EASTWAY PARK OFFICIALLY OPENS OCT. 3, WITH HELP FROM HELP FROM KIDS WHO PLAY SOCCER

Kids from a soccer league that plays in the park will help Mecklenburg Park and Rec"kick-off" the grand opening of Eastway Park on Sat., Oct. 3, 2009 at10am. Interest citizens are invited to the kick-off. Park is being developed in phases behind the shopping center at Eastway and The Plaza. It incorporates the old Briarwood Park (33 acres) plus additional 90 new acres. Phase I cost $3.6 million, paid for by Park and Rec bonds approved by voters. Phase I includes two athletic fields for soccer or football (on the Eastway side), two

Artwork in the new Eastway Park shows smiling and laughing kids enjoying the park amenities

softball fields (on the Briarwood side), restrooms and parking. Additional phases come as funding is available. Eastway Park serves many neighborhoods: Plaza Park, Highland Trace, Citiside, Shannon Park, Hampshire Hills, Bridlewood, Eastbrook, Green Meadows, and Green Forest. 

CEREMONY TO OPEN NEW MCDOWELL CREEK GREENWAY OCT. 10,   MECKLENBURG'S FIRST GREENWAY CONNECTING TWO TOWNS

Park and Recreation Department holds a ceremony to open officially McDowell Creek Greenway at 10am, Oct. 10 at the entrance to the greenway, off Townley Road in Huntersville, at Birkdale Village. The first section of the greenway runs 1.5 miles along McDowell Creek.  It is the first greenway in Cornelius, the first greenway to connect two Mecklenburg towns, Huntersville and Cornelius.  It links homes and apartments to retail and entertainment properties at Birkdale Village and to the planned Robbins Park and Westmoreland Athletic Complex. McDowell Greenway was funded primarily with Park and Recreation bonds approved by voters. Additional funding came from an NC Transportation grant and a contribution from Town of Cornelius. See the map

Youth basketball in the biggest athletic program in Mecklenburg Park and Rec, serving about 2,000 kids.

REGISTRATION STARTS OCT. 1 FOR PARK AND REC'S   2009-2010 RECREATIONAL YOUTH WINTER BASKETBALL LEAGUES

Registration opens October 1, for Park and Rec's Youth Winter Basketball Leagues.  These are "recreational" leagues.  Teams are organizing at more than 25 recreation centers and school sites for the following age groups:  6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18.  Games run December through February. (Not all centers have teams for all ages). Cost is $55 to participate. Registration runs through October 31 or until slots are filled.  Space is limited, so register soon!  Click here to register. Search under the appropriate age group for basketball. Or register by phone at

311 or visit your local recreation center to register in person.  Volunteer coaches also need.  Contact a recreation center for details or contact Kenneth.Koonce@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-353-1247.

TEENS AND FAMILIES INVITED TO 'GANG WITH US FEST' OCT. 10 TO LEARN ABOUT  POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES TO JOINING A GANG

Park and Rec invites the public, especially teenagers, to the "Gang with Us Fest" Sat.  Oct. 10, 11am-2pm at Sugaw Creek Rec Center. This event will provide information on various programs and activities offered as alternatives to joining a gang.  Admission is FREE. The event will also collect donations of winter clothing and non-perishable food for the needy in Charlotte. Gang with Us Fest is a preliminary to the 2009 Queen City Amateur Boxing Invitation Tournament, which starts at 5pm at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center.  Park and Rec's Charlotte Boxing Academy is a major participant in offering young people alternatives to gangs. For more information contact Coach Al Simpson: 704 241-0314. 

Great Outdoors Festival at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve is Sat., Oct, 24, 10am-4pm. Kayaking, arts & crafts, games, animals and more, for the whole family. FREE! Click here for details.

Kids love thrills and chills of Halloween.  Park and Rec offers dozens of programs for this spooky time of year. Great activities for the whole family.  Click here for listing of activites.

RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN TENNIS FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS INVITED TO PARK AND REC WORKSHOPS

The second and third community workshops are scheduled to seek public comments on tennis court operations and to create a new "vision" for tennis in our parks. All users and potential users of tennis courts are invited to share their thoughts. Workshops are scheduled Mon., Oct. 5 at 7pm at William R. Davie Park's indoor shelter…and on Wed., Oct. 21 at 7pm, at Jetton Park's Waterfront Hall in Cornelius. Anyone is invited to share their views about facility operations, programming and use of courts, and future facility needs.  A task force will be formed to further goals and objectives of this process.  Public input is vital!  For more information contact Phil Fleischmann: 704 432-5715 or Phillip.Fleischmann@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

FANS INVITED TO SEE TOP QUALITY AMATEUR YOUTH BOXING AT QUEEN CITY INVITATIONAL, CENTER, OCT. 10

Amateur boxing fans are invited to the 2009 Queen City Invitational Tournament, starting at 5pm, October 10, 2009, at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center.  Bouts run late into the evening. Admission: $5 for ages 12-and-under, $10 for ages 13-adult. See some of the best young boxers in the southeast! Clubs from all over NC and other southeastern states are invited to compete in three categories: Youth(ages 8-14), Senior youth/Novice (ages 15-16), and Open (ages 17–older or have boxed in 10 or more bouts). Event is open to both male

One woman who trained at our boxing academy a few years ago won the international heavyweight championship!

and females in separate categories. Women's boxing becomes an Olympic Sport in 2012.  Tournament is sanctioned by USA Boxing Inc. For more information contact Coach Al Simpson (704) 241-0314.

REEDY CREEK NATURE CENTER HOSTS CATAWBA CULTURAL PROGRAMS THIS FALL.  SIGN-UP NOW!

Park and Rec's Reedy Creek Nature Center hosts Catawba cultural program on several Sunday afternoons and weeknight evenings in Oct, Nov. and Dec.  Classes center on Catawba Stories Music, Drums, Pottery, Stories and Folkore. Who here before Charlotte was here? What was their life like? Meet Catawba artists Keith "Little Bear" Brown, master potter Margaret Robbins, and Monty "Hawk" Branham, who will share their culture. Make a clay pot, listen to stories by the campfire. Fee:  $5 for each class. Space limited. To register go to Eparks, then Program Registration, and search keyword "Catawba" or call 311. For more information call Reedy Creek Nature Center at (704) 598-8857 or email: Reedy.Creek@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Our college tours are a great way to learn what various schools and campuses have to offer.

REGISTER NOW FOR COLLEGE CAMPUS TOURS TO NC STATE AND NC CENTRAL, OCTOBER 29

Park and Recreation Department invites high school students, ages 15-19, to sign up now for college tours of NC State University in Raleigh and NC Central University in Durham.  The trip departs at 8am, October 29, 2009 from Naomi Drenan Recreation Center and returns that evening. Travel is by van. Cost is $15.  Pre-registration is required. To register click here and use Course Barcode # 5211 or call 311.  Deadline to register October 14.  The trip is on a teacher workday for CMS and gives students the chance to get a first hand look at what colleges offer. Students should pack a bag lunch.For more information contact Ivan Cohen at 704 365-1265 or Ivan.Cohen@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

SENIORS TRIP OFFERRED TO NC STATE FAIR IN RALEIGH ON TUES. OCT. 20

Can't you just smell the popcorn and candied apples? Park and Rec invites interested seniors on a day trip to the North Carolina State Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 20.  A bus will pick up participants from:  Greenville Recreation Center at 6am and from Tuckaseegee Recreation Center at 6:20am.  Transportation cost is $10.  Breakfast and admission to the fair are FREE.  Participants should bring money for lunch.  To register click here and use Course Barcode # 4918.

E-PLANT TIPS FOR FALL FROM THE NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

In Mecklenburg County, the NC Cooperative Extension Service operates as part of Park and Recreation and offers these gardening tips for October:

• By this time you should have seeded your fescue lawn…if not do it as soon as possible! 2-5 lbs of seed per 1000 sq. ft. is the recommended seeding rate.
• Plan to apply your broadleaf weed control in October – November if you have had problems in the past with chickweed, white clover, dandelion, wild onion, plantain, and thistle.
• Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs.  Avoid planting a tree or shrub that will need pruning when it is mature.  Allowing a plant to take on its natural shape is always the best plan.  Annual pruning to manage a plant's size will often result in a disfigured plant once mature.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT PARK AND RECREATION; COME HELP US WITH MANY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Park and Recreation THANKS almost 17,000 volunteers who came out to support the Department in the past year. Volunteers provided 112,969 hours service with a value equal to $2.2 million!  For information on volunteering for any programs contact: Lori Saylor: 704 336-5478 or Lori.Saylor@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov. NOTE: Volunteers younger than age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers for Therapeutic Recreation (TR) must be at least 18. Join the fun. Volunteer for any of the following:

• Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors:  RSVP (Retired Citizens Volunteer Program) hoststheir first Volunteer Fair, Thurs. Oct. 1, 11am- 2pm at the Senior Center, 2225 Tyvola Road.  RSVP matches adults 55 and better with volunteer opportunities.  A great way to get out, meet people and give back to the community! Call Lori Salyor (listed above) or Sarah Jackson at rsvp@cmseniorcenters.org
• The Great Outdoor Fall Festival: Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, Oct. 24, 11am-5pm.  Celebrates outdoor and backyard games and crafts. Help with Family Relay Races, Arts & Crafts projects, Horseshoes, Volleyball, Croquet, Bocce Ball, etc.
• Fall Festival: Thomasboro Gym, 538 Bradford Dr., Oct. 30, 4pm–8pm.  Help set-up, take-down and help staff supervise game stations.
• Halloween Party and Carnival: Amay James Recreation Center, 2425 Lester St., Oct. 30,  5pm–9:30pm.  Help set-up, take-down and help staff supervise game stations, serve food and take pix.  Volunteers asked to wear costumes!
• Coaches Needed for Youth Flag Football, Football, Soccer, and Basketball.  Run a week night practice and coach games on Saturdays.  Opportunities at many rec centers.  See sites at www.parkandrec.com.  Takes about 3 hours a week.
• Girls Club:  Greenville Rec Center, 1330 Spring St., Mondays: 5:30pm–6:30pm.  Help outreach program for girls, ages 7-18
• Arists needed:  To teach basic art like painting, sketching, design or sculpture.  Opportunities at many times and rec centers. Volunteers should be able to develop a lesson plan and show examples of their work.
• Historical Research:  Regarding the Eakes property and the historic Davidson family house in noth Mecklenburg.  Time is flexible. Research at the libraries and other sources to find related documents, maps, ownership records.
• Park Ambassadors: For all parks and greenways. Hours flexible.  Monitor and report on parks, trails, greenways. Greet patrons.  Must commit to at least 6 months as an ambassador.
• 4H Club:  Greenville Recreation Center, 1330 Spring Street,  now though May, 1 hour each week.  Work with staff to lead a 4 H program. Curriculum provided.
• Therapeutic Recreation Division: MUST BE 18 to volunteer.  Many opportunities available to help children, teens, adults with disabilities, mostly at Marion Diehl Rec Center.  Programs include sports, life skills, activites.   Details here.