Around the Crown 10K Celebrates Success and Readies for Next Round
It was a grand idea -- almost too big to believe. What if we shut down a major highway through uptown Charlotte for four hours so we can host a running race that's never been done before? Seems logical -- or not. Even its creator knew it was a lot to ask.
"It took us four years to go from idea to race day," says Around the Crown 10k Race Director Brian Mister, who had first thought 2017 would be the inaugural year. He waited two more years to get all of the logistics in place.
"The hardest part was being on the timeline the city and state needed us to be on," says Mister. That timeline ran from a few hours before 7:04. a.m. Sunday morning, September 1st -- Labor Day weekend -- until noon. A whole loop of I-277 around uptown would be closed to traffic and open to runners, who would get an unprecedented, slow view of the Queen City's crowning towers.
"We wanted it to be the 'landmark race' in Charlotte, like Cooper River Bridge or the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta," says Mister. 'Landmark' indeed -- you won't get a 180 view of Charlotte's skyline like this anywhere else. And the ATC 10k delivered.
"There was nothing quite like running along I-277! It was truly a spectacular moment for the city of Charlotte," says race winner Kelly Fillnow. "It was awesome to meet so many runners after the race who 'heard we were going to run along I-277' and started training for the event!"
And Fillnow wasn't alone in her feelings about the new race: In all, 4,906 runners took to the 10k course. Amazing pictures of the group filling the beltway crossed twitter and Instagram that morning, drawing congratulatory messages from social media followers -- along with plenty of thumbs up, clapping, and high-five emojies. The too-incredible-to-imagine race was off and running, and a huge success. Mister and his wife Chelsea were blown away when the runners took off, and they looked at what was happening.
"We ran over to the bridge where everyone was getting on the beltway, and we looked over..." He pauses. "And we both started crying of just.... pure joy." Their 'baby' was not just up and crawling -- it was running full speed ahead.
But that's not the 10k's only success. It also raised $11,000 for its main beneficiary, Partners for Parks, which supports projects at local parks and recreation centers, as well as its signature event, Open Streets 704. The remainder was split between two other non-profits: Running Works, which supports recovery from homelessness and addiction through the health and wellness of running, and Charlotte Knights Charities. The ballpark's front terrace overlooked the ATC's start/finish line on Mint Street, in front of Romare Bearden Park. The May 2020 race will benefit Partners for Parks, Running Works, and the Carolina Farm Trust.
Beyond the purse, the ATC 10k also cared about its footprint: The race was not just the state's biggest 10k, but its most sustainable. Reusable HydraPak SpeedCups were handed out at the first water stop to eliminate paper and plastic cup waste. Race T-shirts were made by Recover Brands, using plastic from 8 plastic bottles each. A bike valet sponsored by Charlotte B-Cycle encouraged runners to keep their cars parked at home, if possible. Crown Town Compost took care of compostable items.
"To create something for the city is great, but to have a sustainable event is even better," says Mister.
The same basic route and sustainability will be back May 31, 2020, with just a few changes. The route will begin and end at First Ward Park, and will be just a little bit longer -- by about a tenth of a mile. Chalk that up to lessons learned in the inaugural race: GPS apps "jump" up to overpasses and back down to the road again, making a course measure longer than it actually is. Runners were happy to share their personal data gathered on the route to offer a true 6.2-mile race this time around.
The new course with a start/finish line at First Ward Park will give the ATC 10k crew more room to set up the race, and more space for runners afterward. An 8 a.m. start time will give police more time to safely close roads after the bar and restaurant traffic leaves uptown in the early morning hours.
Mister agrees the learning curve was huge for the first race, from the four years it took to figure out logistics with the city and state over use of the highway -- "They were great," he says -- and learning how much work goes into closing roads and setting up cones. But he looks forward to the next race in May, and eventually expanding to allow walkers to take part to make it a true "community" event.
"We're really excited for year 2," he says. "Just having these crazy ideas and goals." And he's already off and running -- and thinking about Year 3, during Labor Day weekend 2021.
Fillnow is already training for it, and encouraging her friends.
"I loved the organization and attention to detail that made for an incredible first year race," she says. "And I loved how the experience intrigued many runners to sign up for their first 10k! I hope to race it again in May as the experience was truly one of a kind."
See you at the finish line!
Senior Games Brings Out the Best in Active, Social Seniors
The picture of "growing old gracefully" sure has changed over the generations, and Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation wants seniors to know that these days it means staying ACTIVE! They're encouraging anyone over the age of 50 to have fun staying active at the annual Senior Games, in partnership with Partners for Parks.
Mecklenburg County Senior Games runs events from April through June around the county, covering seven individual and team sports, eleven "tournament sports," and four categories of "Silver Arts." Deadline to sign up is March 15.
You can find out more here:
https://parkandrec.mecknc.gov/activities/athletics/senior-games
(Use the menu on the left to find events and register)
"The competition encourages them to get out more and be active, doing their sport or craft year-round so they're ready for the competition," says Trena Palmer, Senior Games coordinator for MCP&R. The added motivation of annual games keeps seniors healthy in a number of ways, says Palmer.
"It helps meet a lot of their need for moving more, using their brain more, and socializing more," says Palmer. "A lot of seniors opt to age at home, so giving them a reason to get out of the house, and even get up in the morning, it gives them a reason to do more."
"This generation enjoys the camaraderie and the activities, and being together is just as important as the games themselves, win or lose," agrees Partners for Parks Treasurer Al Brown.
Partners for Parks has acted as the fiduciary umbrella organization for Mecklenburg County Senior Games since 2016, when the previous organizers retired from the task. Partners for Parks keeps track of donations and sponsors for Senior Games, which keeps costs down for participants, provides scholarships for seniors who can't afford the entry fee, and buys medals for awards.
"No one's NOT coming just because of their financial condition," says Brown. "Senior Games and Silver Arts are for everyone!"
In addition to team and individual sports, seniors can compete with Heritage Arts like needlework and stained glass, Literary Arts like poetry and essay writing, Performing Arts like singing, dancing, and comedy, and Visual Arts like painting, drawing and Photography. In all, the Silver Arts include more than 30 categories of competition.
More than 350 participants have already registered this year, but Palmer would love to see more. She says Senior Games also needs about 80 – 100 volunteers to cover all of the events over six weeks. She adds she loves seeing teenagers volunteer with their parents, and adults volunteering to help with their senior parents' events!
"Volunteers get more from volunteering than they give," says Palmer, affirming the old adage that it is better to give than to receive.
It's also a great example of how Mecklenburg County's parks and play areas are built for residents of all ages, says Brown:
"This is a perfect example of what Partners for Parks does for Breathing Life into our Community."
New Year, New Opportunities to Get Outside
A new year brings new plans for Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, and Partners for Parks is looking forward to rolling up its sleeves and joining hands to help. Plans include a new nature center and expansion of an old favorite, a closer look at a recreational master plan, a new recreation center with the first public pool built in nearly 20 years in Mecklenburg County, and a political convention that will make active use of park space in and around Uptown Charlotte.
That's a big year.
"We're very excited about 2020," says Al Brown, Treasurer for Partners for Parks. "We have wonderful opportunities to increase our partnerships with Park & Recreaction."
Lee Jones, Director of Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, is looking forward to continuing the success the department enjoyed in 2019, and finding ways to reach out to the public and bring them to the parks and facilities.
"We're looking into new ways to market what we offer as a department," says Jones about the ways the department is telling Mecklenburg County residents about all of the facilities and activities Park & Rec offers. "We're increasing marketing, being more consistent on social media, and looking at our brands more closely -- even bringing in a third party review of our Master Plan."
Jones says the County is only required to seek accreditation every five years for Park & Rec, but the department reevaluates its progress several times a year to make sure goals and objectives are up-to-date. He is grateful for the partnerships that help take local parks and facilities to the next level.
"We look forward to working more closely with partners like Partners for Parks, OSHA, and accreditation commission to make sure we're on the right path," says Jones.
The Summer Concert Series and Open Streets 704 are two event series that magnified the partnership of Partners for Parks and Mecklenburg County Park & Recreaction. The Summer Concert Series welcomed Roots & Americana bands on four Friday nights over the summer to First Ward Park in uptown Charlotte. Open Streets 704 brought a record-setting 52,000+ people out to enjoy two afternoons of car(e) free streets in some of Charlotte's most popular neighborhoods around and in uptown.
Jones says they'd like to spread the popularity of the Summer Concert Series to other county park facilities outside of uptown. Freedom Park has a bandshell that can host concerts, and Reedy Creek Park, in northeastern Mecklenburg County, is another area Jones would like to consider.
And for Open Streets 704, both Jones and Brown are thrilled at the way the well-attended event weaves its route through neighborhood streets and the county's parks and greenways. Cordelia Park and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway will be part of the fun this spring, along with Veterans Memorial Park off Central Avenue, which was last part of the route in 2017.
"We're very excited about Veterans Park being added back to the route," says Brown. "Creating a festival atmosphere at Veterans Park is a huge benefit."
The new year also brings development for several park and recreation projects now in the works. The Stephens Creek Nature Center in Mint Hill is welcoming guests, and the nearby Ezell Community Park at the former Ezell Farm in Mint Hill will welcome community engagement for its design and development. Latta Plantation and Historic site in Huntersville will welcome a new name, Quest.
Eastway Park is also close to opening in the summer of 2020 with a full slate of activities: two pools (one for training, one for leisure), training classrooms, outdoor recreation areas including nature programs, senior programs, demonstration kitchen and teaching kitchen, outdoor programming, and programming to take advantage of natural features of the site (streams and tributaries, plants and animals), and a bit of history -- an old horse track!
"We are very excited about Eastway Park," says Brown. "We'll talk about how we can use the space for our awards and programs next year, and give them some attention."
Jones says events hosted by Partners for Parks at these new facilities will help get the word out to residents about how much the county has to offer them. Partners for Parks also provides a great way for people to donate to local parks through its Memorial Trees, Benches, & Bricks Program, and other grants and donations.
"People always want to do that, and donate to Park & Rec," says Jones, "so we'll continue to refer them to Partners for Parks to do that."
Al Brown says Partners for Parks is ready and willing -- so let's get outside and start Breathing Life Into Our Community!
Award-Wining View Captures Spirit of Annual Partners for Parks Sponsor Celebration
The lights of uptown sparkled in the distance, dotted with construction cranes that marked another year of growth in Charlotte. With this view out the window from the cozy pavilion at Cordelia Park in Villa Heights, Partners for Parks celebrated another year of growing and strengthening the "outdoor living rooms" in Mecklenburg County.
The 11th annual Partners for Parks Awards and Sponsor Celebration recognized the 41 Annual Sponsors who made our important work possible in 2019. Partners for Parks also presented five awards to special individuals and organizations that made significant contributions this year and over the years to promote and enhance regional parks, greenways, open spaces, active play, and recreational and enrichment opportunities. Nearly 100 partners enjoyed food from Savory Moments and entertainment provided by the Nita B Trio for the celebration. "It was so rewarding to celebrate this year’s accomplishments with fellow park and recreation supporters," says Partners for Parks President Beth Poovey. "We have made clear strides in helping make Charlotte a better community, bringing such a diverse mix of people together with Open Streets 704, advocating for increased funding for parks, and helping to activate our parks with fun-filled, family-friendly nights of music." Partners for Parks is grateful for the contributions of this year's award winners and the impact they have had on our mission:
- Brad Davis Lifetime Achievement Award: Nancy Brunnemer
- Corporate Recognition Award: Womble Bond Dickinson
- Joe Cogdell Volunteer Service Award: Mike Godsey, Abilities Unlimited
- Project Recognition Award: Clover School District Community YMCA
- Non-profit Award: Center 360
Read about this year’s winners here: https://partnersforparks.org/announcing-our-2019-award-winners/ 
"The awards were given to recipients who really deserve it for their tireless work for local parks and recreation," says Doug Youngblood, Vice President of Partners for Parks. "They were a really good group -- again. They were a really deserving group." And once again, the park venue in Villa Heights, a growing center city neighborhood, was a popular choice for celebrating the Annual Sponsors and award winners whose contributions make our parks such an integral part of our urban landscape. "We want to thank Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation for a great park space like Cordelia Park Indoor Pavilion for this year's celebration," says Al Brown, Partners for Parks Treasurer and Annual Sponsor Campaign Chairman. “It’s a great setting with a beautiful view of our Uptown skyline. We sincerely appreciate all of our Annual Sponsors, whose support provides us resources to fulfill our vision of Breathing Life Into Our Communities.” 
Poovey is looking forward to another great year, and encourages anyone who loves parks and activities to get involved with Partners for Parks or any of its events and programs: "Please let us know if you are interested in being more involved through a gift of time." For more details about getting involved with Partners for Parks, learn about projects and programs making a difference in our community, or to become an Annual Sponsor, visit partnersforparks.org. Thank you to all our Annual Sponsors who are truly the life of our work, and without them we couldn’t engage in the activities that so many of our Mecklenburg County neighbors have come to enjoy. For a full list of Annual Sponsor Benefits visit partnersforparks.org/sponsor 
Announcing Our 2019 Award Winners
Partners for Parks celebrates another year of engaging the community through active play and green spaces. This time of year, we also celebrate those who’ve gone above and beyond in their advocacy. The five recipients of the 2019 Partners for Parks Awards have made significant personal and professional contributions to promote our parks, greenways, open spaces, and recreational opportunities in our community's "outdoor living rooms" and recreation centers.
Please join us in celebrating our winners:
Brad Davis Lifetime Achievement Award
Nancy Brunnemer
County's first greenway planner
More than 30 years ago, a young woman and Charlotte native began extolling the virtues of greenways while still a student at UNC-Charlotte. She went on to work for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, turning her passion into her life's work.
Greenways were more than just a job to Nancy Brunnemer -- they were her mission. Often, she got the ball rolling on greenway plans, found the properties for the greenways and secured the land, and saw them as more than just bike paths or sidewalks. Nancy saw them as valuable buffers for our waterways, naturally filtering the water we would eventually drink, and the air we all breathe. She was literally the "boots on the ground" for the early days of Mecklenburg County's greenway efforts, earning her the nickname of the "Mother of Greenways" here. Her work also earns her the 2019 Brad Davis Lifetime Achievement Award from Partners for Parks.
Corporate Recognition Award
Womble Bond Dickinson
Every great program, from the largest to the smallest, succeeds on its details. Partners for Parks is not different. Many of our programs need agreements signed and legal details negotiated. For this reason, the pro bono work performed by Womble Bond Dickinson has been an invaluable part of Partners for Parks' success.
From our founding with one of the firm's lawyers, Joe Cogdell, who also created our by-laws, Womble Bond Dickinson and its predecessors have donated time and expertise to our efforts as a partner in promoting and enhancing parks and programs in Mecklenburg County. From land deals to leases, they've been there with us. In 2015, the firm performed negotiations with the U.S. Olympic Committee to bring the 2016 Paralympic Trials to Charlotte for three sports, and secured use of local venues. This was the first time 3 events had been contested in one city in Paralympic Trials history.
Over our history, Womble Bond Dickinson has been a true an integral partner to Partners for Parks' advocacy for parks, play, and competition. For this reason, they are receiving this year's Corporate Recognition Award.
Joe Cogdell Volunteer Service Award
Mike Godsey
Abilities Unlimited
Sometimes commitment begins with something uniquely personal, but persists when a greater purpose or need is seen. Such is the case for Mike Godsey of Abilities Unlimited. Mike founded Abilities Unlimited in 2003 with his own special needs son in mind. He has continued to maintain and promote the programs as Head Coach of the 2018 National Champion “Rollin' Hornets” wheelchair basketball team, and as Director of Junior Programs for Abilities Unlimited. Even though his own son aged out of the programs, he continues to serve children drawn to the program with needs of their own.
This pursuit of excellence for potential U.S. Paralympic athletes in the sports of wheelchair basketball, softball, track and field, and swimming would not be possible without the commitment and leadership that Mike has shown beyond his own son's original needs. Mike Godsey is the winner of our 2019 Joe Cogdell Volunteer Service Award.
Project Recognition Award
Clover School District Community YMCA
We all learn better when we play together. The Clover School District and the Upper Palmetto YMCA have proven this with their unique partnership that serves local schools and the greater Clover community.
In this example of community cooperation, the Clover School District provided $18 million to fund a facility run by the YMCA. The new center includes two indoor pools and an outdoor 50-meter (or Olympic-sized) pool, as well as a full gym, running track, exercise equipment room, cycle room, nursery, and meeting space. As part of this agreement, the YMCA will teach every 4th grader in the Clover School district how to swim.
This partnership will save lives by teaching the life skill of swimming to Clover students, and serve as the home base of the up-and-coming Clover High School swim team. It will also be an ongoing resource for the healthy spirit, mind, and body for the Clover community for years to come. For these reasons, Partners for Parks gives its Project Recognition Award to the Clover School District Community YMCA as an example of community cooperation for active play that benefits all.
Non-profit Award
Center 360
We know from experience that many young men and women discover their potential through learning that takes place OUTSIDE the classroom. Center 360 recognizes that, too. This program allys with students in 5th through 8th grades who are at risk of disconnecting from school, by engaging them in life skills training through music, art, sports, and technology.
By partnering with recreation centers in West Charlotte and the West Boulevard corridor, Center 360 has provided more than 200 youth with experiences to build life skills, persistence, self-awareness, and resilience, and to to enhance their personal and future career development. Center 360's holistic approach to career development builds cultural capital these young adults need to open their eyes and futures to their economic potential.
For their work educating the whole middle school child, Partners for Parks chooses Center 360 for its 2019 Non-profit Organization Award.
Join Us As We Celebrate Our 2019 Annual Award Winners
Join us for our 2019 Annual Awards and Sponsor Celebration.
We’ll have live music, heavy appetizers, craft beer, local wine and more!
Thursday, October 10, 2019
5:30 - 7:30pm
Tickets $50 per person or complimentary with Annual Sponsorship
Cordelia Park
600 E. 24th Street, Charlotte, NC 28205
Purchase Tickets
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-annual-partners-for-parks-annual-awards-sponsor-social-tickets-72086577895
Consider being an Annual Sponsor Today!
For more details & to become an Annual Sponsor, please visit partnersforparks.org/sponsor
To sponsor by mail or make a donation, please make checks payable to:
Partners for Parks
PO Box 681779
Charlotte, NC 28216
Can’t make the event?
You can still donate to Partners for Parks, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donate Now
Donations are tax deductible.
Questions?
Please email us at info@partnersforparks.org
Ahhhhh! A ‘Refreshing’ at Some Local Basketball Courts
When we think of "refreshing," popping open an ice-cold Sprite or Coke on a hot summer day sure comes to mind. So does a fresh coat of paint on a favorite hangout, or a new splash of color to liven-up the same old drab-looking place.
Even in this summer heat, Clanton Park in west Charlotte is looking a lot more refreshed these days. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated donated $105,000 to Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department through Partners for Parks, to spruce up 6 neighborhood basketball courts this summer. They revealed the first finished courts in a community celebration at Clanton Park on June 22. Coca-Cola Consolidated is the nation's largest Coca-Cola bottler, and is headquartered in Charlotte.
"Partners for Parks is proud to play a small part to make these Sprite Basketball Court Refresh projects possible," says Partners for Parks Treasurer, Al Brown. "They will make a dramatic, positive impact on these communities."
The afternoon celebration at Clanton Park included Charlotte Hornets player Malik Monk and the Hornets Cheerleaders. Neighborhood kids were excited to play on the new Sprite Refreshed Basketball Court with Hugo the Hornet, who is always a big hit with kids and adults alike.
Christi McGee, VP of Community Advocacy and Public Affairs at Coca-Cola Consolidated, thanked the MCP&R Team and Partners for Parks for the partnership that made this project possible. Vilma Leake, Mecklenburg County Commissioner from Disctrict 2, cut the ribbon on behalf of the County, and Peter Cook, who has been with the project since the beginning for Meck Park & Recreation with colleague James Rainey, joined her in the proud moment.
"Contributions like these from Coca-Cola Consolidated are a tremendous asset to our community," comments Kerry Garner on behalf of Meck Park & Rec. "It helps us continue to provide upgraded amenities to our growing and diverse population and has a long-lasting impact on the surrounding neighborhoods."
The "court refresh" provided upgrades to 3 basketball courts at Clanton Park. The donation allowed Park & Rec to patch cracks in the court and paint them, then install new backboards, rims, and nets. A new Sprite logo added a splash of color to one of the courts. Three more courts, at Howie Acres, Archdale, and Mason Wallace parks, will get similar upgrades in August and September. How cool!
"As the local Coca-Cola bottler, we’re honored to support initiatives that positively impact the community," says Kendyl Cooke of Cocoa-Cola Consolidated, about the generous donation. "Together with Mecklenburg County officials we identified a need to refresh several basketball courts throughout Charlotte, and we’re excited to unveil these courts to the community.”
"This project represents one of many investments Coca-Cola Consolidated is making in our community and we are beyond grateful for partnerships like this that help us serve our community at the highest level possible," adds Garner.
Once the ribbon was cut, the real fun began -- kids are able to use the spruced-up courts year-round with a sense of neighborhood pride.
"It was truly a FUN afternoon thanks to Coca-Cola Consolidated and the MCP&R Team who made it all possible," adds Al Brown. Game on!
Partners for Parks and ProCamps Score Points for Young Athletes
"Play is the work of children." This often-quoted phrase has been attributed to educators from Maria Montessori to Mr. Rogers. But c'mon, don't kids need to learn about work ethic? Skills? Drills? Make the travel team?
Not so fast, says longtime youth sports leader and Partners for Parks Board member, Alvin Woods. Play, says Woods, is how kids learn to be athletes. That's why he's been happy to support, along with Partners for Parks, annual ProCamps that allow Charlotte-area kids to learn sports from Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets.
"It's all about play," says Woods. "Play can lead to bigger things."
Because of a longstanding relationship between Partners for Parks and ProCamps, Partners for Parks was given 10 scholarships to share with area children who would otherwise not be able to attend the basketball ProCamps with Kemba Walker in June. Woods' years of working with area youth allowed him to find 10 young athletes who could make it to the two-day camp, and benefitted from the expert coaching offered there.
"You have to be attentive and follow directions," says Woods of the life skills that ProCamps teaches. Athletes learn new things from coaches with a different perspective. And the most important part -- play.
"It's not about pro skills with kids, it's about play," says Woods.
Woods remembers watching Steve Smith lead the ProCamps when he played for the Panthers. "Steve Smith was there every minute," says Woods. "He loved to play with the kids."
Nicole Smith of Charlotte praised the opportunities her son Nicholas, 12, enjoyed from taking part in the Kemba Walker basketball ProCamps. The seventh grader at Quail Hollow Middle School lunged for ball after ball during scrimmages in the Ardrey Kell High School gym. The Charlotte Hornets All-Star sat nearby watching the kids play.
"He loves basketball and he loves Kemba Walker," says Smith about her son. "He's a big Hornets fan!"
But she noticed more important skills being developed in Nicholas since he started taking part in ProCamps. "Just going to the camps has really impacted Nicholas," she says. "He really listens to what coaches tell him, and works on what coaches tell him to do -- even after camp is over."
The focus and listening skills have spilled over to school work and other teams, says Smith. "He knows he has to work harder, so he's working harder," she says.
This is Nicholas's third year of taking part in the basketball ProCamps with Kemba Walker, and he's participated with a scholarship every year. Smith understands that the only way for Nicholas to take part was with a little help.
"I'm a single parent. I couldn't do it without a scholarship," she says. Nicholas's smile was evidence his "playtime" was fun and fruitful.
Fifteen lucky kids will benefit from scholarships given out by ProCamps through Partners for Parks, as they continue breathing life into our community, for our future.
The Newest Board Member is a Master of Land and Sea
Okay, that may stretch it a little -- but it's also not far off. Brad Chambers, the newest Partners for Parks board member, came to Charlotte with 30 years' experience as a Park and Recreation Director around the eastern United States, and also is a retired Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was selected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration in 2015.
Currently, Chambers is the Founder and Principal of The Kelly Group, a land use and planning consultant group based in the Queen City. And now he's using his commitment to duty, dedication to excellence, and extensive experience in park and recreation administration to benefit Partners for Parks. He calls his appointment to the Board a "win-win" for both him and the non-profit.
"The best part is learning more about places in Charlotte and how they work," says Chambers. "I hope to bring some new and difference perspectives, some new ideas in the framework we have here."
Chambers and his wife Alice, an Environmental Manager at Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, have lived in Charlotte for about two and a half years. He learned about Partners for Parks when he met board President, Beth Poovey, at Open Streets 704, the group's signature event.
"I am excited about the addition of Brad to the Board," says Poovey. "His insight will be invaluable with his experience and dedication with the park and recreation profession."
Chambers has an undergraduate degree in Recreation and Administration from the University of Tennessee, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Michigan. Even though he considers himself somewhat "retired" from his work as a director of park and recreation, he still enjoys the flexibility of consulting and learning new things through involvement in Mecklenburg County's local parks and others around the Southeast.
"Part of the benefit is being involved in continuing education," says Chambers. Whether by land or by sea -- or water like our spraygrounds and pools -- he's ready to learn something new and help where he can.