Greetings again from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. We hope this e-newsletter helps you enjoy our many offerings of fun, competition and good health. Please tell us what you think by using the Send Feedback link in the toolbox to the right. Fall is a great time to get going with Park and Rec! 

MECKLENBURG VOTERS WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE OF PARK AND RECREATION PROJECTS IN NOVEMBER BOND REFERENDUM

Don't forget--Mecklenburg County asks voters to decide whether to authorize a $250-million Park and Recreation bond issue in the general election, November 4. The bond projects are all over Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The projects are parks, greenways, nature preserves, recreation centers, aquatic facilities, etc.  Passage would provide funding to begin Mecklenburg's 10 Year Park and Recreation Master Plan. This plan proposes to expand our recreation facilities to meet the County's growing population. Information on the Master Plan and on specific projects, including maps and descriptions can be viewed online.

One county commissioner observed that the way bond projects are distributed across Mecklenburg is  "excruciatingly fair."

MANY NEW FACILITIES NOW OPENING, THE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS PARK AND RECREATION BOND REFERENDUMS

In the past month, Park and Rec completed/opened several new recreation venues:  

• Grand opening for the first section of Four Mile Creek Greenway,  a 2.1 mile extension of one of our most popular greenways systems--the McMullen and McAlpine Creek Greenway. Addition of this section creates more than six miles of continuous trail. The new section is between Rea Road and Johnston Road.
• Grand opening for Phase I of Elon Park with four new multipurpose fields. These fields are "new generation" synthetic turf, suitable for soccer, lacrosse, football and other field sports. Also included are restrooms, parking, and an entrance road from the Elon Park Recreation Center. Phase I develops almost 40 acres. This is now the largest public synthetic turf facility in Mecklenburg.
• Grand opening of Phase II of Clanton Park in west Charlotte, including a new 4,500 sq ft indoor community pavilion, two new soccer fields, playground, parking and renovations to the existing softball field.
• Grand opening of a half mile section of Irwin Creek Greenway, which runs through the Clanton Park.
• Grand opening of  a new dog park in uptown Charlotte, in Frazier Park, along I-77 near West Trade and Sycamore Streets. This dog park serves the rapidly growing population in Charlotte's center city.

NATURE PAINTS GREENWAYS WITH FALL COLORS, CREATING A GREAT TIME TO CHECK OUT THE GREENWAY SYSTEM FOR FUN AND FITNESS

Bright colors and cool crisp air make fall a perfect time to explore greenways.

This week and next bring the height of fall colors to Park and Rec greenways all over Mecklenburg. We now offer more than 30 miles of greenways and access trails, and fall is a great time to get out and walk, jog, bike, skate, or walk-the-dog on them. Greenways are lined by many species of trees which offer a rainbow of fall colors. Check out our website for maps and directions to our dozen different greenways (exact number depends how you count them). Visit one near your home, or go see others you haven't been to before. Tip: Check out the Torrence Creek Greenway in Huntersville. You won't believe the big rock formations along this trail!

OUT OF SCHOOL FOR ELECTION DAY?  CHECK OUR RECREATION CENTERS FOR MANY THINGS FOR YOUNGSTERS TO DO

Park and Rec offers safe and fun activities for kids out of school during CMS Teacher Workdays Nov. 3-4.  Activities at many recreation centers include things like open gym play, skating trips, fitness activities, Wii games, cards and board games, picnic hikes, volleyball, ping pong, movies, etc.  View a list of the many recreation centers offering out of school programs.

RACE PLAYCE ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND, BUILT BY 4000 VOLUNTEERS, OPENS FOR CHILDREN'S PLAY IN NEVIN PARK
 

Race Playce, Mecklenburg's first accessible playground for all children, regardless of disabilities, is now open in Nevin Park, 6000 Statesville Road. It was built by more than 4,000 volunteers Sept. 25 – Oct. 5. Many individuals, families, church groups, employee groups, clubs, fraternities, sororities, and sports teams participated. Race Playce has a NASCAR theme, built around an oval "track." Park and Rec has installed a rubberized composition surface to provide a gentle underlying "floor" to protect children who fall or trip. The whimsical playground includes ramps, pavilions, swings, slides, a climbing wall, stationary race cars, pit stop, teetering bridges, rocking platforms, cargo nets, overlooks, etc. Other accessible playgrounds will be added in the future.

Volunteers worked tirelessly on this playground project to do something generous and positive for youngsters.

COME WATCH YOUTH RUN CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AT MCALPINE GREENWAY

We invite interested citizens to attend two exciting cross country running competitions at the McAlpine Creek Park and Greenway:

• The City Championship on Saturday, Nov. 15, 11am
• The Foot Locker Regional Competition on Saturday, Nov. 29, 5pm        

This program is called Cross Country for Youth, a unique program that introduces youngsters in elementary school and middle school to cross-country training, fitness and character-building through one mile runs. Park and Recreation partnered with the Cross Country for Youth Program to organize an elementary-age team, the Jaguars, at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center. Organizers hope the concept can spread to other recreation centers and schools in the future.  For more information contact Cynthia-Smith Perkins: 704 596-0107.

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR HALLOWEEN?  HUNDREDS OF KIDS, ADULTS, AND PETS JOINED PARK AND REC FOR ALL KINDS OF BATTY ACTIVITIES AND A HOWLING GOOD TIME
 

Park and Rec offers many wonderful activities for children, during Halloween and all year 'round."

Hundreds of youngsters and parents had a safe, fun time at Park and Rec facilities. Many recreation centers offered Halloween parties and festivals. There was event an event called "haunted lane." Our nature centers offered a special program about BATS!—the kind that fly in the night.  The Bat Encounter was presented by the Organization for Bat Conservation and its director, Rob Miles, who brought several species of live bats. Bats get a bad rap as scary around Halloween, but they are really our friends which eat bothersome insects. The "Howl-O-ween" dog festival at Ramsey Creek Park drew about 500 people and hundreds of dogs, in marginal weather.  A lot of cats also came this year, to join the pet microchip ID program. Many people and dogs came in clever costumes.

E-PLANT TIPS FROM NC COOPERATVE EXTENSION SERVICE FOR LATE FALL

In Mecklenburg County, the Cooperative Extension Service is part of Park and Recreation and offers the following tips for gardeners:

• A November application of fertilizer is very beneficial to a lawn of cool-season grasses. It promotes root development without excessive top growth. With a strong root system, your lawn will be better able to withstand drought conditions next summer.
   
• After chrysanthemums are killed by frost, cut them down in preparation for winter. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of loose mulch, such as leaves.
   
• Keep your shears and loppers in good working order. Wipe them with a rag dipped in paint thinner to remove sticky resins. Sharpen and oil thoroughly.
   
• Cut away suckers from the base of lilacs, forsythia, and crape myrtle.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT PARK AND RECREATION! 

For information on volunteering for any of these programs Please contact: Lori Saylor at 704-336-5478 or Lori.Saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov:

1. Tree Trimming Celebration, Highway 521 Recreation Center, Saturday 11/25/08, 6pm– 8pm. Volunteers help with the set up and take down of the event and act as Santa's helpers.
    
2. COACHES NEEDED for youth sports at many recreation centers. Go to www.parkandrec.com and check recreation centers convenient for you. Coaches needed for:

• Basketball, Albemarle Road Recreation Center, 5027 Idlewild Rd, Nov. – Jan.
• Quick Start Tennis, Sugaw Creek Recreation Center, 943 West Sugar Creek Rd, Saturdays October 11 through Nov. 15, 2pm – 4 pm
• Basketball, Naomi Drenan Recreation Center, 950 Beal St, Nov. – Mar.
• Basketball, Methodist Home Recreation Center, 3200 Shamrock Dr, Dec. through Feb.  Also baseball: April – May
• Basketball, Amay James Recreation Center, 2425 Lester St, now through Spring
• Basketball, Southview Recreation Center, 1720 Vilma St, now through late March
• Basketball, First Ward Recreation Center , 610 East 7th St, now through late Feb.
• Basketball (age 6 and under), Mallard Creek Recreation Center, 2530 Johnston-Oehler Rd, Nov. - Feb.