The Friday Letter | June 6, 2014

The

Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood Please donate blood at the Mecklenburg County and City of Charlotte community blood drive on June 27. Come to room 267 at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center between 8:00 a.m. and noon or sign up in advance here. Enter sponsor code “CMG” when you enroll.

Your Ideas @ Work: The County Manager's Responses to Your Suggestions From the first day we opened the virtual Suggestion Box on the county manager’s web page, your thoughtful and insightful comments poured in. Now it’s time to see how we can implement some of your changes or explain why we can’t. Click here for the first responses and please, keep the suggestions coming!

Park and Recreation Administrative telephone numbers have changed

Athletics Basketball Men’s 30 and Over basketball will be starting their summer league this Sunday June 8th. There will be a total of 9 teams playing in the league this season. Games will be played at Bette Rae Rec Center starting at 2pm.

Park and Recreation has switched to VoIP. As a result our telephone numbers have changed.

The main number for AOB is 980-314-1000.

Please access Sharepoint via the link below to update your records. https:// mecktech.sharepoint.co m/teams/ParksandRec/ Team/_layouts/15/ WopiFrame.aspx? sourcedoc={5E9F02E32628-44B4-A33E7062D5B56502} &file=AOB% 20Directory.doc&action=default& DefaultItemOpen=1

Volleyball We held our 13th Annual Volleyball Bash this past weekend on Saturday May 31st and Sunday June 1st at Memorial Stadium. We had a great turnout with 92 teams participating in the tournament this year.

Athletics Softball Men’s D-I and D-II Wednesday night softball leagues have finished out their spring season and will be going into playoff tournament. There was a total of 8 teams that participated in the league this season. Games will be played on Wednesday starting at 7pm at Renaissance Park. For More information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-336-7639

Elite Skills & Drills Baseball Camp Sugaw Creek Recreation Center Advanced Hitting, Pitching, Fielding Instruction, Games June 16-July 3 9am-1pm $25/Week Contact Sugaw Creek Recreation Center to register 704-336-7655

Programs for Kids & Teens Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and other organizations in partnership with Park and Recreation offer many programs for youth in our county.

Please visit Eparks to search for upcoming programs. To sign-up for programs, you may register online or call phone number listed. If you know the barcode for desired program, you may search by that number.

McAlpine Creek Relief Sewer Project to Cause Greenway and Road Closures The McAlpine Creek Relief Sewer Project, intended to enhance sanitary sewer system performance, provide increased sewer capacity for present and future needs, and protect the water quality in McAlpine Creek, has entered its third phase of construction.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources McDowell Nature Center This week, McDowell Nature Preserve hosted a re-opening celebration for its newly redone Urban Outdoor Connection Greenhouse. Thanks to the time and efforts of McDowell staff member Anthony Shaheen, and the generosity of sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Partners for Parks, Power2Give, and Walmart, the greenhouse has undergone a complete renovation and is now able to operate year-round.

The project will impact residents who use the Upper McAlpine Creek Greenway, James Boyce Park, and McAlpine Creek Park and also those who drive on Providence Road.

In order to allow the City’s contractor to complete sewer pipe installation under Upper McAlpine Creek Greenway, the greenway will be closed between Sardis Road and Monroe Road beginning May 27.

Originally established in the early 2000’s on a federal grant to benefit the multi-site NC Prairie Restoration Project, the greenhouse’s initial purpose was for propagation of native prairie plant species grown from locally harvested seed. Greenhouse-grown native plants helped to enrich newly restored prairie ecosystem sites across Mecklenburg County, which are currently home to three species of federally endangered plants, five avian species of special concern, and a wide variety of insects and wildlife that are rare to this region. Teens from all over the county have helped grow and donate over 1,500 plants and have planted roughly 900 native prairie grasses and wildflowers.

McAlpine cont.‌.

