Welcome to Mecklenburg Park and Recreation's monthly e-newsletter. We have many great things going on at this time of year. 

PARK AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN REFLECTS CITIZENS' DESIRE FOR MORE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURE PRESERVES
 

Mecklenburg Park and Recreation is now briefing County and town officials on findings and recommendations in the proposed 10 Year Master Plan for parks and recreation. Recommendations are based on intense efforts to involve Mecklenburg residents, to determine needs and wants for parks, greenspace and recreation. Top priority recommendations are for:

• walking and biking trails (including greenways)
• small neighborhood parks
• nature centers and trails
• large community parks
• fitness/exercise facilities
   

Master Plan survey finds citizens want more biking and hiking trails as a top priority.

The plan seeks major expansion of facilities to serve our rapidly growing area. Park and Rec  will work with the County administration and County Commissioners on a funding strategy to get underway. You may read specifics of the Master Plan online.

DEDICATION/OPENING SET FOR ROBERT L. SMITH PARK MAY 14, NAMED FOR SLAIN CHARLOTTE POLICE OFFICER

A dedication/grand opening of Robert. L. Smith Park, 1604 Little Rock Road in West Charlotte is set for May 14th at 11am. This park is named for a Charlotte police officer slain in the line of duty. The dedication is during National Police Week. Officer Robert L. Smith was shot and killed in 1987, responding to a call about a shooting in a condominium complex in the Pawtuckett Community. Officer Smith was a seven year veteran of the Charlotte Police Department (before consolidation with the County department). He was 27 years old. Three soccer fields at the park are delayed by drought and water restrictions. The first phase to open includes a walking trail, play meadow, playground, restrooms and parking. Soccer fields will be completed as weather allows.

PALM TREE PLANTINGS AT NEVIN PARK "SPRAYGROUND" ARE PART OF PARK AND REC'S AQUATIC BEAUTFICATION PROGRAM

Do palm trees grow in Charlotte? YES, certain species do, and we're planting them.

Park and Rec horticultural workers will plant six palm trees around the grounds of the Nevin Park sprayground May 6. Nevin Park is at 6000 Statesville Road. These plantings include 3 Windmill Palms, 2 Dwarf Palmettos, and 2 Jelly Palms. The trees are provided with a $500 grant from the Southeastern Palm Society which encourages palm plantings into areas where the climate can sustain their growth.  Horticulturist Tim Turton says we hope eventually to have palms at many aquatic facilities. A few are already growing well at other Park and Recreation facilities. For more information about the palm society visit:  www.sepalms.org.

FIRST UPTOWN DOG PARK NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, TO SERVE RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION IN CENTER CITY.

Construction has started at Park and Rec's first dog park in uptown Charlotte. It is in Frazier Park, along I-77 near West Trade and Sycamore Streets. The facility will serve the center city's rapidly growing community of condominiums and apartments. Projections by Center City Partners anticipate an uptown population of more than 20,000 persons in four years. The fenced dog park will have sections for small dogs and large dogs. We hope to open it in early summer. This dog park is funded, in part, with proceeds from last year's Harris-Teeter/Purina® Bark in the Park dog festival. In the past, dog parks required a membership, but that fee system will be phased out July 1, and dog parks will be free.

STUDENT WELDERS LEARN THEIR TRADE CUTTING-UP METAL IN WOODS AT NATURE PRESERVE

Students from CPCC's Welding Technology program practice skills and help Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation dispose of scrap metal at Evergreen Nature Preserve (off Central Avenue).  Students use acetylene welding torches to cut-up old metal truck bins, bridge components, and other scrap metal on site, which is then trucked to Central Piedmont Community College's Harper Campus at 315 West Hebron Street. There, the scrap is being formed into metal sculpture of animals, including a red-tailed hawk. The sculpture will be publicly displayed later. Remaining scraps of metal will be sent for recycling.

PARK AND REC, NFL JOIN TOGETHER TO TEACH BASIC TACKLE FOOTBALL; SIGN-UP NOW FOR YOUTH FOOTBALL INSTRUCTIONAL CAMPS. 

We invite youth, ages 12-14,  interested in tackle football to sign-up now for instructional camps June 16-19, 2008,  9am-3pm.  Camps are organized by Park and Recreation's Youth Football Initiative along with the Junior Player Development program of the NFL. The camps are FREE and will be held at the following locations:

• East Mecklenburg High School, 6800 Monroe Road
• Hopewell High School, 11530 Beatties Ford Road
• Olympic High School, 4301 Sandy Porter Road
• South Mecklenburg  High School, 8900 Park Road

No experience in tackle football is needed. Parental authorization, signed waiver form and medical insurance coverage required. Registration deadline June 1. You may register online or by calling 311.  Course number is 34360. Mail-in registration form is available.

GOLF CLASSIC FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY; SIGN-UP NOW TO PLAY FOR FREE AT RENAISSANCE COURSE JUNE 27

All military veterans, including National Guard and Reserves, and active duty military personnel are invited to sign-up now to play in the 3^rd annual Veterans & Reservists Golf Classic at Renaissance Public Golf Course, 1512 West Tyvola Road, June 27. This event features a FREE 18 holes of golf plus a complimentary lunch for those who qualify. Play begins at 8am with a shotgun start.  Registration runs through June 13, first come/first served, and space is limited. Sign-up is by mail or on the web at www.charlottepublicgolf.com or call 704 357-3373.  For more information call 311. Barcode  Number is 34167. 

E-PLANT TIPS FROM NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

Recommended shrubs:

• 'Chindo' Viburnum- a dense, pyramidal evergreen shrub with lustrous dark green foliage. A tough, durable plant for sun to partial shade areas. As it matures the plant will have clusters of tiny white flowers that later develop into bright red berries in autumn.  This Viburnum grows to 12 feet in height with a spread of 8 feet. Works well as a hedge, evergreen, or specimen plant.

• 'Limelight' Hydrangea- a unique plant for any garden that will display a light chartreuse color bloom in late summer that will fade to a deep pink. Grows well in full sun to light shade and will mature to a 6 to 8 feet height.  This is a great plant for cut flowers inside your home, or a dried flower arrangement.
• 'Kaleidoscope' Abelia- this Abelia has a low spreading habit that makes it a great ground-covering shrub for any garden.  This plant will add interest to a garden by providing foliage color which changes throughout the seasons. In spring the leaves have showy gold margins that will intensify through summer and finally transition to shades of red, orange, yellow and green toward late Fall and Winter.  Once established, the plants are very drought tolerant.

MASTER GARDENER SPRING PLANT SALE

Mecklenburg County Extension Master Gardeners hold their Spring Plant Sale at the Regional Farmers Market, in Building A, 1801 Yorkmont Road, Charlotte NC on Saturday, May 3, 8am-1pm. They'll sell perennials, shrubs and trees for the sun and shade.  The plants, grown by Master Gardeners throughout the year, feature many easy to grow plants suitable for the Piedmont Carolinas. Proceeds help fund a scholarship program for an outstanding horticulture student at CPCC and various educational projects. Master Gardeners provide research-based information for the home gardener on the horticultural hotline 704-336-4011 from 9am-Noon, Mon-Fri. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT MECKLENBURG PARK AND RECREATION:

For information on volunteering for any of these programs contact Lori Saylor: 704-336-5478 or lori.saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.org . Volunteers under age16 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers for Therapeutic Recreation must be at least age 18.

• Charlotte Hornets' Beepball (TR), April – June at Park Road Park, Mondays 6pm 8pm and Saturdays 9am–3pm. A sport like baseball for persons who are visually impaired.
• Adaptive Baseball, during May at Marion Diehl Park. Practice Thursday 6pm–7pm, games Saturday mornings. Baseball program for ages 6-21 with a disability.
• May Day Play Day, Friday May 9, 9am–2pm at Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve.  An activity day for children in preschool through middle school, who are deaf or hard of hearing. Outdoor games, sports; table games crafts, and play area for very young children. Volunteers work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Sign language helpful, not essential.  Interpreting provided.
• Park Ambassadors for All Parks and Greenways, ongoing dates and times, hours flexible. On foot or bike, monitor and report on the parks, trails, and greenways. Greet patrons, must commit to at least 6 months as an ambassador.

COACHES NEEDED

• Tee Ball, Greenville Recreation Center at 1330 Spring St. Practice once a week, games on Saturdays.
• Be a Champion, Sugar Creek Recreation Center, TRACK COACHES and Assistants needed. Tuesdays in May, 6:30pm –8pm.
• Youth Baseball, Albemarle Road Recreation Center, 5027 Idlewild Rd,  March-May.  Practice one day a week, games on Saturdays.
• Youth Baseball, Naomi Drenan Recreation Center, 950 Beal St, March- May.  Practice is one day a week, games on Saturdays.
• Youth Baseball, Phillip O. Berry Recreation Center, 501 Bruns Ave, March-May. Practice one day a week, games on Saturdays.
• Youth Tee Ball,  Amay James Recreation Center, 2425 Lester St, during May. Practice two days a week, games on Saturdays.
• Youth Tee Ball, Merry Oaks Recreation Center, 3508 Draper Ave, in  May. Practice one weekday evening, games on Saturdays.
• Youth Baseball, Ray's Splash Planet, 215 N Sycamore St., Practice one weekday evening, games on Saturdays.
• Youth Baseball, Tuckaseegee Recreation Center, 4820 Tuckaseegee Rd.  Practice one weekday evening, games on Saturday.
• Grasshopper Soccer (for toddlers), Methodist Home Recreation  Center, 3200 Shamrock Dr, Saturday sin May.
• AND PLAN AHEAD for our truly accessible playground for children of ALL abilities to be built September 29-October  4.  Helpers needed for all shifts, skilled and unskilled.  Help with hospitality, First Aid, children's activities, and building. We need your helps, also families, church groups, companies, clubs, fraternities, sororities, sports team…Please lend us Hearts and Hands to build this playground for all children!