The Friday Letter | January 17, 2014

THE

Park News

Dena Diorio

I wanted to thank you all for the warm and welcoming reception this morning. I mean it when I say that Mecklenburg County is fortunate to have a talented and dedicated group of employees that are passionate about what they do. It is an honor for me to have met you all today and I look forward to future opportunities to attend meetings and events at Park & Recreation.

Dena Diorio and Ray

Jim Garges

Thursday, January 16—All Staff Meeting Service pin recipients with Dena Diorio, Leslie Johnson, Chris Peek and Jim Garges.

Latta Plantation Fairy House Festival February 8, 10-4 Come spend an afternoon discovering the joy and magic of fairy houses! Storytelling, face painting, crafts, activities, pony rides and food will be available. Prizes for best fairy or gnome costume and best fairy house will be awarded. Learn how to build your own fairy house on one of our nature trails! Enchanting fun for all ages!

FREE! No registration required.

Schedule of Events Fairy House Building: 10am to 4pm Fort Building: 10am to 3pm Pony Rides: 10am to 3pm ($2 fee) Story Telling: 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 Costume Parade: 2pm Fairy House Judging: 2:30pm Fairy House Awards: 3:30pm Craft Activities: 10 to 4 Fairy Boats: 10 to 4 Gnome Geocaching: 10 to 4

Beneficial Programming.

Developing Character.

Enriching Lives.

Revolution Park Sports Academy: The Revolution Park Sports Academy, in partnership with the Police Activities League, is currently offering youth wrestling to members of our community. The program has 25 participants, ranging in ages from 5 to 14.

The PAL wrestling program houses beginners and advanced wrestlers alike. Coaches strive to develop quality wrestlers, but more importantly develop character within their participants. Wrestlers are eligible to compete in wrestling matches if interested. For more information on this program, or other programs available at Revolution Park Sports Academy, contact (704) 432-4963.

Sugaw Creek Recreation Center: Student Athletes On Monday, January 13, eleven (11) middle and high school aged student athletes met at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center for the NCAA Student-Athlete Seminar. This program was an informative workshop for student athletes who may be interested in playing collegiate sports. The session covered important information regarding the NCAA Clearinghouse, SAT/ACT requirements, student loans, scholarships, grant information and much more. For more information, contact Sugaw Creek Recreation Center at 704-336-7655.

Naomi Drenan Recreation Center: Coffee & Art Therapy at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center: On Wednesday, January 15th, Naomi Drenan Recreation Center hosted its first Coffee & Art Therapy program involving the Active Seniors Club from Naomi Drenan and the Senior Group at Arbor Glen. Participants explored their abilities and finding their inner artists while enjoying snacks, coffee, and hot chocolate! Thanks to Cathay Dawkins, a local area artist, the seniors learned how to outline and paint a peacock through visual aids and careful instructions. We would like to thank Arbor Glen's Senior Group for coming out and experiencing this program with us! For more information on our Senior Programs, please contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704.432.5231.

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.

Citizens Looking for things to do?

There is no shortage of things to do in Mecklenburg County! Throughout the year Park and Rec hosts many popular athletic events, aactivitioe and programs that offer great things to do on idle weekends. You can find out what programs are available to you at www.parkandrec.com in our Get Going Guide. You can even register for the programs online at eParks .

Beneficial Programming.

Developing Character.

Enriching Lives.

Mallard Creek Recreation Center: Senior Nutrition New Year’s Panther Party Participants in the Senior Nutrition Program had a wonderful time at their New Year’s celebration. The seniors had plenty of healthy food to eat while showing off their panther pride. The seniors wore Panther apparel and decorated the room with panther decorations and colors. At 12:00 Noon they brought in the new year with a toast for fun, fellowship, health and happiness. For more information contact, Shawn.McCants@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov or 704-548-8234.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources

New Greenway in North Mecklenburg County Phase I, the first section of Long Creek Greenway to be developed, will extend approximately one mile from I77 to Target along Dixon Branch Road. Phase II, extending the greenway farther west to Primm Road, is expected to receive funding in 2018.

Environmental Educator Kristen Haas assists visitors with owl pellet dissections at First Friday: Nature After Dark.

McDowell Nature Center: During the winter months, the McDowell Nature Center stays open late for First Friday: Nature After Dark. This family-friendly open house features free hot chocolate and make-your-own s'mores around the campfire as well as up close contact with nature. Educators bring out exhibit animals such as box turtles and corn snakes to talk about native wildlife and the importance of environmental stewardship. Night hikes offer a great opportunity to experience a different side of nature that help visitors focus on senses other than sight. Staff offer other activities such as owl pellet dissections, crafts, and even skull identification. Join us next month on Friday, February 7th 6-8pm for our final event of the winter season. For more information please call McDowell Nature Center at 704-588-5224.

Once complete, Long Creek Greenway will connect the future extension of Mallard Creek Greenway to the Catawba River at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

The completed greenway will provide an east-west corridor across Mecklenburg County.

For more information on Mecklenburg County greenways, click here.

5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

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 The Friday Letter Team at Kier. Harrison@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 3 • Issue 3• January 17, 2014

Summer Camp Registration Summer camp registration begins on February 1, 2014 at 9:00 am. To ensure your child’s spot in one of the wonderful summer camps offered by Park and Recreation please register early! Visit parkandrec.com to view the summer camp listing. Register online by utilizing our Eparks system or call 311 (704-336-7600) to register by phone.

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