Sounds of Summer Series Begins Tonight
We’re Glad You’re a Fan! Be Our Friend, Too!
Mr. Rogers had a way of making everyone come together and be a community -- just like Open Streets 704! And while Mr. Rogers put on comfortable shoes and a cardigan sweater, Open Streets 704 invites you to put on your walking shoes and join us when the streets are OPEN, on April 28, 1 - 5 p.m. It's a great time to come together and meet your neighbors in a healthy, friendly way.
We also want to be your friend.
Announcing the new Friends of Open Streets program. It’s for everyone who has enjoyed our area's largest FREE, family-friendly event and wants to see it continue each fall and spring!
It takes hundreds of volunteers and great teamwork with our public safety partners to make sure every Open Streets 704 stays fun and FREE. How can you be our friend?
For a $50 tax-deductible donation, you can become a Friend of Open Streets. When you're a Friend of Open Streets, you have access to our VIP after-party each fall and spring, discounts from businesses along the route all year long, and our cool sticker.
"People who have enjoyed Open Streets 704 and want to see it continue, can make sure it happens," says Eleanor Shell, Director of Development for Partners for Parks, the non-profit group which funds Open Streets 704.
Shell says each Open Streets 704 costs approximately $60,000 to stage, which pays for police, traffic control, barricades, trash pick-up, and portable bathrooms -- to name a few. Thousands of hours of services are also donated by volunteers, city and county agencies, and non-profits who organize logistics and put on the event.
"We're grateful for all of the donations and sponsors who make this great event happen," adds Shell. She says Friends of Open Streets is another way to keep the event fun and free each fall and spring. "It's a great way to support our Open Streets events, and to be supportive and engaged."
"We're always excited about Open Streets 704," says Al Brown, treasurer of Partners for Parks. "And the Spring event is bigger and better every year. It has more energy and is more fun every time." Brown hopes the public continues to support Open Streets 704 by taking part each spring, and becoming Friends of Open Streets.
Brown believes making more Friends will educate our neighbors about the great work Partners for Parks is doing on behalf of local parks and recreational areas in Mecklenburg County.
"This extends the opportunity to people who enjoy Open Streets 704 to be partners with Partners for Parks," says Brown. "It's an opportunity for the average individual to support a great event."
So, neighbor, why not be our friend, too?
A Boy, a Girl, a Duck, and a Place They Can Be Remembered Forever
When Lattie Brown moved to Charlotte from Texas in 1968, a classmate at South Meck High School quickly dubbed him "Tex," and a young lady named Millie caught his eye.
"I was the 'new guy,'" said Tex with a chuckle. "I guess the girls hadn't seen one in a while."
Their young love blossomed under the trees in Freedom Park, where Tex and Millie would sit on a favorite bench and feed the ducks. One special bird, a white one, was Millie's favorite. She called him "Spot" and even put a collar around his neck.
The years flew by and Tex and Millie went off to college -- he, to UNC-Charlotte, and she, to Grady School of Nursing in Atlanta. But true love brought them back together, and they got married and graduated from UNCC in the summer of 1973.
Careers took them around the country, and eventually brought them back to Charlotte in the late 1990's. They had grown children by then, and grandchildren, and their memories brought them back to their special bench in Freedom Park where they could enjoy watching ducks, as they did when they dated.
Sadly, cancer claimed Millie after 38 years of marriage, and Tex wanted a way to remember the good times, as he sat on their bench overlooking the lake.
That's why a bench in Freedom Park now bears Millie's name.
Partners for Parks understands how many of us seek the comfort of nature to feel closer to those who no longer share our earth, and provide a tangible way to remember loved ones with its Memorial Bricks, Trees, and Benches program.
"Folks can include a bench, a tree, or a plant, and have engraved bricks or plaques in honor of family, or friends, or pets who loved our parks," says Al Brown, Treasurer of Partners for Parks.
For more than 20 years, Mecklenburg County residents have been able to sponsor a way to remember a loved one and improve their local parks at the same time. Freedom Park, Fourth Ward Park, and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway have all been beneficiaries of this program, and its success has allowed it to expand to all Mecklenburg County parks. ALL proceeds from memorials purchased by residents go right back into enhancing and beautifying their parks as centerpieces of their neighborhoods.