The greenhouse is now used not just for the benefit of the 20-year Prairie Restoration Project plan, but also to benefit Urban Outdoor Connection programming through McDowell Nature Center. In 2012, a partnership between the Arts and Science Council and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation resulted in the launch of new urban outreach outdoor programming aimed at kids and teens in the most urban areas of Charlotte. Since that time, over 3,000 hours of special urban outdoor programming have been logged, including afterschool clubs, in-school environmental education, summer camps, and youth stewardship volunteering. Teens have used the greenhouse to grow vegetable crops for fundraising plant sales, as well as food crops for 4-H Teen Chef programs. The greenhouse has already provided roughly $3,300 for Urban Outdoor Connection program scholarships and will continue with fundraising to benefit all Urban Connection initiatives.

To make residents aware of these closings, Park & Rec and CMUD are doing the following: Neighborhood leaders and other contacts will be emailed about upcoming work Signs have been installed in parks and entrances to alert residents about the sewer project and greenway closure.

The following efforts were made to notify residents and minimize disruptions: The road closure was timed to occur after end of public school year CATS was notified that bus routes 14 and 61x will be affected A letter will be mailed to 3,800 customers near the area Detour signs and message boards will be posted early to alert commuters.

NCDOT and CMUD are alerting traffic reporters Updates on the status of these projects will be provided online.

Upcoming MeckSeniors Programs Shatley Springs & Cheese Factory Tour

Community and Recreation Center Services Park and Recreation received the “Silver Award” Park and Recreation received the “Silver Award” for workplace safety from the North Carolina Department of Labor, for the second consecutive year, at the Safety Council luncheon on Friday, May 30, 2104. The department safety team members are Virgil Osborne, Michael Monroe, Dean Williams, Jody Corum, Katie Robinson, Lief Fitzpatrick, Jeff Robinson, James Rainey and Peter Cook.

Come enjoy country cooking, the famous spring water and the beautiful mountain scenery. We will stop to see the Ben long Frescos and the Ashe County Cheese Factory. Lunch is not included at Shatley Springs.

Thursday, June 12th (#55226)

Cost: $35 includes transportation and admission into attractions To Register: Call 704-336 -8105 or sign up at your local recreation center or 311

Katie Robinson accepts the “Silver Award” from NC Commissioner of Labor, Cherie Berry.

Community and Recreation Center Services Mayor’s Youth Employment Program The City of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County join forces for an exciting internship for teens. The 16 & 17 year olds will assist in operations at a recreation facility with lead direction from full time park and recreation professional staff members. Their duties may include front desk operations- answering customer calls, assisting walk in patrons, and clerical work. They may also assist in leading games and activities and monitoring patrons in summer day camps at the recreation centers. The internship will last 8 weeks, and in addition to earning money for their 20 hours per week, they will gain a lot of “first job” experience.

Work at Park & Rec this summer Looking for a great job that pays $11+/hour with the aquatics division of Park and Recreation? For information about becoming Starguard Certified (First Aid/CPR), lifeguards please contact us at:

Ray's Splash Planet email Jody Corum Marion Diehl email Pat Daly Aquatic Center email Stephanie Whittington

All Mecklenburg County Aquatic Facilities and Pools are compliant with the VIRGINIA GRAEME BAKER ACT

Party in the Park Series This is a series of weekly performances featuring new and upcoming talent. The series will start May 7, 2014 and run through September. The series will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the following dates: May 7: Peace & Love May 14: Trial by Fire May 21: Who Rescued Who May 28: Lipstick on a Pig June 4: The Extraordinaires June 11: Too Much Sylvia June 18: Flashback, The Party Band June 25: The Volunteers, U.S. Army Field Band

Community and Recreation Center Services

Community and Recreation Center Services

National Program Recognizes Mecklenburg County for its Environmental Accomplishments Mecklenburg County has been awarded Bronze recognition by the State Electronics Challenge—a national environmental stewardship program—for its accomplishments in responsible end-of- life management of its computer and imaging equipment in 2013.

Mecklenburg achieved these results by using an electronics recycler that has achieved environmental certification through both the R2 and e-Stewards electronic recycling standards.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources The Division of Nature Preserves and Natural Resources is responsible for the protection and conservation of Mecklenburg County's parks designated as Nature Preserves.

Friday, June 13th, 2014 Charles T. Myers Golf Course 8:30 am Shotgun Start

Nature Preserves protect the county's biological resources and natural areas, while providing opportunities for environmental education, nature-based programs, and outdoor recreation.

