WELCOME TO THE NEW E-MAIL NEWSLETTER FROM MECKLENBURG COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

This e-newsletter will tell you about the many facilities, activities and programs offered by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. Our job is to help you have fun, encourage your good health, and provide wonderful opportunities to appreciate nature. Depending how you count them, we have about 160 parks, 27 recreation centers, 11 nature preserves, 6 disc golf courses, 5 regular golf courses, 3 indoor swimming pools, 2 outdoor pools, 2 skate parks, and 33 miles of greenways. Our department oversees 17,500 acres of parks and nature preserves. Our slogan is, "the natural place to be."  We want to be the natural place for YOU to be.

 

THOUSANDS OF DOGS, PEOPLE EXPECTED FOR HARRIS TEETER/PURINA®  BARK IN THE PARK, APRIL 28

Thousands of dogs "and the people they own" are expected to attend this year's Bark in the Park April 28, at William R. Davie Park, 4635 Pineville-Matthews Road, NC Highway 51 (NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR), 10a.m. - 4p.m. Admission is free. Visit our new off-leash dog park, the fourth in Mecklenburg County. See jumping, diving, and fetching feats by the Ultimate Air Dogs presented by Purina.

Dogs of every description love to come to Bark in the Park.

Join the Pooch Parade and contests such as: Most Unique Dog, Best Bark, Biggest/Smallest Dog, Best Dog Trick, and Best Pet/Owner Look Alike. Many exhibits, dog products, adoptable dogs, prize drawings. Great dogs to see and greet. So bring yours--on a leash, please!

 

AKIDA JORDAN KICKS-OFF NEW PROGRAM TO UPGRADE FOOTBALL COACHING AND OFFICIATING

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has hired a Youth Football Coordinator to develop programs to improve youth football. This effort is funded by a $50,000 a year/3 year grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association. The money has been used to hire Akida (say "Ah-KEE-da") Jordan, who will design a program  to  recruit, train and certify coaches, game officials and league managers. He will also work to improve fields and equipment. Jordan  was previously Adult and Youth Sports Director for the High Point YMCA.  He has a degree in sports management. While not a coach himself, it is his job to establish the program using volunteers and professionals with experience in football at various levels.

 

Residents of Dilworth petitioned to name the recreation center after Sykes.

NEW RECREATION CENTER IN DILWORTH NAMED FOR TOM SYKES, LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR BETTER RECREATION

The new recreation center behind Dilworth Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School (formerly Dilworth Elementary) is now officially named for Tom Sykes III (1952-2005). Sykes was a member of the Park and Recreation Commission, a tireless campaigner for better recreation opportunities in Dilworth, Freedom Park and Charlotte's inner city.  He championed the vision that the parks department and school system could work jointly to develop the new recreation center in Dilworth, using one property to support programs of both departments.

A naming celebration and unveiling of a plaque will be held Thursday evening, April 12, 2007 at 6p.m. at the recreation center, 1501 Euclid Avenue. 

 

EASTER IS A TIME FOR KIDS TO HAVE FUN WITH PARK AND RECREATION EASTER EGG HUNTS

Between March 29 and April 7, Mecklenburg Park and Recreation holds more than a dozen Easter egg hunts for young children. These hunts are all over the county at various parks and recreation centers. The Easter egg hunts range from small neighborhood events to the largest Easter egg hunt in the Carolinas--which we call Eggstravaganza at Col. Francis Beatty Park. There's even an underwater egg hunt at Ray's Splash Planet. Kids love the holiday festivities and the search for brightly colored eggs filled with candy. For more details please check www.parkandrec.com .

 

Spring is a great time to bike in a park or on a greenway.

Youngsters love hunting for colorful Easter eggs.

 

"A LADY'S TOUCH" IS ANDREA STINSON'S BASKETBALL CAMP APRIL 2-4 AT FIRST WARD RECREATION CENTER

Mecklenburg Park and Recreation partners with former Charlotte Sting player and WNBA All-Star Andrea Stinson to present a basketball camp for girls, age 7-17, April 2-4 at First Ward Recreation Center, 610 East 7^th Street. The camp is called "A Lady's Touch," and runs 8a.m. – 5p.m. each day. The camp features instruction in all aspects of basketball, practice stations, individual skills contests, games, inspirational speakers, a camp T-shirt and trophies. Cost is $75.  Andrea Stinson attended NC State University, was a WNBA All-Star in 2000, 2001, and 2002.  She led the Sting in scoring for five straight seasons, and retired in 2006.   For more information or to register call 704 575-3904. Space is limited.

 

PLAN AHEAD FOR THE SPECIAL GOLF CLASSIC JULY 6 FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL  

All military veterans including national guard and reserves and all active duty military personnel are invited to the second annual Veterans and Reservists Golf Classic at Charles T. Myers Public Golf Course, 7817 Harrisburg Road, on July 6. This event features a free 18 holes of golf plus free lunch for those who participate. This is our department's way to show appreciation to men and women who have served our country. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 8a.m.  Registration opens April 2 and runs through June 15. Register online at  www.charlottepublicgolf.com or call 704 399-0980 for a mail-in application.    

 

 

Vets Classic offers free golf and food for those who served.

DEMONSTRATION GARDEN IN FREEDOM PARK SHOWS NEW PLANTS AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC 

Mecklenburg County Master Gardeners invite the public to visit their demonstration garden on the hill above the lake in Freedom Park, near Mahlon Adams Pavilion, 2435 Cumberland Avenue. Master Gardeners will be on site April 28 from 10a.m. until 4p.m. to answer questions and discuss plants. The demonstration garden displays recently-planted varieties in three sections: Pollinators' Paradise, Herbs and Fragrance, and Native Plants. The garden demonstrates urban scale, low-maintenance plantings which will be of special interest to area homeowners. Both beginning and seasoned gardeners will learn what new and unusual plant varieties will come to neighborhood garden centers this year and how to effectively display different types of plants in a garden. For more information contact the Master Gardeners office at 704 336-4011 or parkces@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov  . 

 

Swimming is one of the great activities at summer day camps.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE PLANS FOR SUMMER DAY CAMP FOR YOUNGSTERS

Mecklenburg Park and Recreation offers more than 50 day camps for youngsters out of school for the summer. For many of these camps, we partner with organizations such as the YMCA. 

We have day camps for swimming, outdoor activities and nature appreciation, sports, theater, skating, cheerleading and dance, bicycling, and for youth with disabilities. Check www.parkandrec.com for a full list of camp opportunities.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION WELCOMES OUR NEW DIRECTOR , JIM GARGES 

Jim Garges (say "GAR-jes") asked us to initiate this e-newsletter for the growing number Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents who like to get news and information electronically. Jim comes from  Cincinnati, OH where he was Director of Recreation for the past six years. 

New Director Garges talks with staff at a get acquainted session.

Before that he served with parks departments in Kettering, OH; Topeka, KA; and Delaware, OH.  Garges wants a department that provides a full spectrum of recreation activities. "The totality of what we do is most important," Jim says, "and that includes first class park facilities, programs for youth and seniors, stewardship of the natural environment, therapeutic recreation, plus lots more."  He says working in Charlotte's vibrant economy and fast-growing population will be exciting and challenging.