On a hot day in August, no kid wants to think about going back to school. Yet hundreds of children came to Lincoln Heights Park on Saturday, August 21st, to get free bookbags, school supplies, and some footballs to toss around on the last few days of summer.
Partners for Parks eagerly partnered with United Council for Change to give away 1,000 backpacks to school children from the nearby Lincoln Heights community; Power 98’s NoLimit Larry and Anthony Hamilton joined in as co-sponsors to make the day of fun and school goodies a true community event.
The giveaway was spearheaded by United Council for Change as one of its monthly events to bring neighbors together for a safer and healthier Beatties Ford Road corridor. UCFC Founder Blanche Penn says Partners for Parks jumped in with a donation of 400 backpacks after President Beth Poovey came to one of their Monday meetings and loved the idea.
“We’re really thankful and appreciate what they did to get involved,” says Penn, a constant presence for change on Charlotte’s west side. She praised Partners for Parks’ efforts to smooth out details working with the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Team for the big giveaway, and for Partners for Parks Board Members for turning out and sharing the day with UCFC.
“It’s been a fantastic role on this, and we appreciate it,” says Penn. “By Partners for Parks getting involved, it adds to the equity piece of our efforts, and partnerships add more flavor to what we’re doing.”
Partners for Parks Treasurer Al Brown says the Partners want to be active in creating equitable access to parks for all of the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County communities.
“West Charlotte neighborhoods are underserved and in need of parks and support,” says Brown. In that regard, the Board Members talked to neighbors to find out how our parks and park programs can better serve them.
“Our presence was for awareness,” says Brown. “We asked how folks enjoyed parks, what they like doing, and what they would want to do more of.” Partners for Play (an affiliate of Partners for Parks who focus on Play) also joined the fun by giving away small footballs and T-shirts to kids who attended this FUN Saturday afternoon event.
Lincoln Heights Park is a centerpiece for the community off Catherine Simmons Avenue, just across Beatties Ford Road from the West Charlotte High School campus. The 9.2-acre park opened in 2011 with a playground, community garden, and walking trails. The National Recreation and Park Association National Conference in Charlotte in 2014 led to significant additions, as vendors donated to a community build for Lincoln Heights Park as part of its Parks Build Community mission.
The centrally-located green space is a local treasure and the perfect place for Partners for Parks’ mission of Breathing Life into Our Community on the west side of Charlotte.
“It’s a wonderful community that’s been a part of Charlotte for a long time and a very nice neighborhood park,” says Brown. “We’re honored to be a partner with the United Council for Change in this event which supported this westside neighborhood. It was fun and productive and really helped the kids in these neighborhoods.”