Our staff offer more than 5,000 programs annually, perform natural resource management, maintain more than 30 miles of nature trails, 6,500 acres, 3 nature centers, and a public campground.

Friday, June 13th, 2014 8:30am Shotgun Start—Charles T. Myers Golf Course

The tournament will be hosted at CT Myers, Friday, June 13. The Shot Gun start will be at 8:30am, with range balls available for practice prior. Please help spread the word on this great event! Let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to seeing you on the course!

Friday, June 13, 2014

2900 Rocky River Road Charlotte, NC 28215 Phone: 704-432-6459 Fax: 704-432-6461

15222 York Road Charlotte, NC 28278 Phone: 704-588-5224 Fax: 704-588-5226

6211 Sample Road Huntersville, NC 28078 Phone: 704-875-1391 Fax: 704-875-1394

Summer Fun The outdoor pools and spraygrounds will both open and close on the same schedule, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Spraygrounds The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department now offers a place for you and your family to escape from the summer heat and cool off in one of the new and exciting spraygrounds. Each sprayground has been constructed with fun water features that you can run through, jump in or just sit down and enjoy.

There is no charge, just come and enjoy.

Facilities with Spraygrounds: Cordelia Park, 2100 North Davidson Street Latta Park, 601 East Park Avenue Nevin Park, 6000 Statesville Rd. Veterans Park, 2136 Central Avenue West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2400 Kendall Drive Sprayground Hours are 10am-8pm

Romare Bearden Events Bearden Music Series Last weekend, Romare Bearden Park wrapped up the first full month of programming with a very successful first installment of the Bearden Music Series. With Jazz performances by the Calvin Edwards Quartet and Tizer, over 1,300 people came uptown to enjoy a beautiful day of music in the park. The Bearden Music Series continues this month on Saturday, June 28th for Americana music with Square Roots, Underhill Rose and Shenandoah starting at 3:30pm!

Romare Bearden Events Music Box & Party in the Park Romare Bearden Park also had another great week with Music Box Lunch and Party in the Park. Several school groups joined Ray Daye at lunchtime on Friday to celebrate the end of the school year for a fun picnic in the Park.

On Wednesday, The Extraordinaires put on a fantastic show for over 700 people at Party in the Park. For fun, live music, don’t forget to check out Party in the Park on Wednesdays starting at 5:30pm in June and moving to 6:30pm in July.

Summer Fun Outdoor Pools The Double Oaks and Cordelia Outdoor Pools offer summer swim leagues for youth, free swim lessons as well as open swim opportunities. Come on down and enjoy the water.

Hours of Operation Summer 2014 Starting Saturday May 24- Jun 10 (weekends only) plus Memorial day Saturdays 11am-5pm Sundays 1-5pm Monday Memorial Day 12-6pm Starting Wednesday Jun 11 – Mon Sep 1st (open 7 days a week) (Closed Mon Jun 9 & Tue Jun 10) Mon - Fri 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat: 11 am - 5 p.m.

Sun: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission Fees Outdoor pools are only $1 all summer long.

Community Meetings Set for Upcoming Park, Greenway, and Nature Preserve Projects Park and Recreation will host several community information sessions throughout the remainder of the year to obtain feedback on the design and enhancement of various parks, nature preserves and greenways around the County.

June 5 Berewick Regional Park (Design Phase for 2 ball fields for joint use with CMS.) Berewick Recreation Center, 5910 Dixie River Road June 9 Campbell Creek Greenway Information Session #2 (Design Phase for 1.0 mile greenway extension from W.T. Harris Boulevard to Lockmont Drive) Hornets Nest Girl Scout Council Office, 7007 Idlewild Road

Community and Recreation Center Services Ultimate “Trash Ball” at Naomi Drennan Recreation Center On Thursday, May 29th, teens ages 12 through 17 took part in a game of “Trash Ball” hosted by the Urban Eagles Mentoring program, which is held every Thursday from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center. Participants gather once a week with their mentors, who are wonderful people in the Grier Heights community and surrounding communities, to play various innovative games and split off into private group sessions to discuss topics that focus on building character and sharing that knowledge with others. For more information about our programs and events, contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704.432.5231.

Berewick Recreation Center Berewick just completed a six week program on Thursday’s called Let’s Play the Game the Right Way. Youth Sports participates worked on basic skills and drills. This program was created by the request of parents and coaches. For more information on programs contact staff at BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704 432-4934.

Community and Recreation Center Services Get Ready, Get Set, Go Active Net July 1 is the “Go Live” date for Active Net. All front desk and frontline programming staff and their supervisors are busy being trained and training their staff for this exciting date. Recreation Assistants, Recreation Specialists, and Facility Managers recently received Active Net training.

Community Meetings cont.….

June 10 Reid Neighborhood Park Information Session #3 (Design Phase for a new neighborhood park) Reid Park Academy, 4108 West Tyvola Road June 11 Evergreen Nature Preserve (Design Phase for Phase 1 development of a new nature preserve) Winterfield Elementary School, 3100 Winterfield Place June 18 Flat Branch Nature Preserve (Design Phase for Phase 1 development of a new nature preserve) Polo Ridge Elementary School, 11830 Tom Short Road July 15 Veterans Park Shelter (Design Phase for renovation of existing indoor shelter) Veterans Park, 2136 Central Avenue July 29 West Charlotte Recreation Center (Design Phase for renovation of existing facility) West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Drive

Community Meetings cont.‌.

Community and Recreation Center Services

Aug 4 Southwest Community Park (Design Phase for 2 ball fields, parking, shelter) Southview Recreation Center, 1720 Vilma Street August 11 Long Creek Greenway Information Session #2 (Design Phase for 1.0 mile greenway from I-77 to Dixon Branch at Northlake Target store) Hornets Nest Park, 6301

Beatties Ford Road August 19 Hornets Nest Park Shelter (Design Phase for new large indoor shelter) Hornets Nest Park, 6301 Beatties Ford Road September 8 Irwin Creek Greenway Information Session #2 (Design Phase for .5 mile greenway extension from Remount Road to West Blvd) Revolution Park Sports Academy, 1225 Remount Road

Party in the Park Series This is a series of weekly performances featuring new and upcoming talent. The series will start in May and run through September. The series will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Community and Recreation Center Services

Elite Skills & Drills Baseball Camp Sugaw Creek Recreation Center

Advanced Hitting Pitching Fielding Instruction Games

June 16-July 3

Community Meetings cont.‌.

September 15 Cordelia Park Shelter/ Charles Park Shelter/ Cordelia Underpass (Design Phase for new indoor shelter at Cordelia Park , an open air shelter at Charles Park and an extension of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway under Parkwood Avenue to Cordelia Park) Belmont Center, 700 Parkwood Avenue

September 18 Ramsey Creek Swim Beach (Design Phase for new swim beach at Ramsey Creek Park) Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Avenue

9am-1pm

$25/Week Sugaw Creek Park Field 1 Contact Sugaw Creek Recreation Center to register

704-336-7655

Additional meetings will be added to this list as they are announced.

For more information, contact Kevin.Brickman@Mecklenb urgCountyNC.gov, Park and Recreation Capital Planning.

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 2 • June 6, 2014

ParkandRec.com Will Soon Have A New Look If you are looking for the latest information on recreation and fitness activities in Mecklenburg County, then www.parkandrec.com is your destination and pretty soon the site will have a brand-new look.

In July, The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department will unveil a website redesign which will make it easier than ever before to navigate through the site to discover all the things Park and Rec has to offer.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Senior Leadership Team

The biggest enhancement to the website will be the way visitors register for Park and Rec events and programs. You will find links for eParks 2.0, which is the department’s new online registration program. Using eParks, patrons will be able to get information about parks, picnic shelters, program, and special event offerings. Patrons will also be able to reserve campsites at McDowell Campground, register for fitness, nature, and special interest classes, reserve a picnic shelter and purchase or renew memberships at fitness and aquatic facilities.

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 Recrea-

With over 200 parks, 70 miles of trails, 18 recreation centers and so much more, Park and Recreation truly offers something for everyone. So mark your calendars and get ready to discover all the ways you can recreate all year at www.parkandrec.com.

tion Center Services Jeff Robinson, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources