Spraygrounds, playgrounds, greenways, computers, masks? When you think of Park and Recreation, you probably don’t think too much about human resources or technical compliance. Your eyes might’ve glazed over just hearing those words but come back! Senior Fiscal Administrator Lorraine Bias describes her department as “the heartbeat of Park and Recreation.” Wow!
Continue ReadingIf you live in a neighborhood like mine, with lots of large, old trees (and therefore, lots of leaves), you know there are a couple different approaches to fall clean-up. Which neighbor are you?
Do you diligently rake your yard each weekend? Do you leave a small, neat row of yard debris and leaf bags (the neatest little row in the neighborhood, in fact) lining the street for pick-up? Or do you wait until the very last leaf has fallen off the tree and spend one epic Saturday raking them all into a giant leaf pile (the biggest, best leaf pile in the neighborhood)? And then one back-breaking Sunday bagging it all up?
Both approaches work, but the devil is in the detail. Let’s talk about the right way to do it so you can have the undeniable edge over all your neighbors this year.
Continue ReadingElection Day will be here before we know it and the number one thing you need to do before you cast your ballot is make a plan! You have a lot of options for voting and a few things to consider before you do it. We’ll walk you through them one by one.
Of course the very first step is to register. This year you can register online! Even if you’re pretty sure you’re already registered, double check ahead of election day. It’s especially important to check your registration if you’ve moved. You can easily look up your status online and avoid any surprises on Election Day.
Continue ReadingFootball is back this week, and we’re ready to celebrate (go Panthers!) While the pandemic may limit your usual tailgating plans, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy football season while staying safe. Keep these tips in mind:
Continue ReadingIf you’re like me, a beautiful Labor Day weekend conjures up memories of summer block parties, crowded pools, and afternoons at packed breweries. But this year is– well, different. COVID-19 requires that we consider not just the weather, what guests to invite, and what we’ll include on the barbecue menu. We also have to think about what risks our holiday activities have. Our health and the health of our loved ones depend on it.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate! In fact, we should. We’ve made it through six months of this global pandemic and our trends are starting to improve. That’s good news. But none of us want our Labor Day fun to be the reason a friend or family member get sick. That just means we need to find ways to have fun safely. To that end, you might be running a little low on ideas. I know I am! So here’s a little inspiration.
Continue ReadingWith more than 5,000 employees, Mecklenburg County probably has a lot of jobs you’ve never heard of before. One of them might be Strategic Planning and Evaluation Analyst in the County Manager’s Office. That’s Karli Godfrey’s job title. Basically, it means she helps departments plan and execute programs, projects and initiatives, then figure out whether those projects met their goals. When I asked her to explain her job to a five-year-old, Karli said, “I get to help people in charge make good decisions. I spend lots of time talking to people, and on the computer learning. Then I take all of the interesting things I find and get to tell other people through charts and pictures.”
Continue ReadingOne of the more common questions we’ve heard throughout the pandemic is, “How are you protecting our homeless population?” That’s a great question. When COVID-19 hit Mecklenburg County, we already had a team in place. They’re our Homeless Services division in the Community Support Services (CSS) department and it’s been around for years. Employees help connect people who are homeless, or about to become homeless, to community resources and services that fit their needs. They immediately started working with community partners on a plan to make sure our neighbors in need could find support.
Continue ReadingWant to time travel with us? We’re looking into the future at what Mecklenburg County Park & Rec can and should look like 10-15 years from now! In our office it’s called the comprehensive master plan, but you’ll see us calling it “Meck Playbook” in the community because it’s essentially our playbook for the next several years. The best part? YOU get to be a part of it.
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