"These park improvement memorials can be found in many parks across the county parks system," says Brown. "They add beauty and functionality to our parks and greenways, while making a wonderful memorial statement about someone who loved our parks and the benefit they provide to our community."
Patrons can choose to pay for an engraved brick, a bench or tree, or a combination of memorials. The donor works with the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Team to determine what fits in a particular spot along a greenway, park path, or as part of a garden area. Donations are made directly to Partners for Parks, making them 100% tax-deductible. Partners for Parks then pays the vendors of the trees, benches, or bricks, while providing the personalized service and logistics for free.
During the past two years, more than 100 donations like these have raised $32,000 to beautify local parks. The program allows a loved one's memory to live on forever in a place everyone can enjoy, and allows Partners for Parks to live up to its goal: to breathe life into our community.
Mecklenburg County and Partners for Parks encourage patrons to find a special park for their memorial, like Tex did for Millie. In fact, Freedom Park already had its fill of memorials so Tex worked with the county for three years to come up with a plan. In the end, they replaced an old, rusted bench with one future lovebirds could enjoy.
Who knows if Spot will show up. But to Tex, that "spot" in the park will always be special, and he's glad others can now enjoy it as much as he and Millie did.
If you are interested in creating a memorial, contact Blaine Gregory at Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation at Charles.Gregory@mecklenburg.gov or visit the site.
Summer Concert Series Embraces the Warmth of our Roots
Spring is upon us, and summer is not far away. That blanket you've been using to stay warm? Bring it down to First Ward Park in Uptown Charlotte as the fourth Summer Concert Series kicks off May 3rd.
On four Friday nights this summer, the Great Lawn at First Ward Park will come alive with the sound of grassroots music. The concert series kicks off with the Yonder Mountain String Band. Hank, Pattie & the Current open for them.
"We're continuing with the great cultural programming that started at Romare Bearden Park when it first opened," says Danielle Maddox-Tester, the Special Events Coordinator for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation's Central Park Region. "It's a chance for everyone to enjoy one of our great parks and music."
This year's genre centers around Roots and Americana music, with its homegrown sound. While not all of the acts hail from North Carolina, most have Carolina ties and one, Emily Sage, calls Charlotte home.
"We wanted regional bands to keep with the relaxed, hometown feel of summer," says Maddox-Tester. "We thought we could reach more residents with Roots and Americana because people really enjoy its inviting and relaxing vibe."
The 2019 Summer Concert Series is presented by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, and supported by Partners for Parks. This is the second year Partners for Parks and Park and Recreation have teamed up for the series.
"I can't wait for this summer's series!" exclaimed Beth Poovey, President of Partners for Parks. "I get the most excited about bringing the public together in our great parks and open spaces."
Partners for Parks is supporting the Concert Series by helping spread the word about county parks during the concerts, and talking to concertgoers about the strengths of working together to support and enhance local parks.
The Partners hope they can make new friends, and maybe find a few new volunteers to strengthen the group's vision of "Breathing Life Into Our Communities."
You can see the lineup here: uptowncharlotteparks.com/first-ward-park/
Purple and Teal Jump Up in New Mural at Cordelia Park
A popular park just got a little more colorful with some All-Star Weekend help from a South Carolina-born NBA star.
The basketball court in Cordelia Park along North Davidson Street is popping with a familiar Charlotte Hornets-themed purple and teal, thanks to a giant, on-the-court mural from graffiti artists the Illuminaries and sports apparel company And1.
“We are very excited about this wonderful addition to this great NODA park,” said Partners for Parks Treasurer, Al Brown. “This is the latest improvement to this park and these basketball courts that get used by so many area children and youth… Cordelia Park is really one of the hidden jewels in Mecklenburg County's park facilities, so hopefully this publicity will bring it more to the forefront.“
Kevin Garnett, an NBA MVP in 2004, 15-time All-Star, and future Hall of Famer, led a community dedication during All-Star Weekend to mark the court's transformation. Garnett is And1's Creative Director and Global Ambassador, and grew up in Greenville, SC.
"Being able to reactivate a community or inspire kids to come outside to play," is the best part about the makeover, Garnett told Respect magazine. "That's sort of the energy and inspiration that goes behind giving something like this back to the community."
The massive work is the third court nationwide to get a makeover as part of And1's "Paint the Park" initiative with the Illuminaries. The two groups also teamed up to paint courts in Compton and Oakland, California.
The Illuminaries are a popular 2-person team of mural artists based in the Bay Area, and their Instagram page even boasts a picture with Charlotte favorite son and NBA star Steph Curry. Their website quotes the pair as saying, "Our passion is improving indoor and outdoor spaces with creative use of paint."
Illuminaries partners Tim Hon and Steve Ha got the mural started in the early morning hours of February 8 with the first coats of purple paint.
"It’s really to inspire the youth," Hon told WCNC's Rob Hughes, before the sun came up. "That's why we combine the art with basketball. It's to get the kids outside, to get them outdoors, and get them into the game and just inspire them and energize them."
Garnett dedicated the court a week later during All-Star weekend, with Mecklenburg County commissioners on hand to witness the new landmark. The county's official twitter page posted a picture with Garnett, saying, "We appreciate @And1basketball and The Illuminaries for taking this neighborhood court to the next level!"
"Nothing sparks more pride than the home court where you learned to ball," tweeted And1 Basketball. "Charlotte, let's keep your game proper."
"It's just fun to see the end result of all those kids," chimed in Hon.
“When Partners for Parks uses the Cordelia Indoor Pavilion again this year for our Annual Awards and Sponsor Celebration event, our partners and award winners will also get to enjoy these artists’ work,” added Brown.
You can find the court in Cordelia Park, 2100 North Davidson Street in Villa Heights/Optimist Park, just south of NoDa. The 24-acre park will once again be part of one of Open Street 704's most popular routes in the spring of 2019. Check it out on April 28th!
Keeping Charlotte and Open Streets 704 “In the Green”
Partners for Parks is taking support for Open Streets 704 to a new level – literally. The recently-announced Around the Crown 10k will benefit Open Streets 704 with a road race elevated above and around uptown Charlotte on the I-277 Inner Loop.
The 10k race, scheduled for 7:04 a.m. on Sunday, September 1st, 2019, will donate its proceeds to Partners for Parks to support the group’s signature event, Open Streets 704. The twice-yearly Open Streets 704 events are held each fall and spring in the Queen City, and have become wildly popular since they began in the spring of 2016. This spring’s Open Streets 704 will be held April 28, 1 – 5 p.m., on a popular NoDa-to-Plaza Midwood route.
“It’s going to be a real ‘first’ in Charlotte, a Road Race literally running ‘around the crown’ of Charlotte’s Center City,” says Partners for Parks Treasurer, Al Brown. Brown noted that the 10k race begins and ends in the “crown jewel park” of the center city, Romare Bearden Park. “We are very excited to be part of this wonderful event, and to be the beneficiary for this new, exciting 10k race.”
Partners for Parks is a non-profit that supports parks across the Charlotte region. Since forming in 1996, the public-private partnership has sponsored activities and helped other organizations by being a non-profit “fiduciary vehicle” that raises millions of dollars for regional park projects, recreation activities, summer camp sponsorships, greenway projects, and open spaces for learning and play.
Partners for Parks has been integral to the success of Open Streets 704 since the Knight Foundation donated $150,000 to bring the already-successful Open Streets concept to Charlotte. The organization worked closely with Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, the City of Charlotte, and many public and private groups, to coordinate and help finance this ongoing event.
“Open Streets 704 is now one of Partners for Parks’ largest events, and also one of Charlotte’s most successful and FUN activities,” says Brown. “This public-private partnership is a perfect example of why Partners for Parks was formed.”
Funding is an important part of keeping Open Streets 704 available to the public for another great year. Initial grants from the Knight Foundation expired after the first year, and signing up sponsors has allowed the fun and popular program to continue.
"People of Charlotte enjoy Open Streets 704 as the biggest free event in the county, but it needs a sustainable financial model," says Eleanor Shell, who coordinates funding for Open Streets 704 as part of Partners for Parks. Shell says sponsors and fundraising cover hard costs of the event, like traffic control, stage rentals, paid performers, portable toilets, and public safety workers like police and EMS.
"By having Around the Crown 10k raise money for Open Streets 704 through Partners for Parks," says Shell, "it not only exposes Open Streets 704 to a larger audience, but also provides a funding source to help Open Streets 704 continue its strong presence in the future, and the long-term stability of the program."
Open Streets 704 will also host information for runners interested in participating in the inaugural Around the Crown 10k, strengthening awareness of both events, says Around the Crown 10k founder and race director,Brian Mister. He says it makes sense to tie the two events together with the non-profit group, since all three focus on enjoying time outdoors.
"Being outside makes you smile, makes you happy, and makes you healthy," says Brian. "It seems like such a simple way to improve your day, to go to a park." Events like Around the Crown 10k and Open Streets 704 literally turn streets into linear parks for a few hours. More than 100 Open Streets festivals take place in cities across the country. "We want to support getting outdoors, any time we can,” he added.
Open Streets programs have proven to be successful at achieving goals related to recreation, public health, active transportation – like walking and biking – and community building. Open Streets 704 aims to build a better, healthier, more connected community by encouraging Charlotte and Mecklenburg-area residents to experience the city together in a way that’s just not possible in a car. More than 100,000 people have enjoyed Open Streets 704 since its inception in Charlotte in the spring of 2016.
The partnership jumped out as a natural fit to Brian Mister. "We're not closing streets," remarked Brian. "We're opening them for other things!"
Registration for the inaugural Around the Crown 10k is available online at https://aroundthecrown10k.com
Partners for Parks Helps Groundbreaking Book About Local Birds Take Flight
Partners for Parks is delighted to donate "seed money" for birds in our area, but it won't feed them. Not directly, anyway.
Birds of the Central Carolinas: Firsthand Accounts from the Civil War Era to Today is a labor of love written by Donald Seriff and illustrated by Leigh Anne Carter, who both work at Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department. The 600-page book is published in cooperation with Mecklenburg Audubon, and with support from Partners for Parks.
Our organization helped fund the editing and publishing of a first-of-its-kind book about birds who live in and visit the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina.
Birds of the Central Carolinas includes a research history of birds that have never before been compiled and published in a single source. It includes more than 400 photos and 312 illustrations of more than 300 of birds, and partial accounts of 60 more. More than just a field guide, it follows the history of many of these species over the last 150 years in our area.
"It's an interesting book full of great information," crowed Al Brown, Treasurer of Partners for Parks. "We're proud to be part of such a comprehensive project."
Other bird enthusiasts were just as complimentary.
"Once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down," says Ken Kneidel, Past President of Mecklenburg Audubon.
"I will recommend that all my birding friends snap up copies as soon as possible," echoes William Rogers, Ph. D, Professor of Biology at Winthrop University.
Published in the spring of 2018, Birds of the Central Carolinas has won the national award for Outstanding Educational Materials at the 2018 Alliance of Natural Resources Outreach and Service Programs (ANROSP) Annual Conference.
This book was funded entirely by donations, including a $10,550 grand from Partners for Parks. All money raised will be used for conservation and research in the Carolina Piedmont. Birds of the Central Carolinas costs $45 and is available at Mecklenburg Audubon monthly meetings, or can be mailed with the cost shipping. It is also available at Wing Haven gardens, and online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.
Partners for Parks Lets the Good Times Roll for Young Athletes in 2019
Partners for Parks is helping to keep one of North Carolina's championship basketball teams rolling into 2019.
Partners for Parks Co-founder and Vice President Doug Youngblood and Treasurer Al Brown presented a Scholarship Grant of $2,500 to Abilities Unlimited of the Carolinas during the Rollin’ Hornets Hoopfest Shoot-A-Thon in December. Abilities Unlimited was the Partners for Parks "Non-Profit Award Winner" in 2017.
The mission of Abilities Unlimited and Rollin' Hornets is to promote independence for both children and adults with physical disabilities and provide opportunities to pursue active, healthy lifestyles in adaptive sports. The Rollin' Hornets Junior Prep Team, comprised of athletes ages 9-13, took home the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Championship in 2018.
Partners for Parks provided the grant from the its "Paralympic Athletic Fund," which was created with the residual of donations that were given to Partners for Parks to host the 2016 Paralympic Team Trials in Charlotte. This fund is designated to provide grants to groups like Abilities Unlimited and Rollin' Hornets, along with other Paralympic sports including cycling and swimming. The grant will be used to support team travel, which can run into the thousands of dollars each year for trips to places like Birmingham, Atlanta, or Greenville, South Carolina.
"These kids are great kids, but because of their special physical situations, they can't play like other kids," says Youngblood. "The Rollin’ Hornets give them the chance to play with other kids." Youngblood says the sportsmanship among players is fantastic and supportive. "Whether they're scoring or not, they're happy to be there playing."
Brown agrees, saying the opportunity to award the grant during the Rollin' Hornets' fundraising tournament, the Hoopfest Shoot-A-Thon, drove their purpose home. "It was a great way to spend an afternoon, watching young athletes overcoming their disabilities," he says. "It made my Christmas."
The young athletes are the next generation of Paralympians who will represent the United States in international competition. The community's generosity can help them get there.
"We really appreciate the support from Partners for Parks," says Mike Godsey, Founder and Head Coach of the Rollin' Hornets and Director of Junior Programs for Abilities Unlimited. "Knowing they recognize our efforts in developing the next generation of Paralympic athletes is so refreshing!"
Youngblood agrees wholeheartedly. "You can't find a better, more appreciative group of coaches and parents," he says. "it’s great that Partners for Parks can partner with an organization that helps so many people."
Partners for Parks Celebrates Sponsors and Friends
Weather Not a Worry for Rescheduled Event
Everyone loves a party, especially one that celebrates dozens of sponsors and friends rallied around a single goal. And when the location and backdrop reflect the results of this communal effort… well, that’s even more reason for applause.
The tenth annual Partners for Parks Awards and Sponsor Celebration recognized 63 Annual Sponsors and presented five awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to promoting and enhancing regional parks, greenways, open spaces, active play and recreational opportunities. More than 75 partners enjoyed enjoyed cuisine from Savory Moments and entertainment provided by DJ Brad Nathanson's GottaSwing Charlotte.
“These award winners show that there is a community-wide commitment to parks and open space,” said Beth Poovey, current president of Partners for Parks. “Partners for Parks feels it’s important to showcase their role in protecting those parks and open space for everyone’s long-term enjoyment.”
This year’s annual award winners are:
- Brad Davis Lifetime Achievement Award: Riley Fields
- Joe Cogdell Volunteer Service Award: Elaine Powell
- Non-Profit Organization Award: NC Wildlife Great Outdoors University
- Project Recognition Award: First Ward Park
- Corporate Recognition Award: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
“Supporting Partners for Parks is a natural for us,” said annual sponsor Paul Pennell of Urban Design Partners. “We’re in the business of creating active, memorable, spaces that people can use every day… and that’s what we all want to see in our parks, too.”
Read more about this year’s award winners here!
“The new Cordelia Park Indoor Pavilion was a great choice for this year's celebration,” said Al Brown, Partners for Parks Treasurer and chair of the Annual Sponsor Campaign. “It’s a great setting with a beautiful view of our Uptown skyline. We sincerely appreciate all our Annual Sponsors whose support provide us resources to fulfill our Vision of Breathing Life Into Our Communities.”
The event was postponed by a day from its original calendar date when weather from hurricane Michael closed all Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation facilities for the day. Thankfully, Cordelia Park was reopened the next day and many sponsors and guests were able to attend the rescheduled event.
“Thank you again to all of the organizations, partners, and sponsors that help make this event successful and our parksa priority,” added Poovey.