Greetings again from Mecklenburg Park and Recreation!  We hope events and activities in this e-newsletter contribute to your summer fun and fitness. 

WATCH JULY 4 FIREWORKS AT MEMORIAL STADIUM, AND FROLIC AT THE FAMILY FUN FEST

Come to Memorial Stadium, 310 North Kings Drive, July 4 to watch the "Red, White and Boom!" fireworks. Admission is FREE. Gates open 6pm. Park for $5 in stadium lots 6, 7, and 8 along East Seventh Street. Fireworks start about 9:30pm. Activities include Moon Bounce (inflatables for children), watermelon eating contest, tug-of-war, sack races, etc.  Food and drink concessions available. No alcohol or coolers allowed. Canned food will be collected for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Bring a blanket and folding chair and watch fireworks from the field, or sit in grandstands.

MECKLENBURG DOG PARKS NOW FREE FOR DOGS AND PEOPLE; POOCH PASSES NO LONGER REQUIRED

Mecklenburg County's dog parks are FREE as of July 1. The system of "pooch passes" ($35/yr for County residents) was phased-out over the past year. Dog parks are now available for all users without charge or membership requirements. All dogs must have rabies vaccinations as required by law. Dog owners are still responsible for their pets. Raleigh, Ft. Myers, Richmond, New York City, Seattle, and Portland, OR and other cities successfully run FREE dog parks without controlled entry. Mecklenburg dog parks are open 7am–sunset every day at McAlpine Creek Park, Reedy Creek Park, Ramsey Creek Park and William R. Davie Park. A new dog park will open in uptown's Frazier Park, in a few weeks.

State law and County ordinance require kids younger than 16 to wear a bike helmet when riding on two wheels.

BIKE HELMET SAFETY CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY FOR PARKS AND GREENWAYS IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY

Carolinas HealthCare System and Mecklenburg Park and Recreation encourage youngsters and teens to wear bike helmets for safety this summer when riding in parks and on greenways. Selected Park Watch personnel will distribute special certificates for a free bike helmet to children younger than 16 who don't have a helmet. Youngsters with helmets will be "rewarded" with  a ticket for Charlotte Knights baseball.

PARK AND RECREATION OFFERS FREE FOOTBALL INSTRUCTIONAL CLINICS FOR YOUNGSTERS AGES 7-11

Youngsters, ages 7-11, who want to learn about playing football are invited to any one of three FREE Youth Instructional Football Clinics in July. Clinics focus on learning and improving fundamental skills. Clinics are non-contact and cover passing and receiving techniques, reinforced through touch games. Instruction is by Park and Rec staff and volunteer coaches.  No uniforms required, just shorts and athletic shoes. Clinics held Saturdays, 9am-1pm at:

• July 12, Colonial Park, 219 Providence Rd        
• July 19, Pearle Street Park, 1200 Baxter St.
• July 26, Pearle Street Park, 1200 Baxter St.

Space is limited. To register or for more information call 311 or contact Aaron Cheeks at Aaron.Cheeks@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-336-3590.

PLAN AHEAD NOW FOR REEDY CREEK NATURE CENTER'S HUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL, A GREAT FREE FAMILY ACTIVITY, AUGUST 23

Most hummingbirds in the Carolinas make a remarkable journey to get here. After wintering in Central America, most fly about 500 miles, nonstop, across the Gulf of Mexico to return to North America for spring and summer. Park and Recreation hosts its second annual day-long festival celebrating ruby throated hummingbirds Sat, Aug 23 at the Nature Center in Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve, 2900 Rocky River Road. The festival is FREE, 10am – 4:30pm. It features hummingbird banding, fun games, crafts, vendors of hummingbird products, face-painting and storytelling about hummingbirds for the entire family. Donations accepted for nature programs. For more information contact 311 or Lenny Lampel at 704-598-8857 or lenny.lampel@mecklenburgcountync.gov

Hummingbirds flap their wings more than 60 times a second creating a buzzzz.

SUMMER E-PLANT TIPS FROM NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE (IN MECKLENBURG, A DIVISION OF PARK AND RECREATION)

• Drought and hot, dry winds can cause pepper and tomato blossoms to drop off. Try misting twice a day to cool them and help the blossoms set fruit.
• Before spraying insecticide on vegetables, check the label. Each insecticide has a time you must wait before you can harvest.
• A garden needs one inch of rain or water a week. Early morning is the best time. Evening watering may make leaves wet through the night, more susceptible to fungal diseases. Mulch plants to reduce water loss and improve yields.
• Most fertilizer recommendations are for 100 sq ft, your garden's area may be a simple fraction of that. For example, a 4x12 1/2 ft garden is exactly 50 sq ft and requires exactly one half the fertilizer required by a garden of 100 square feet.

PARK AND RECREATION NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR PROJECT AND PLAYGROUNDS. 

If you can volunteer please sign-up now!  Contact Volunteer Coordinator Lori Saylor:  704 336-5478 or lori.saylor@MekclenburgCountyNC.gov. Volunteers now needed for:

• Help build a truly "accessible" playground at Nevin Park, 6000 Statesville Rd, September 29-October 4, 2008. Building shifts are 8am–12:30pm, 12noon–5:30pm, and 5pm–dark. This will be a play area on a NASCAR theme, without barriers, specially designed to be accessible for all children, regardless of their abilities.  Skilled and unskilled volunteers needed to help with construction, hospitality and first aid. Individuals, families, church groups, companies, social groups, fraternities, sororities and sport teams are invited.  This project is called "Hearts and Hands," a great opportunity to work together, do team building, and build a playground for children.
  
• Hummingbird Festival, Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Rd, Aug. 23, 9am–5pm (several shifts available). Day-long festival celebrates ruby-throated hummingbirds.  Many activities 10-4:30pm. Volunteers greet, help with tables, crafts, speakers assistance, programs, etc.
  
• Opportunities for Businesses--turn key projects, just show up dressed appropriately. We can arrange a shelter for picnic lunch.
  
  1. Adoptions: Your staff can "adopt" a park and recreation facility and commit to a certain amount of volunteering each month. For groups of 10 or more who will work every month.. Signs will announce adoption of a park, greenway, recreation center.
  
  2. Periodic projects: For projects on a regular basis but less than once a month.
  
  3. Special Events: Many opportunities Some on weekends; some during the work week, a great way to bond and build teams!