Greetings from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.  This is our October e-newsletter about some of our many facilities, activities and programs.  We offer much for you to enjoy and hope you visit us soon. If you do not want to receive this monthly e-newsletter, click on UNSUBSCRIBE at the bottom.  If you know anyone who would like to get it, please send them to our website at www.parkandrec.com to click on the SUBSCRIBE icon on the right hand side of the page. 

PLANS TO BE UNVEILED OCT. 3 FOR NEW UPTOWN PARKS INVOLVED IN STADIUM "LAND SWAP"

Proposed final master plans will be unveiled October 3 at 6pm for two new uptown parks. Plans will be presented at a workshop in Johnson and Wales University's Hance Auditorium, 801 West Trade Street. Public is invited. Property for these parks is involved in the much-publicized "land swap" for uptown baseball:  New West Park will be on 5.4 acres along Mint Street.  Mecklenburg County has $9-million dollars in bond funds to develop this park. Second Ward Park would be on part of the current site of Marshall Park and CMS Education Center. County has $6 million dollars to develop it on 3.9 acres. Plans will be based on public comments from previous workshops. For more information: contact planner Brian Conroy at (704) 336-7694 Brian.Conroy@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov 

New parks will provide greenspace among buildings in Charlotte's skyline. 

HALLOWEEN WEEK CHILLS IN HAUNTED FOREST SATURDAY, OCT.  27

We offer many Halloween week events for kids at parks and recreation centers.  Check facilities at www.parkandrec.com . One event is the 3^rd annual Haunted Forest, October 27, 6pm –10 pm at 521 Recreation Center and District Park, 11401 Ardrey Kell Road. Activities begin in the recreation center then continue with hayrides at 7pm along a wooded trail filled with "scary" Halloween scenes.  Admission: $5 for family friendly event. The 521 Recreation Center and Park are in the Ballantyne area off Hwy 521/Lancaster Hwy. Main entrance is off Marvin Rd. through the Southampton Commons Community. Get Directions 
For more information, call 704 540-2426.

This Halloween party for dogs and owners is sure to draw many clever costumes.

"HOWL-O-WEEN" PARTY AT RAMSEY CREEK PARK FOR DOGS AND OWNERS

Dogs and their owners are invited to "Village Paws and Claws Howl-O-Ween" on Saturday, October 27, 10am - 2pm, at Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius. This is a special Halloween party for pooches. Dogs should come in costumes. Owner costumes are optional. Event  includes a parade of costumes plus a series of contests including Most Original, Pet-Owner Look-a-Like, Best Couple, Scariest Costume and Best Overall. Also--contests for Best Howl and Best Trick, followed by trick-or-treating from vendors at dog product festival.  Free admission. Get Directions.  For more information or to sign-up as a vendor, contact Stephanie Frisbee: 704 896-9808 or stephanie.frisbee@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov .

DO THE ZUMBA! FOR FUN AND HEALTH

Here's something new, fun and healthy: Park and Rec offers an exciting Latin-funk cardio-exercise dance class called ZUMBA! It's fun with great workout of hip moving, rump shaking to music, but NOT in a nasty or distasteful way. Designed for females, 18 and older. Shed unwanted pounds and inches. ZUMBA classes are Tuesday nights, 6:30pm – 7:30pm at Albemarle Road Recreation Center, 5027 N. Idlewild Road for six weeks beginning Oct. 9. Cost: $5 per person per class. For more information, please contact:  Get Directions Marilyn Rainey at 704 336-5953 or marilyn.rainey@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

MECKLENBURG COUNTY 4-H NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR FALL PLANT SALE FOR YARDS AND GARDENS

Mecklenburg County 4-H is taking orders until Oct. 31 for its fall plant sale. Proceeds support scholarships to 4-H summer camp and conferences. Plants offered this year: Blueberries, Blackberries, Muscadines, Fig trees, Bradford pears, red, white and pink Dogwoods; red, white, purple, and pink Crape Myrtles.  See full list and descriptions at www.ces.ncsu.edu/mecklenburg/plants.  Order online or call the 4-H weekdays, 8am – 5pm, at 704 336-2082. Plants will be available for pick-up Nov. 9 and 10 at the Cooperative Extension/4-H Office, 1418 Armory Drive.  Park and Recreation helps manage 4-H in Mecklenburg for more than 1300 youth members.  Get Directions

VOTERS WILL DETERMINE FATE OF "LAND BONDS" IN NOV. 6 REFERENDUM

Mecklenburg County voters will decide in November 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, the 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.

NC Extension service demonstrates use of a "slit seeder" for news media.

UNDER DROUGHT AND WATER RESTRICTIONS, CONSIDER  SPECIAL CARE FOR FALL LAWNS

NC Cooperative Extension recommends special care for lawns this fall. Extension, which operates in Mecklenburg as a part of Park and Recreation, recommends use of slit seeders, aerovators and aggressive core aeration.  In overseeding, it is more important than ever to make sure grass seed is in the ground as it awaits rain. Fescue seed can lay dormant through fall, Extension says, but seeds need to be covered with soil to for good  germination. For more information call 704336-4006.

PARK AND REC NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR MANY ACTIVITIES.  CAN YOU HELP?

• Howl-O-Ween dog event, Oct. 27, 9am-3pm Ramsey Creek Park. Help set up, take down, run activities.  Must be 18 years old.
• 2007-08 Canker Worm program, Oct. 15-Nov.15. Help with tree banding at Freedom Park and many others.  Help remove bands in spring. Great for groups!
• Haunted Forest, Oct 27, 4:30pm-10:30pm, 521 Recreation Center and Park. Act out scenes in forest.
• Not so Haunted Forest, Oct. 27, 6pm-9:30pm, McDowell Nature Preserve.  Help with set-up and scenes.
• Cross County Meet for Youth, Oct. 9 & 23, late afternoon, Sugaw Creek park.  Help monitor course, conduct running event, etc.
• Nature Preserves, Help with maintenance, gardening, programs, exhibits, clean-up at several preserves. Commit to six months service. 
• Coaches Needed at many recreation centers and parks, for Soccer, Flag Football, Basketball, Cheerleading.  Background checks. 

Therapeutic Recreation Events (Volunteers must be 18 years old):

• Challenger Flag Football, now until Oct 24, Weds and Sats, Marion Diehl Center. Help conduct football for youth with disabilities.
• Fun Kee Feet, Oct. 2-Nov. 20, 5:30pm-7pm, Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center. Assist with dance program.
• Shining Star, on-going program, Mons and Weds, Bette Rae Thomas Rec Center.  Help with activities for adults with brain injuries. 

If interested in any of these opportunities, contact Lori Saylor 704 336-5478 or lori.saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov