Building Opportunities

prJUNE2014by  Heather Wood

The Bagley Lacrosse and Field Sports Complex opened in the fall of 2011 and has been the exclusive home for the Triad Black Hawks as well as serving as a game field for the Kernersville Cannons Lacrosse.  The facility currently includes two multi-purpose fields and due to approval for expansion from the Kernersville Board of Alderman on May 7, 2014, the multi-purpose project is underway to add some new additions.

The idea for this project first began in 2012, when Kernersville Parks and Recreation was updating their Master Plan.  KPRD met with several focus groups including the WSFC school system, and as a result one of the top requests was to establish more parks through joint use agreements with other outside entities.  Historically, schools have had a variety of recreational facilities, such as, gymnasiums, play grounds, fields, courts, and tracks.  However, schools close their property to the public after school hours.

Fortunately, a promising new tool, known as a shared use agreement, has emerged and addresses many of these concerns.  A shared use agreement (SUA) is a formal agreement between two or more separate entities, often a school district and a city or county, setting forth the terms and conditions for the shared use of public property.  Typically, each party under a SUA helps fund the development, operation, and maintenance of the facilities that will be shared.  In so doing, no single party is fully liable for the costs and responsibilities associated with the recreational facilities.  Furthermore, after regular school hours, schools can continue to provide their students and the local community with the facilities needed to maintain active and healthy lifestyles, while incurring little to no additional costs.  The WSFC School System, The Town of Kernersville, and the Triad Blackhawks are currently in a special use agreement for the original two fields located at Cash Elementary so the door was already open for future expansion.

The growth of the sport of Lacrosse in the past few years has demanded more field space for games and tournaments.  Currently Kernersville Parks and Recreation has a lacrosse league, the Kernersville Cannons, with four youth boys’ teams.  KPRD is also partnering with LB3 opening the door to girls lacrosse with clinics and summer camp opportunities.  This facility will also open more doors to various programming opportunities such as adult soccer, ultimate frisbee, and flag football.  The East Forsyth boys/girls lacrosse and soccer teams will use these fields as well for practice and games.

In December 2011, the Kernersville Board of Alderman (BOA) approved and adopted the presented opportunity to take the first steps with the Bagley property.  The idea was to expand the current lease agreement to include four additional open fields behind Cash Elementary.  The multi-purpose project would feature one championship stadium, three playing fields, lights, a score tower, and press box.  A facility at the site would include locker rooms, a concession stand, and indoor bathrooms.

With the approval from the BOA, the next step was to find funding for the project.  The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) provide dollar-for-dollar matching grants to local governments for parks and recreational projects to serve the public.  The Town of Kernersville had approved to match up to $150,000 towards the project and the remaining $300,000 would be matched by other partnership associations with the project.  The KPRD applied for the highly competitive Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant, along with 84 other municipalities, and was denied funding.  The partnership then reconvened and scaled back the project, taking it back to the BOA at a cost of $424,000.

The BOA agreed to move forward with the timeline and the original amount of $150,000 for the project.  In May, the KPRD Maintenance staff began the process of constructing the project and is projected to open in September 2014.

What does this park mean for the community?  The sports complex will provide opportunities for athletes to showcase their talents on a local level, provide several teams a home field advantage, and will give Kernersville another quality athletic field.  The final component when it is all said and done will be an economic impact/tourism generator like Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex.

Now in its fifth year, The Kernersville Parks and Recreation Department (KPRD) will be hosting their full day summer camp from June 16 – August 15.  Camps are open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with extended care from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.  The camp is open to children ages 6-12.  This is a recreational “playground” camp featuring creative group activities as well as opportunities for individual growth.  Our goals are simple:  Provide positive leisure experiences to develop or enhance good sportsmanship, positive self-esteem, respect for others, teamwork, and self-discipline.  And the number one goal for the summer is FUN!  Each week the campers will enjoy visiting our local parks, swimming, service projects, and a field trip.  KPRD invites you to discover the many full day and specialty camps for your children that await your family in summer 2014!  Complete information regarding camp locations, activities, trips, and fees and registration is available on the township Parks and Recreation website at www.toknc.com/pr.

KPRD has partnered with the Declan Donoghue Foundation to offer Declan’s Spirit of Play Scholarship this summer.  Declan’s Spirit of Play Scholarship honors the life of Declan Donoghue and his love for play.  This scholarship helps children who want to participate in play activities through their local parks and recreation programs and need financial assistance to complete registration.  Declan’s spirit of play lives on through the laughter and joy of the children in the Triad.  If you know a child who wants to participate in camp this summer but their family cannot afford the full tuition, please contact Sharon Williams at 336-992-0806 to learn more about the Declan Donoghue Foundation.  Please visit www.DeclansFoundation.org for further details.

Spend your summer evenings catching a flick in the park!  The KPRD will once again give families a good reason to skip the theaters as the Movies in the Park free family movie series returns to Harmon Park Friday evenings once a month.  Families and friends can bring blankets/chairs and enjoy watching a family-friendly film on the inflatable screen while munching on Giadas Brick Oven Pizza and Kona Ice.  Join us Friday, June 27 for Disney’s blockbuster animated film “Frozen.”  KPRD would like to thank our June Movies in the Park sponsors:  Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home, Spangler & Rolfing DDS, and Edward Jones of Kernersville.  This free event would not be possible without the help of our sponsors and their support to our community and the events that bring families together.

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From shag or ballet to playing pickleball, softball, basketball or tennis, KPRD offers a wide range of recreation programs and leisure activities for residents of all ages and varying interests.  Registration is now open for all summer programs and the deadline is fast approaching for June activities.  Listed below are a few programs with approaching deadlines.  If you are interested in registering visit our website at www.toknc.com/pr.

Adult Self Defense– Adults and youth will receive safety awareness, education, advance in rank and belt, gain self-confidence, and increase concentration.

ADULT:

Instructor:  Scott Combs, YCOA

On-site Registration: Wednesday, June 18 at 5:45 p.m.

Class Time:  Wednesdays, 7:15-8:00 p.m.

Ages:  16+

Location:  Kernersville Parks and Recreation Community Center

Fee:  $10.00 to register / $10.00 per class

Contact:  www.youngchampionsofamerica.com/northcarolina

YOUTH:

Instructor:  Scott Combs, YCOA

On-site Registration:  Monday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Class Time:  Mondays, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Ages: 4-16

Location:  Kernersville Parks and Recreation Community Center

Fee:  $10.00 to register / $7.00 per class

Contact:  www.youngchampionsofamerica.com/northcarolina

Cheerleading – This class promotes coordination, confidence, poise, artistic expression, competitive spirit, and physical fitness.

On-site Registration: Friday, June 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Class Times:  Fridays, 6:15-7:00 p.m. (Ages 4-6), 7:15-8:00 p.m. (Ages 7 & up)

Location:  Kernersville Parks and Recreation Community Center

Fee:  $10.00 to register / $10.00 per class

Contact:  www.youngchampionsofamerica.com/northcarolina

Beginner I Shag Class – Learn the fundamentals of the dance that originated in the Carolinas.  Open to singles and couples.

Instructor:  Randy Garner

Date:  Tuesday’s all summer

Class Time:  6:30-7:30 p.m.

Fee:  $35.00 per person for 4 (1) hour classes

Contact:  Randy at 336-209-6079, www.toknc.com/pr

Line Dance Class – Designed for the beginner as well as those who know the basics and want to progress.

Instructor:  Randy Garner

Date:  Tuesday’s all summer

Class Time:  7:30-8:30 p.m.

Fee:  $35 per person for 4 (1) hour classes

Contact:  Randy at 336-209-6079, www.toknc.com/pr

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