Greetings from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. This E-Newsletter tells about what is going on in our department in early spring. We hope you enjoy it. Subscribe to our newsletter!

Did you ever ride a Segway?  Here's your chance to ride one and tour a great nature preserve!

• March-August: first and third weekends of the month, Saturday and Sunday tours at 9am–12Noon and  3pm  – 6pm.
• April-May: Sunset Segway Adventure tour every Wednesday evening, 5pm-8pm

Cost per person is $35. Space limited. For more information or to register visit Segway Adventure Tours or call 311.

CITIZENS HEAR WIDE-RANGING RECOMMENDATIONS IN NEW PARK AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN

Hundreds of citizens heard presentations in February about the recommended new Master Plan for parks and recreation in Mecklenburg County. The Park and Recreation Department and its nationally-known consultant, Leon Younger, presented the plan to guide development and programs in the next ten years, if approved by County Commissioners. Top priorities for facilities are:

• Walking and biking trails/greenways
• Small neighborhood parks
• Nature centers and trails

Top priorities for program development are:

• Adult fitness and wellness
• Special Events
• Family Recreation-Outdoor Adventure programs

Park and Recreation Director Jim Garges says the Master Plan underscores the intense need for a major bond referendum to acquire land for future parks and recreation, before all major parcels are claimed by development.

TIME TO ENTER YOUR POOCH FOR "TOP DOG" HONORS AT 2008 HARRIS TEETER/PURINA® BARK IN THE PARK DOG FESTIVAL
 

Bark in  the Park is great fun for dogs "and the people they own."

Plan to attend the Harris Teeter/Purina® Bark in the Park dog festival in Davie Park, Apr. 26. It's time to sign-up for the 2008 Harris Teeter/Purina® Top Dog Photo Contest. Dog owners entered 61 pet photos last year, and the public cast 4500 votes. This year the entry period runs March 1(Noon) - March 24(5pm). Registration is mostly online (preferred) or by mail. Entry fee is $12, with credit cards accepted online. Registration and complete instructions are available online or by calling 704 432-3990. Judges select three finalists photos for cleverness and originality. Then the public votes online. The winner gets a photo portrait from Deborah Triplett Studios, Harris Teeter/Purina® prize pack, a year's supply of "yourpet" brand dog food, and is grand marshal of the parade at Bark in the Park.

PARK AND RECREATION, CMS COOPERATE TO OPEN WINGET RECREATION CENTER

We just opened Winget Recreation Center, 12235 Winget Road in southwest Mecklenburg. This center is inside the gym at Winget Park Elementary School. This is a "co-location" program between Park and Recreation and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). An elementary school will use the gym during school days, and Park and Recreation will operate the rec center after school, evenings, and Saturdays. Upcoming programs include: Start Smart T-Ball for boys and girls; Kindergarten Day, a special day of special fun activities for young children; Young Peoples' Poetry Week; and the gym will be generally available at other times for basketball. For more information call 311 or check online at Eparks. 
 

RODNEY'S GREAT KIDS TRIATHLON IS A GREAT EVENT FOR KIDS TO SHOW THEIR STUFF!

Rodney's Great Kids Triathlon is named for lifeguard Rodney Sellars who thought it up years ago at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, 800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.   Lots of kids can swim or run or bike well. But Rodney designed this event so they have to do all three. It's great fun! Competition is Saturday, Apr. 26, by age groups, with age-appropriate distances. The triathlon is held in the Aquatic Center pool and on the streets outside. For more information visit the Rodney's Great Kids Triathlon web page or call 311. Registration is now open.

PARK AND RECREATION'S LAKE NORMAN BOAT RAMPS REOPENED AS WATER RISES AT BLYTHE LANDING AND RAMSEY CREEK PARK

Park and Recreation has reopened its ten boat ramps on Lake Norman.  The ramps were closed in September because of low water levels, which are now creeping back up. These ramps include six at Blythe Landing, 15901 NC Highway 73 in Huntersville plus four at Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road in Cornelius.  Officials say the ramps should be able to launch any reasonable size, trailered boat, just as they did before the drought.

