Romare Bearden update, Benefit Concert and Hats Off to Parks Recap
The grand opening of Romare Bearden has been moved to the last weekend of August due to delays in project construction caused by unforeseen site conditions and prolonged bad weather. There will be a benefit concert at Freedom park on June 15th with Nnenna Freelon and The Branford Marsalis Quartet and proceeds will go to Partners for Parks to build a playground at Park Road Park in memory of the victims of the Newtown, CT tragedy. More information
The 3rd annual Hats Off to Parks, held on May 10th at Freedom Park, raised funds for the Newtown memorial playground. The event was well attended. Ticket sales, silent auction and raffles contributed to a successful event. Thank you everyone that attended the event sponsored by Partners for Parks. Final donation amounts will be announced on our newsletter. Sign up here
Thank you to our 2012 - 2013 Sponsors
Our 2012-13 sponsors have been announced. Please join us in celebrating sponsors and achievments on Monday October 8th.
Letter from Partners For Parks President
As the Saying goes, “good news is on the horizon”. As most of you know, the economy is slowly recovering and as a result Parks & Recreation Departments in the area have not endured further budget reductions. It will, however, take some time to restore their budgets to a pre-recession level. With this being said, it will be important for “Champions” from the private sector to step forward to assist the public recreation sector in helping provide services lost to the recession.
One of Partners for Parks’ main objectives for the coming year will be to help find these “champions” for various programs and park projects. It is long overdue for private entities to be a part of providing resources for recreation programs and parks. Two sterling examples this past year include the construction of Lincoln Heights Community Park and the donation of therapeutic recreation equipment to Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation. Companies such as US Air, Home Depot and British Petroleum (BP) stepped forward to donate both money and manpower for these projects.
Partners for Parks had additional help this past year from several private companies who recognize the value of recreation and parks. PfP’s has two “Premier” sponsors, The Blumenthal Foundation and LandDesign, Inc. for the coming year. Five “Patron” sponsors include Balfour Beatty, Landscape Structures, Duke Energy, Playcore/Cunningham Associates and Charlotte Flights Track & Field Club; and lastly four “Event” sponsors include Sonatrol, Blyth Development, Charlotte Tile and Stone Restoration and Pappas Properties. All these companies graciously shared their resources with PfP and we thank them for their donations. Their contributions will greatly help us carry out our mission this coming year.
This past year PfP was involved in several significant projects that supplemented the County’s recreational programs and facilities. As some of you know, one of PfP’s main missions is to keep restricted accounts for tax free donation made for specific recreational projects in the area. For example, PfP dispersed over $40,000 worth of donations for the construction of Lincoln Heights Community Park, and over $100,000 for the Revolution Park Golf course renovation. We currently have over 100 restricted accounts for specific recreational programs and facility construction.
Other projects included the opening and dedication of the Porter Byrum Natural Protected Area on July 27th and the sponsoring of a Trail Construction Conference at Reedy Creek Park this past winter. PfP also contributed part of our operating budget to help build the first nature play facility at Reedy Creek Park and to partially sponsor the “Study of Economic Benefits of the Parks and Recreation System” that was authored by the Trust for Public Land.
Our annual “Award Reception” was our last significant function of the year. It was held at Dresslers Restaurant in the Metropolitan adjacent to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway September 14th. PfP recognizes individuals, public and private corporations and a park project that have significantly contributed to improving recreation and open space preservation in our immediate region. Mr. Clinton Foust, a lifelong recreation expert, was presented posthumously the Brad Davis Lifetime Achievement Award and Mr. Porter Byrum was presented the Joe Cogdell Volunteer Service Award for his contribution of 27 acres of land to PfP. The Non-Profit Award was presented to the Charlotte Downtown Rotary Club for their contributions for the Little Sugar Creek Greenway Clock Tower; and the Corporate Service Award was given to the Carolina Panthers Foundation for their community work this past year.
This coming year we hope to grow our organization with several new initiatives. First we will be sponsoring the “Queen City Brewers Festival”. The event will be held at NoDa’s Neighborhood Theater on Saturday, February 4, 2012. Local Craft Beers will be featured along with great local food and live music. Proceeds will benefit PfP so please consider coming to the event. Specific information is located on our web site. Secondly, PfP will be introducing an expanded membership program to capture a wider audience in the area. Our web site was up-dated and facebook and twitter accounts were added to expand our social network. The program will include annual dues (tax free donation) and associated benefits. Additional information will be forthcoming early this year on this new program. Please keep up with us on any of these internet sites. In closing, PfP wants to thank you for your past contribution(s) and hope you will continue to be a part of our quest to improve recreation and open space preservation in the Mecklenburg region this coming year. Lastly, let us know your thoughts and ideas about our organization and activities on our social network.
Ed Schweitzer, President
Romare Bearden Groundbreaking Ceremony
The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and Partners for Parks celebrated the 100th anniversary of Romare Bearden's birthday on September 2nd with a groundbreaking ceremony.
The Romare Bearden Park in the Third Ward section of uptown Charlotte is one step closer to reality. An official groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday morning at the corner of Third and Church streets to celebrate the life and legacy of the hometown artist, and to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Festivities included a performance by the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church choir, a dramatic reading of the play “Romare Bearden 1911-1988” by poet and playwright Ruth E. Sloane, and the unveiling of the new Romare Bearden stamp collection.
Elected officials including Mecklenburg County Commissioner Chairman Jennifer Roberts and Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx shared their thoughts on Bearden and significance of the new namesake park.
"It will be a wonderful place in uptown for people to play, and to have that kind of gathering place to keep our community strong," said Roberts.
Park Partnerships Speed up Park Development
Hands On Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation are teaming up to build an 11.5 acre park in the Lincoln Heights community. The long term plan for park development involves Park and Recreation supplying the land and the community pitching in for development. The Hands on Charlotte - Park and Rec collaboration represents the first of such efforts. Hands on Charlotte will be recruiting volunteers and accepting donations. Visit http://www.handsoncharlotte.org to make a donation.
Update on Romare Bearden Park
The Board of County Commissioners will be presented with a list of prioritized capital projects in July 2011. They have a very large list of projects waiting to be completed. In January the BOCC established a set of criteria to evaluate and rank these projects. They asked their staff to conduct this process. July is when they will be presented with their votes. It seems that most of the BOCC is in favor with the exception of Commissioner Cogdell, email him at Harold@consultmyattorney.com to voice support . They also stated that a major part of the criteria is the presence of a public/private partnership. We have struggled to date to get people serious about donating to the park due to their concern for it actually happening. THIS WILL CHANGE TODAY. In July we need to come back to them with capital commitments.
RBC, Wells Fargo, who agreed to extend the clause did it for one reason. Because they want the park built. Not to kick the can. They only granted a 12 month extension. This will take the deadline back to Q4 2012. In order to meet this deadline the parks physical construction would have to begin by Q3-Q4 2011.
We also need more support. . if we could get a fraction to come to the next meeting to show your support, we feel that would go along way. KEEP SPREADING THE WORD!!!!
Partners For Parks will be starting a fund for the Park with a specific campaign that will target this park. To find out how you can help or if you are interested in contributing, please call Ryan Johnston at 704.904.0855 or email info@partnersforparks.org.
Letter to Commissioners
Dear Commissioner,
This email is simply about money. Saving money, creating more money, and ensuring that the County receives a sustainable stream of money for the long-term goals of the Region. What sort of investment does all of this? It is parks – especially urban parks. The vote tonight regarding the Romare Bearden Park is simply about money. A small investment in Romare Bearden Park is guaranteed to ensure a great return to the county coffers. You may recall that the Board of County Commissioner’s was presented with the true value of parks this past winter that outlined the public monetary benefit and revenue generation of the return of park investments. Parks are not a cost, they are an asset that can continually returns more than their investment.
Imagine the return of converting an old parking lot and abandoned buildings into a place of beauty and prominence in Uptown. Imagine the people’s lives that the park will touch when they come downtown to recreate, shop or attend a football, and hopefully baseball, game. Now imagine the park that will spur residential and commercial development in the Third Ward. Development that will infill several open and vacant lots. Now imagine the tax revenues from that development, and the increase in tax revenues from increased property valuation from existing residential and commercial properties in the Third Ward. Keep in mind the valuation multiplier of that increased revenue is from vertical development, instead of less revenue-dense horizontal development. That is real money that the Board of County Commissioners may use to decrease budget shortfalls, and achieve future plans.
Not only does greater support of parks increase the tax base, but it saves money in other areas of government such as expenditures for public health. Parks, such as Romare Bearden, address the issues of childhood obesity, education, and social ills such as the No Child Left Inside movement. Parks directly and positively influence the quality of life for the Region which is one of the top deciding factors that companies weigh when they relocate – especially when they relocate to an urban environment such as Uptown Charlotte.
A vote for Romare Bearden ensures that companies will continue to relocate to Charlotte, that the tax revenue base is broadened, and a place that all of Mecklenburger’s and Charlottean’s can be proud of as this park punctuates the life of one of Charlotte’s most famous figures.
Sincerely,
Steadman Sugg
Vice President, Partners for Parks