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PARK AND REC E-NEWSLETTER, JULY 2007
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Mecklenburg Park and Recreation hopes you're having wonderful and healthy summer. Welcome again to our monthly E-Newsletter about our activities, facilities, and programs. If you don't wish to receive this E-Newsletter, please click on the option at the end to "UNSUBSCRIBE." If you know anyone who would like to receive it, please refer them to www.parkandrec.com where they can click on the SUBSCRIBE icon. Thank you.
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CELEBRATE THE 4th OF JULY WITH PARK AND RECREATION!
Come watch "Red, White and Boom!" fireworks display July 4th from the Family Fun Fest at Memorial Stadium, 310 South Kings Drive. Admission is free. Activities run 6p.m. - 10pm with music, fun, inflatables for kids. Fireworks start about 9:30. Watch from stadium seating or bring lawn chairs and blankets for grass. Fireworks staged from CPCC campus will track with music on the Clear Channel Radio stations. Memorial Stadium Parking: $5. Some streets close at 7pm for the fallout zone. No coolers. Event is alcohol-free with food and soft drinks on sale.
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Center City Partners organizes a great fireworks display uptown. Park and Rec provides a premier place to watch!
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IT'S LIKE "COURT OF DREAMS" BASKETBALL AT GRADY COLE CENTER THIS SUMMER
Come watch top flight men's basketball Monday through Thursday most weeks during the summer at Grady Cole Center, 310 N. Kings Drive. Admission is free. This league has special NCAA sanction for pros and amateurs to play together. Four games most nights: 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30pm. This is an extraordinary chance for kids and adults to see top quality basketball close-up. League organized by Charlotte Bobcat point guard Jeff McGinnis. Several current and former pro and college players participate. All-star game and dunk contest August 1 with festivities beginning at 6:30pm. Free parking beside Grady Cole in lot at 7th Street and Kings Drive. (No games week of July 4).
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Youngsters play spirited basketball at new Oaklawn Recreation Center.
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CITY AND COUNTY CELEBRATE NEW RECREATION CENTER IN "THE PARK AT OAKLAWN."
Visit our new Oaklawn Recreation Center, 1920 Stroud Park Court. Developed with many partners including Charlotte Housing Authority, this center celebrated its grand opening in June. The $3.3 million building with gymnasium, five classrooms, computer center, two conference rooms, offices for community and government agencies, plus a daycare center and Head Start program run by Bethlehem Center. This recreation center is a key part of the redevelopment of the Double Oaks/Fairview Homes Community, once a concentration of poverty and crime. We are proud to be part of the new neighborhood, now called The Park at Oaklawn.
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TEENAGERS CAN TAKE A SPIN AT DISC JOCKEY TRAINING IN SUMMER CAMPS
Park and Rec presents summer camps that teach teens, ages 13 - 17, how to be a disc jockey. Camps are offered July 9 - 20, July 23 - August 3, August 6 - 17 at ten recreation centers. Check www.parkandrec.com for schedules and locations. Each student will get hands-on training by industry professionals who focus on using the turntable as an instrument. Instructors provided by Salt Water Music, LLC. Cost is $110 for a two week session. Scholarships available. For more information, contact Terri Stowers at 704 336-3375 or Terri.Stowers@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.
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Go fishing at Park and Rec nature preserves and lakes. We have several stocked with fish. CLICK HERE for fishing opportunities and rules.
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Recreation Supervisor Michael Daly hit a hole-in-one in the City/County Golf Tournament with a three iron on a 192 yard hole. CHECK OUT our five county-owned golf courses for fun on the fairways.
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NEW PLAN TO OPEN DOG PARKS FOR FREE COMING IN ONE YEAR
Park and Rec will phase out its fee for "pooch passes" in the coming year and allow use of county dog parks for free beginning July 1, 2008. This decision was made in consultation with the Off Leash Advisory Council, which endorsed the change. Dog owners must still vaccinate animals according to state and local statutes. Parks departments in Raleigh, Ft. Myers, Richmond, New York City, Seattle, and other cities successfully run free dog parks, and we decided we could, too. Dog owners are still responsible for their pets. Because pooch passes expire at various times and to be fair to all users, passes sold in the coming year will be for decreasing duration at decreasing prices. Check here for dog park locations.
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MECKLENBURG'S NEWEST SPRAYGROUND NOW OPEN AT NEVIN PARK ON STATESVILLE ROAD
The grand opening of our newest sprayground at Nevin Park brought out frolicking kids to play in the water on a hot June morning. This is the Mecklenburg's fifth and largest sprayground. It cost $1.18 million, funded by park bonds approved by voters in 1999. The sprayground features a variety of water and spray heights. It has a modernistic "shade structure" to deflect rays of the sun. It also includes a picnic shelter, grill, rest rooms, and walking trail. Click here to see the locations of all of Park and Rec's spraygrounds, which are free to use and open seven days a week from 10am-8pm during summer.
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Kids love to splash through cool water at our Spraygrounds as a respite from summer's heat.
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Park and Rec wants kids to have fun with football and learn good sportsmanship.
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FREE FOOTBALL CLINIC SEEKS YOUNGSTERS TO LEARN GRIDIRON BASICS
Mecklenburg Park and Rec hosts "Intro to Football Clinic" July 28, 9am - 4pm, for boys and girls, ages 7-12 in Revolution Park, 2425 Barringer Drive. This clinic is free, and it's on a new synthetic turf field with instruction by volunteer coaches from our football leagues. Emphasis is on having fun, fundamental skills, rules, and sportsmanship. This is part of our Youth Football Initiative to improve football for kids. For more information and parental signature form, check www.parkandrec.com or contact Akida.Jordan: 704 432-1266.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR "FOOTBALL FRENZY" AT MEMORIAL STADIUM, AUGUST 25
Park and Rec invites adults and kids, ages 7-12, to a day of "Football Frenzy," Saturday, August 25, 10am to 2pm at Memorial Stadium, 310 North Kings Drive. Admission is free. This event includes football skills competition, autograph signing by Carolina Panthers, football clinics, cheerleading exhibitions, interactive booths, information on leagues and giveaways—including free tickets to a Carolina Panthers exhibition game. Special guests are Sir Purr, Top Cats Cheerleaders, current and former NFL players. Free parking in lot at 7th Street and Kings Drive. Preregistration required for skills competition. Check www.parkandrec.com for preregistration form.
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2007 MECKLENBURG COUNTY YOUTH BASEBALL CHAMPIONS TOUCH ALL THE BASES
Congratulations to the Bette Rae Thomas Royals and the Sugaw Creek Orioles for winning the 12 & Under County-Wide Baseball Championship and the 10 & Under County-Wide Baseball Championship respectively. Both teams represent Mecklenburg County in Statewide Youth Baseball Tournaments in July. Also congrats to the Shamrock Gardens Red Sox who won the 8 & Under County-Wide "Coach Pitch" Championship. Thanks to all players, coaches and fans who make our baseball leagues a success.
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There might be some future major leaguers among the thousand youngsters who play baseball each spring and early summer in Park and Rec leagues.
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We are proud of our parks and proud of our staff for the outstanding job they do.
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PARK PLAUDITS and RECREATION RECOGNITIONS
Readers of Charlotte Parent Magazine have chosen Freedom Park as their Best Park or Playground and Best Picnic Spot. We appreciate their confidence. We also have many great parks and picnic locations in newer locations. Check www.parkandrec.com for locations and directions. Did you know we have about 165 parks (depends exactly how you count them) across Mecklenburg County? We are also proud of our staff for winning NACo Achievement Awards this year, given by the National Association of Counties for innovative programs that can serve as models for other communities.
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