The drought has not ended, but there's enough water in Lake Norman now to use the boat ramps.

NAMING OF KIRK FARM FIELDS IN UNCC AREA SET FOR  MARCH 15

The soccer fields and park near Mallard Creek Church Road and Highway 29 (behind the Citgo station) in the University Area will be officially named the "Kirk Farm Fields" at a ceremony at 10am, Sat. March 15.  The naming is in honor of John Kirk and four generations of his family who farmed on the site and raised livestock. It was most recently a dairy farm. John Kirk bought the property at the end of the Civil War.  He and his descendants have been leaders in the Mallard Creek community ever since.  The park also serves as entrance to the eastern end of the Clark's Creek/Mallard Creek Greenway, and connects to a wetlands preservation project with a boardwalk though it.

CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG SENIOR GAMES SPONSORS SPRING WELLNESS FAIR, MARCH 6 AT EASTLAND MALL

Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games hosts its Spring Wellness Fair Thurs. March 6, 10am - 1pm, at Eastland Mall. It is free to the public and includes health screenings, medication reviews, entertainment, food, and exhibits/displays about the health and lifestyle of senior adults.  Promoting health and wellness to more than 90,000 seniors in the Mecklenburg County area, Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games is a private non-profit organization for persons age 55 and older. For more information, contact 311 or call Senior Games: 704 332-4020. Park and Recreation partners with Senior Games.

E-PLANT TIPS FOR EARLY SPRING (FROM NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE):

It is not uncommon to see insects swarming in early spring. Usually you'll see the reproductive termites or ants taking flight. 

• Divide summer and fall blooming perennials in spring.
• Cut ornamental grasses back to the ground.
• Prune summer blooming clematis just before new growth begins.
• Prune Taxus (yews) in late March or early April. Cut back to green shoots.
• Spray fruit trees before buds open with a dormant oil if scale or insects were a problem. Temperatures must be above 32°F with no chance of freezing within 24 hours after spraying.

PARK AND RECREATION NEEDS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH MANY UPCOMING EVENTS:

To volunteer contact Lori Saylor: 704-336-5478 lori.saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov (unless otherwise indicated)

• Harris Teeter/Purina® Bark in the Park, Sat. April 26 at William R Davie Park.  This is a festival for dogs and their owners, draws thousands. Shifts are 7 am– Noon and Noon-5 pm.
• May Day Play Day, Fri. May 9, 9am –2 pm at Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve. An activity children who have hearing disabilities:  Outdoor games and sports, table games, and indoor crafts, play area for young children. Volunteers work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Sign language helpful, not essential. Interpreting provided.
• Fire and Safety Quiz Bowl, Thurs. March 13, 9am – 2pm at Oasis Shriners Temple, J.W. Clay Blvd.  This is a quiz bowl for elementary school students. School teams study facts about fire, home and health safety, compete in answering questions. Volunteers will: 1) staff face painting booth  serve as monitors, score keepers, time keepers, and assist with lunch. Volunteers receive a t-shirt, snacks and lunch.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games, April 28 – May 5, Many events, various venues. Games for 500 participants, ages 55 and older: running, swimming, dancing, cheering and singing. Volunteers keep score, set up facilities, present awards, register participants, display artwork, spread goodwill.
• Saturday Night Live, 2^nd Sat. of each month at NFCC Family Center, 7410 Nations Ford Rd, 6pm – 10:30 pm.  Program for middle and high school students:  sports, video and board games, food, dance, and fun. Volunteers must be at least age 18 to supervise activities and ensure safe environment. Assist with registration, set-up and clean-up.
• Track coaches and assistants needed at Sugar Creek Recreation Center, Each Tuesday in May,6:30 pm – 8 pm.