Partners for Parks Featured In NCRPA's RECRE8
Partners for Parks was recently featured in the Summer 2016 edition of North Carolina Recreation and Park Association's RECRE8 magazine. The cover features the Newtown Playground at Park Road Park that we helped fund.
Check out the full feature on Page 6 at NCRPA's RECRE8 Summer 2016
Nation's Top Athletes Eagerly Await U.S. Paralympic Team Trials For Swimming And Track And Field
Nation's Top Athletes Eagerly Await U.S. Paralympic Team Trials For Swimming And Track And Field
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, hosted a media day at the Charlotte Convention Center this morning to preview the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials – Swimming and Track & Field. The Trials will take place June 30-July 2 and is the sole opportunity for athletes to compete and qualify to make the U.S. team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The U.S. Paralympics Cycling Time Trial will also take place in Charlotte the same weekend.
Paralympic hopefuls, and North Carolina natives, Tucker Dupree (Raleigh, North Carolina), Jill Moore (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Paul Peterson (Charlotte, North Carolina) started the press conference by stating what it will be like to have the Trials in their home state.
“Being in my home state is something I am super excited about,” Dupree said. “This is my third time going to Trials and it’s really the stepping stone of getting to the Games. I have been so fortunate to stand on the podium and see the flag raised. It is quite an experience.”
“It’s incredible to be home,” Moore noted. “The fact that this is coming to Charlotte is just monumental for me. It’s finally a culmination of all the dreams I worked for and it’s happening here at home in my own backyard.”
Peterson discussed how his training partner and Olympic hopeful, Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, North Carolina), has allowed him to compete at the highest level. “Training in Charlotte as a Paralympic hopeful allows me to do any workout he is doing with him,” Peterson claimed. “I go out and run just as hard and he doesn’t give me any pity. I couldn’t believe that he actually came to the Johnson C. Smith University training center and started running track.”
Doug Youngblood, president of Partner for Parks, spoke after the athletes finished talking and could not wait to express why his city is the perfect choice for hosting such a spectacular event.
“We knew this was something we had to do,” Youngblood said. “We were excited when our proposal won and we are even more excited today. We knew that this was something that would be good for the community. That’s what we are trying to do. Trying to get people involved. We know we will have an amazing event."
Julie O’Neil, managing director of U.S. Paralympics, discussed just how vital a city of Charlotte’s stature is to the Trials.
“All of our swimmers and all of our track and field athletes need to come through Charlotte to get to Rio this year, so Trials is very significant,” O’Neil said. “We are so thrilled to be coming to Charlotte for this competition. We want to thank Partners for Parks for putting on the event and being such great partners to host this event here in Charlotte. Our sponsors BP and Coca-Cola have also been great supporters to help us bring this event to Charlotte.”
O’Neil praised Charlotte because of its ability to host multiple events in one weekend. “One of the greatest things about coming here was the ease and securing of topnotch venues. That is typically one of the most difficult things for us to do, and the ability to get venues for three sports in the same city has been unprecedented.”
O’Neil then presented two racing wheelchairs to the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation department and two handcycles to Partners for Parks on behalf of the United States Olympic Committee. The donations were made possible via grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.
Chairman Trevor M. Fuller of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissions completed the press conference with closing remarks about why U.S. Paralympics and the City of Charlotte are a perfect pairing.
“We are so delighted to have the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials here in Charlotte,” Fuller stated. “Charlotte is a can-do place. We believe in getting things done and we believe in getting them done right, while having a great time doing it. The fact that athletes will come out of Charlotte to compete in the Paralympic Games in Rio is just so exhilarating and wonderful. We are so proud to have this opportunity.”
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be the largest in history, with more than 4,500 athletes from 176 countries expected to compete. The Paralympic Games is the third largest sporting event in the world. Complete details about the Trials can be found at USParalympics.org/2016TeamTrials.
The U.S. Paralympic Team Trials – Swimming and Track & Field will be held June 30 – July 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and are hosted by Partners for Parks. Thanks to support from The Coca-Cola Company and BP, the multi-sport Trials will host more than 400 athletes who will compete for a chance to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit USParalympics.org/2016TeamTrials.
Post originally published on Team USA
*MEDIA ADVISORY* Paralympic Trials coming to Charlotte; athletes to host media day May 17th
*MEDIA ADVISORY* Paralympic Trials coming to Charlotte; athletes to host media day May 17th
Media invited to meet athletes who will compete in Charlotte-based Trials; B-roll opportunity at the Irwin Belk Complex at Johnson C. Smith University
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2016
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, is hosting a press conference at the Charlotte Convention Center on Tuesday, May 17 to preview the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials – Swimming and Track & Field. The Trials will take place in Charlotte, June 30-July 2. The U.S. Paralympics Cycling Time Trial will also take place in Charlotte the same weekend. The Trials is the sole opportunity for athletes to compete and qualify to make the U.S. team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The press event will feature Rio Paralympic hopefuls Tucker Dupree (Raleigh, North Carolina), swimming; Jill Moore (Charlotte, North Carolina), track & field; and Paul Peterson III (Charlotte, North Carolina), track & field, all of whom will compete at the Trials.
All athletes will be available to speak with the media immediately following the press conference. There will also be a b-roll opportunity from 1-2 p.m. at the Irwin Belk Complex at Johnson C. Smith University with sprinter Paul Peterson III, who will be training on the track.
Dupree, a three-time Paralympic medalist, is a favorite to not only qualify in the men’s visually-impaired division, but to also land on top of the podium in Rio. Moore, a senior at the University of Illinois studying industrial design, is looking to make her first Paralympic Games to compete in the women’s wheelchair racing division. Peterson is also looking to make his Games debut to compete in the men’s below-the-knee sprinting events. All three athletes will be available to speak with the media about their journey to represent Team USA at the Rio Games immediately following remarks.
Some new, adaptive sport equipment will also be donated to a local program during the program for use by youth and adults with physical disabilities.
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be the largest in history, with more than 4,500 athletes from 176 countries expected to compete. The Paralympic Games is the third largest sporting event in the world. Complete details about the Trials can be found at USParalympics.org/2016TeamTrials.
WHAT
U.S. Paralympic Team Trials Press Conference, athlete media availability and b-roll opportunity
WHEN & WHERE
Press Conference
11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Charlotte Convention Center, Room 203AB
501 S. College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
B-roll Opportunity with amputee sprinter Paul Peterson III
1 – 2 p.m.
Irwin Belk Complex at Johnson C. Smith University
100 Beatties Ford Rd
Charlotte, NC 28216
USOC Contact
Beth Bourgeois, U.S. Paralympics
Beth.Bourgeois@usoc.org │719-866-2039
Open Streets 704 - Volunteering Opportunity
Open Streets 704 - Volunteering Opportunity
OPEN STREETS 704
Location: 3-mile route from North Davidson Street (NoDa area) through Uptown (Map)
Date: Sunday May 1, 2016
Volunteer Shifts: 11am to 4pm
Open Streets 704 is a series of four Charlotte events made possible by a grant from the Knight Foundation. Open Streets 704 will literally open a length of city streets for an afternoon just for people! Open Streets 704 aims to build a better, healthier, connected community by encouraging Charlotte and Mecklenburg area residents to walk, bicycle, and experience the city together in a way that’s just not possible in a car.
The 3-mile route from North Davidson Street (NoDa area), through uptown, to Memorial Stadium near CPCC will be wide-open from 12pm – 4pm on May 1, 2016. The route is about 3.2 miles and goes from 36th and Davidson, crosses over to Caldwell and ends up at Memorial Stadium. Open Streets 704 is planning four (4) Featured Zones along the route. Each zone will have specific locations for coordinated or user-generated activities. Family, Arts, Fitness and Wellness and the Green Zone!
We’ll need Volunteers to help with Set Up, Take Down, Evaluations, Water Stations and to help with the Activity Stations. We’ll also need folks to assist CMPD in managing traffic for the event. These volunteers will be positioned at key points along the route, and will help direct any cars to CMPD officers stationed at each intersection. Most of the Volunteer Shifts are between 11am and 4pm but a couple want to bring in Volunteers as early as 10:30am. We’d like to have Volunteers aged 16 and up since there will be some liability issues but the event itself is for All Ages!!
To get a complete schedule of events, locations and volunteer options please contact:
VolunteerServices@mecklenburgcountync.gov or Lori.Saylor@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Congratulations to our 2015 Annual Award Winners
Thank you to those who attended our Annual Awards & Sponsor Social this past Fall along with our dedicated board members and volunteers.
In case you missed it, you can check out some of the event photos on our Facebook page here.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2015 ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS
BRAD DAVIS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Lewis Ledford - North Carolina State Parks
Lewis Ledford retired as the director of the North Carolina State Parks System. In 2003 he was named the director of the system, the first entry-level ranger to head the agency. During his tenure, 5 new state parks, a state trail and 6 state natural areas were established. These include Grandfather Mountain, Chimney Rock and Carver’s Creek. Over 23.1 million dollars in donations were received in the last five years that he served as director. Much of this was to purchase the Grandfather Mountain and Chimney Rock locations.
JOE COGDELL VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD
Irwin Belk
Irwin Belk served as a member of the United States Olympic Committee for 45 years. He received the organization’s highest volunteer award, the Olympic Order. USA Track & Field honored him in 2004 with its top award, the Pacesetter Award for his philanthropy and service.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AWARD
Friends of Hickory
A group of energetic ladies came and met with Partners for Parks several years ago with the dream of building a park in downtown Hickory. In the manner of what Partners for Parks was founded to accomplish, these wonderful people have captured the attention of the citizens of Hickory and as a partner with Partners for Parks, they have raised over $500,000 for their dream downtown park and playground. Construction will begin this summer.
PROJECT RECOGNITION AWARD
Novant Health BMX Supercross Track
Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department opened a BMX Supercross track in August 2014, which is considered to be one of the best in the world. In September 2015, they hosted a World Cup Championship that had participants from 26 countries. In 2017, they will host the BMX World Championships. Unknown to most, BMX is now an Olympic sport.
CORPORATE RECOGNITION AWARD
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have been a good community citizen for many years - hosting free clinics, working with kids that are hospitalized, rehabbing community basketball courts and many other community service activities that support parks and recreation. The original Charlotte Hornets were one of Partners for Parks first supporters, donating $25,000 a year for the first three years of our existence.
Partners for Parks, the Local Organizing Committee for the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials
Partners for Parks, the Local Organizing Committee for the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials
Partners for Parks, the Local Organizing Committee, is responsible for bringing the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials for Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field to Charlotte June 30 - July 2, 2016. These Team Trial events will be held at various locations in Charlotte (eg University Research Park, Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center and Johnson C. Smith University) and will attract approximately 500+ Paralympic athletes from all across the United States. Save the Dates July 2, 2016: Meet & Greet with the athletes, entertainment and Fan Zone at Romare Bearden Park July 3, 2016: Announcement & Presentation for each sport of Team USA at Romare Bearden Park This is the first time that the USOC has held these three Paralympic Time Trials in the same location, so Partners for Parks, the Local Organizing Committee, is anxious to demonstrate that Charlotte is the place that future USOC events can be held. Consider donating to the Partners for Parks' U.S. Paralympic Team Trials Fund, which will provide the necessary support for various activities showcasing great athletes, demonstrating the power of sportsmanship, spreading Paralympic values and awareness, and giving rise to new champions in our community. The U.S. Paralympic Team Trials Fund will also support local marketing, transportation, volunteers and other logistical efforts for these events. With your financial support and volunteerism we will make the 2016 U.S. Paralympics Team Trials a great success!
QUESTIONS? Contact us at info@partnersforparks.org
Thank you to our annual sponsors for 2015 – 2016
Thank you to our annual sponsors for 2015 – 2016. Please support these folks as much as they support Partners for Parks.
Join us for our Partners for Parks Annual Awards & Sponsor Social
Join us for our Partners for Parks Annual Awards & Sponsor Social
Where we will celebrate, recognize and thank our Annual Sponsors and present awards to some of the region’s most successful park projects, green space developments and community volunteers. Wednesday, October 14, 2015 5:30-7:30pm Dressler's at The Metropolitan Overlooking Little Sugar Creek Greenway, 1100 Metropolitan Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204 Tickets $50 Per Person or complimentary with Annual Sponsorship Purchase tickets at partnersforparksannualawards2015.eventbrite.com Consider being an Annual Sponsor Today! For more details & to become an Annual Sponsor, please visit our Sponsor page. Can’t make the event? You can still make a tax deductible donation on our Donate page. Questions? Or to send us your Annual Sponsorship information, please contact us at info@partnersforparks.org
Charlotte selected as site for 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2015
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Today U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, announced that the city of Charlotte, North Carolina has been selected as the site of the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials for cycling, swimming and track and field. For the first time in U.S. Paralympics’ history, the trials will feature three sports being contested concurrently, all within the city of Charlotte through Partners for Parks, which will serve as the local organization committee for the competition. The multi-sport trials will take place June 30-July 2, 2016.
“With top-notch venues, convenient proximity between locations and with its renowned hospitality, we know Charlotte will be an incredible host for the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials,” said Rick Adams, chief of Paralympic Sport and NGB Organizational Development, USOC. “Charlotte presents the perfect opportunity to shine a light on Paralympic sport and to set the stage for some outstanding performances and incredible success for Team USA in advance of Rio. We thank Partners for Parks for its commitment to hosting a great event, and we thank the people of Charlotte for their support of America’s Paralympic athletes.”
The 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials will feature competition in cycling, swimming and track and field at venues around the city of Charlotte, including University City, the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center and the Irwin Belk Complex at Johnson C. Smith University. Family, fans and spectators can bounce from competition to competition, allowing them to take in Paralympic sport at its finest throughout the course of the three days of competition.
Charlotte was selected based on a number of criteria, including its sport venues, local accommodations, accessibility and transportation, among several other factors.
“Partners for Parks Foundation is really excited and feeling blessed to be chosen to host this event in Charlotte,” said Doug Youngblood, president of Partners for Parks and chair of the local organizing committee. “We have received great support from other organizations to manage the different events. Charlotte Flights Track and Field Club, SwimMac Carolina, Bike Line of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and the support of many others such as Visit Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, City of Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, University City Partners and the Metrolina Paralympic Sports Club will make this a great partnership event for our community and region. We are looking forward to supporting, caring for and entertaining these great athletes in their quest to represent the United States at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.”
Set to be the largest Paralympic trials in U.S. history, the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials will host more than 400 athletes competing for a chance to advance to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games as a member of Team USA on the cycling, swimming or track and field teams.
Following three days of competition, the event will culminate with a celebration on July 3rd, during which the U.S. team rosters for all three sports will be announced for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The Rio Games are expected to be the largest Paralympic Games to-date; approximately 4,500 athletes with physical impairments from more than 165 countries will compete from September 7-18.
For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, U.S. Paralympics, at 719-866-2039 or beth.bourgeois@usoc.org