Greetings from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. This is our November e-newsletter.  We hope it helps you enjoy our many offerings.  If you do not want to receive this, just click the UNSUBSCRIBE icon at the bottom.  If you know anyone else who wants to get it, send them to our website at www.parkandrec.com to click on the SUBSCRIBE icon.

PARK AND REC SALUTES BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD SPONSORSHIP FOR YOUTH ATHLETICS

We want to thank Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina for the largest youth sports sponsorship we have ever had at Mecklenburg Park and Recreation. The sponsorship totals $180,000 over three years. It will be used for scholarships, to help youth from low income communities participate in athletic programs. It will also fund uniforms, athletic supplies, equipment, and training for sports coaches. This will help our programs for youth football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and other sports. We hope this is the first of many major corporate sponsorships for a better community.

Where dragsters used to race will be the site of a new sportsplex park.

GROUNDBREAKING NOV. 3 FOR SHUFFLETOWN SPORTSPEX LOOKS FORWARD AND BACK

What was once Shuffletown Drag Strip on Charlotte's north side gets reborn as Mecklenburg Park and Rec's Shuffletown Sportsplex Park.  Everyone is invited to groundbreaking ceremonies Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10 am on site at 9500 Bellhaven Blvd. To commemorate the site's history, at least one "hot" drag race car will be on display. Dragster drivers will also hold a reunion after the ceremony, with dozens more racing cars displayed. This sportsplex will cover more than 50 acres, scheduled to open in late 2008. Phase I construction is funded with $3-million in bond funds approved by voters. This will include 2 baseball fields with a soccer/football field in the outfields, a restroom building, parking and internal roads. More will be added later as funds are available.  Get Directions

KIDS TO DESIGN "ACCESSIBLE" PLAYGROUND FOR ALL CHILDREN AT NEVIN PARK

Park and Rec announces plans for its first "all inclusive" playground, a play area without barriers, accessible for ALL children.  Children will help design it Nov. 12 at a special workshop at 9am at Nevin Park, 6000 Statesville Road. The accessible playground will be built at Nevin May 10-15 by community volunteers working with Park and Recreation's professional staff. The project is called "Hearts & Hands." It will be funded through community, corporate and foundation contributions assembled by Partners for Parks.  H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, President of Lowes' Motor Speedway is honorary chairman of the fundraising drive, and the playground will have a NASCAR theme. Any student who wants to participate in design may register at 704 527-0237.

Our first "accessible" playground will accommodate all children, including those in wheelchairs.

HAVE YOUR SAY NOV. 6  IN COUNTY'S 'LAND BONDS' REFERENDUM

All Mecklenburg County voters are urged to vote in the referendum Nov. 6 on whether to authorize $35,640,000 in "land bonds." These include:

• $31,590,000 for watershed protection and nature preserves.  These bonds would help protect Mountain Island Lake, main source of municipal water supply in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Land in the watershed would be kept in natural state to filter pollutants and chemicals from the water. The bonds would also buy land for wildlife habitat and natural area recreation.
• $2,400,000 for greenway land to buy property for greenways, including Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Our 24 mile greenway system is expanding all the time, all over Mecklenburg.
• $1,650,000 for library land, to purchase property in southwest Mecklenburg for a future regional library.

Also on the ballot:  school bonds and the Charlotte city elections.

 "HOWL-O-WEEN" PARTY AT RAMSEY CREEK PARK WAS A  HOWLING GOOD TIME FOR DOGS AND OWNERS 

About 600 people and hundreds of dogs came to our "Village Paws and Claws Howl-O-Ween" on October 27, 2007 at  Ramsey Creek Park.  We were very pleased at the turnout for this new event, which took place in the dog park.  Many dogs and people came in costumes.  There was a parade of costumes plus a series of costume contests including Most Original, Pet-Owner Look-a-Like, Best Couple, Scariest Costume and Best Overall. We may make this an annual event. 

FOR GOOD HEALTH, ATTEND SENIOR GAMES FALL WELLNESS FAIR NOV. 8, 2007 

Our partners at Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games host a fall Wellness Fair Thursday, November 2007, 10am - 1pm at Freedom Mall, 3205 Freedom Drive.  Admission is free. The fair includes health screenings, medication reviews, entertainment, food, and exhibits/displays relating to the health and lifestyle of senior adults. Senior Games serves more than 90,000 seniors, age 55-plus in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, encouraging them reach their full potential in health, fitness, and well-being. For more information, call:  704 332-4020.
Get Directions

We seek citizen comments at a public workshop Monday, Nov. 12, 6:30pm on a proposed sailing center at Blythe Landing Park, 15901 NC Highway 73, Huntersville, on Lake Norman. The workshop will be at Water Front Hall in Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road. The proposed facility, to teach sailing at a private school partnering with Park and Recreation, was first proposed last year for Ramsey Creek Park. Sailing instruction would be open to the public for a fee. For more information call our Stephanie Frisbee: 704 896-9808.
Get Directions

Is it a good idea to have student sailors sailing at Blythe Landing on Lake Norman? 

PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING TO HELP PARK AND RECREATION MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS

Mecklenburg Park and Recreation operates about 200 venues with hundreds of programs.  We depend on many volunteers to help. We need volunteers for many facilities and activities:

• Shining Star: a program for adults with traumatic brain injuries.  Help with exercise, gardening, music. Bette Rae Thomas Center, Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am – 1:30pm.

• Park Ambassadors: to help monitor parks, trails, and greenways. Greet users, must commit at least 6 months. All parks and greenways. You decide hours, dates.
• Talent coaches: piano teacher, ballet instructor, self defense instructor.  Southview Recreation Center, various dates and hours.

COACHING NEEDS:

• Basketball: First Ward Recreation Center, ages 4-12, November – Feb
• Cheerleading:  First Ward Recreation Center, Oct.- Feb. ages 9-16      
• Dance: First Ward Recreation Center, ongoing ages 9-18
• Drama:  First Ward Recreation Center, ongoing, ages 9-18
• Modeling: First Ward Recreation Center, ongoing, ages 9-18
• Cheerleading: St. Paul's Ray of Hope, Nov-Feb, ages 9-16
• Basketball: Greenville Recreation Center, Nov-Feb, boys and girls ages 5-12
• Cheerleading: Greenville Recreation Center, Nov-Feb, ages 5-12
• Basketball: Amay James Recreation Center, Nov-Feb , ages 5-14
• Cheerleading: Amay James Recreation Center, Nov-Feb, ages 5-14
• Soccer: Merry Oaks Recreation Center
• Basketball: Merry Oaks Recreation Center
• Basketball:  Oaklawn Recreation Center, Nov-Feb, ages 4-12
• Basketball: Naomi Drenan Recreation Center, Nov-Dec, boys and girls ages 4-16
• Soccer:  Tuckaseegee Recreation Center, for boys and girls. 
• Basketball: Southview Recreation Center
• Basketball: Shamrock Gardens Recreation Center, ages 4-18
• Cheerleading: Shamrock Recreation Center, ages 4-12

NATURAL RESOURCES VOLUNTEERS

• Help with animal care, gardening, programming, exhibits, gift shops, phones, greeting visitors, litter prevention etc
• At: Latta Plantation Nature Center, McDowell Nature Center, Reedy Creek Nature Center

Volunteer Coordinator/contact:  Lori Saylor: 704-336-5478 or lori.saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov