

(cont’d) The event included six races; Boys Invitational (255 finishers), Girls Invitational (234 finishers), Boys Open ( 193 finishers), Girls Open (178 finishers), Boys JV (465 finishers) and Girls JV (303 finishers). The Providence Invitational is the kick-off to a busy Cross Country season at McAlpine Creek Park. Over 20 High School and College events will take place at McAlpine from August to the end of November. For more information on running events contact Preston.Buckman @MecklenburgCountyNC .gov.

McDowell Creek DIRTway Plans Natural Resources conducted a public meeting on September 3rd to hear input on McDowell Creek DIRTway plans. Neighbors who attended are looking forward to the project, a 1.5 mile stretch of trail along McDowell Creek in Huntersville. The DIRTway system is comprised of temporary natural-surface trails on park land that will eventually be developed into a paved Greenway trail. For more information, check out the DIRTway link at ParkandRec.com

Nature Preserves - Building Bridges: Nature Preserve Operations staff have been working to improve trails this summer, including repairing or replacing many pedestrian bridges, such as the ones pictured here in McDowell Nature Preserve. Mecklenburg County Nature Preserves have over 50 foot bridges on 35 miles of trails. (Pictured in Column)

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities

Cross Country For Youth (CCFY) Johnson & Johnson Grant Winner:

Revolution Park Sports Academy Soccer and Flag Football Seasons Begin: The 2013 Youth Soccer and Flag Football seasons will commence this Saturday, September 7th at several parks throughout Mecklenburg County. 551 Youth Participants ranging in ages from 4 to 10 will represent 28 flag football teams and 40 soccer teams to begin regular season play. League play will be held on Saturday mornings and run through early October. Post Season single elimination tournament play begins in November. For more information on these and other youth sports programs, email YouthSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call the Revolution Park Sports Academy at (704)432-4963. Youth Basketball Registration begins October 1.

Tot Time: Revolution Park Sports Academy has started its next session of Tot Time! Pre-school aged participants ages 2-5 are invited to take part in this fun program.

Each class is designed to develop gross motor skills, listening, teamwork, and social skills. At the completion of the session, participants will have played a variety of fun games, and met many new friends as well. Sessions run for 4 weeks, with classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am. For more information, contact the Revolution Park Sports Academy at (704) 432-4963.

Congratulations to one of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department's partnering youth sports agencies, the Cross -Country for Youth organization, for being one of seven winners nationally of the Johnson & Johnson Childhood Obesity grant for the next 2 1/2 years. Reginald McAfee, Founder and Executive Director said "We are excited about this great opportunity and thank each of you for your continued support of CCFY." The 2013 Johnson & Johnson Community Health Care grants program in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University .

For more information on Cross-Country for Youth and the Johnson & Johnson Childhood Obesity grant, click on the link above, go to www.crosscountryforyou th.org or email Reggie.McAfee1@gmail.c om. For more information on cross-country and other youth sports programs such as track, baseball, soccer, basketball and flag football, please visit the Revolu-

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Back to School Skate Jam at Grayson On August 24, Grayson SkatePark hosted its Back to School Skate Jam! Highlighting the Jam was the Swag-O-Meter Competition where skaters brought as much style as they could to a two minute run. Categories were available for beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters with awesome prizes donated by Black Sheep and Wallerbears! Other activities included free games and giveaways, back to school shopping with Christian Isaiah, food vendors, and even a dance party featuring 12 year old DJ ___________________ Beau.

First Annual Youth Naomi Drenan Recreation Center (Grayson) Sports Scholarship For more information about SkatePark programs, contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenFund Golf Tournament ter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704-432-5231.

CALLING ALL GOLFERS AND POTENTIAL SPONSORS Are you looking for a chance to be a part of something special? Look no further. On Monday, September 9th, Renaissance Golf Course will host the First Annual Youth Sports Scholars hip Fund Golf Tournament.

Proceeds from the tournament will be used to help fund youth sports opportunities for deserving children in our communities. For information about the tournament or becoming a sponsor, click on the brochure or sponsorship packet links on the website.

Sky Hy Steppers The Naomi Drenan Sky Hy Steppers beat the heat as they brought beats to the downtown Charlotte Labor Day Parade! Ten youth participated in the event as they drummed, stomped, and stepped their way through the streets entertaining the crowd. The Sky Hy Steppers are always there to lend a hand at community and center events. Youth learn discipline, integrity, leadership, and so much more as they live up to their motto, "One Voice, One Step, One Team!"

For more information about youth and teen programs, contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704-432-5231.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Second Annual Girls Sports Conference: On Thursday, August 22, twenty-five (25) participants attended the program at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center. The purpose of the event is to provide fun, yet competitive environment where young girls can develop basic sports skills while learning character traits such as: teamwork, leadership, respect, responsibility and self-discipline. The girls enjoyed guest speaker and author, Brianna McClelland (JCSU Graduate & Student-Athlete), teambuilding games, sport stations, food, free girls sport books and goodie bags. Special thanks to Nick Roberts, Brian R. Joyner, Brett Krizanik, James Rainey, Sugaw Creek Recreation Center Youth Mentees, sponsors and volunteers for their valuable assistance.

Beginning in September, Sugaw Creek Recreation Center will host Girls Basketball and Softball Clinics.

Sugaw Creek Recreation Center For more information, contact Cynthia.Smith-Perkins@MecklenburgCountyNC or 704336-7655.

Baseball Camp Sugaw Creek Recreation Center hosted a youth baseball half day camp August 19-23. The campers worked on their hitting, defensive, and pitching skills. They tackled a number of mental aspects of the game and became more knowledgeable about baseball. They learned different signs, how to take a lead off of the bases and much more. They finished off the week with small adapted game scrimmages. For more information, contact Sugaw Creek Recreation Center at 704-336-7655.

Tennis Camp Coach William Brown and the 2013 Sugaw Creek Jr. Tennis Summer Camp wrapped up summer activities on Friday August 23. Coach Brown, who has overcome some medical adversity this past year, is back teaching youth about the lessons of tennis and life. Campers work tirelessly on their tennis skill and endurance. They are required weekly to read a book and give an oral report to their peers about their reading. Coach Brown continues to be an asset to local youth and we thank him for his dedication.

Romare Bearden Youth Art Show The Sugaw Creek Summer Tennis Campers took time off the court to show their artistic talents as they participated in the art show. The participants ranged in age from 8 to 14 years. They made collages that were displayed Saturday, August 31, at the Grand Opening of Romare Bearden Uptown Park.

Park and Recreation News: 5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

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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 31• September 6, 2013

Scenes Events: Invasive Plants Training On Wednesday, August 28, Nature Preserve Operations staff teamed up with Natural Resources staff to learn about invasive plant management. Nature Preserves protect some of the best remaining natural areas in Mecklenburg County, and control of exotic, invasive species is a priority. Staff learned to identify the most harmful invasive plants, such as Japanese Stiltgrass, Japanese Honeysuckle (pictured), Chinese Lespedeza, and Autumn Olive. Techniques were discussed on how to remove these species and give native plants a fighting chance.

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