Parks and Rec

There are 153 posts filed in Parks and Rec (this is page 15 of 16).

Annie Louise Wilkerson park

Yesterday morning the kids and set off on a preview of Raleigh’s upcoming Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve park. I’d heard about it from my Parks board meeting and wanted to see it for myself, so we all got drinks and snacks, loaded the dog in the car, and headed north.

The park is very much like it was when Dr. Wilkerson bequeathed it to the city. A long, winding driveway leads into the middle of a woodsy expanse of property, with two big meadows at the center. Two homes and a barn stand testament that this was the doctor’s home for over 40 years. Tall grass in the meadows long in need of a cut is the only thing that seems out of place.
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Meeting break

It’s Crunch Week for me. The third week of the month is like that. Here’s my agenda for the week:

  • Monday 5:30 – 6:30 Gather and deliver donations to neighbor in need
  • Monday 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM – Conduct monthly East CAC meeting
  • Tuesday – off
  • Wednesday 5:30 PM – 8:45 PM Raleigh CAC meeting/workshop
  • Thursday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Parks board meeting
  • Thursday 6:30 PM – 8 PM Comprehensive Plan hearing
  • Friday 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM volunteer at the Rhine

What a crazy life, but a satisfying one.

Highlights of 2008: Civic participation

The year 2008 was the year that I got much more involved with civic affairs. I’d always been interested in playing a bigger role in Raleigh but it was after the Raleigh Neighborhood College that I began to consider it more seriously. As I mentioned in my RNC post, it led me to become the East CAC chair and a member of Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation, and Greenways Advisory Board.

The East CAC thing seemed like a natural fit for me. I’d been to a few meetings and got a lot out of them. I was also impressed at the large number of neighbors who came each month. When the former chair, Lynette, said she was stepping down, I felt I had to step up. Besides, the easiest election to win is the one where you’re unopposed!

I was perfectly happy being CAC chair when word came ’round that there was an opening on the Parks board. I’d been angling for a spot on a city board for over a year and couldn’t turn down the chance when I finally got it.

Both are lots of work, but the CAC probably takes more of my time. I have a newfound appreciation for the kind of time our volunteers put forth in improving the city of Raleigh.

Highlights of 2008: Raleigh Neighborhood College

One of the big highlights of 2008 was the 12 weeks I spent in the Raleigh Neighborhood College (RNC) program.

I found out about RNC one day from a flyer posted in my downtown office building. I called and found that because of the late date the class was already full. Fortunately, someone canceled and I got in.

Twelve weeks I spent time at Peace College and other area locations, hearing presentations from city staff about what the city does. Even better, I spend those wonderful weeks with a class full of outstanding citizens, from whom I learned as much as from the presenters. At the end of it all, my fellow classmates elected me valedictorian: an honor I deeply appreciated. I was sorry to see it end.

The RNC got me thinking that I could spend more time helping the city as a volunteer. It led me to seek appointment on the Raleigh Parks board and encouraged me to become a leader in my CAC. Both of these responsibilities take lots of time but have provided me exceptional exposure to some of Raleigh’s finest people.

I would be a very different person today had I not responded to that flyer. No doubt about it!

Greenway ride

My friend Scott invited me out today for a ride on the Raleigh greenways. We rode from my house up to Optimist Park and back, covering over 19 miles in two and a half hours. Not all of that was riding, though, as we took a break at the Optimist end and stopped to talk to some people along the way.

It felt so good to be riding again! I’ve neglected my bike since I lost my downtown job and this was the first serious ride since. I’ve been wearing a stupid grin all day.

Imagine me getting into shape enough to ride in a charity ride like the MS 150 or Tour De Cure: two events I’ve only volunteered with but never ridden. I should be able to do one or the other in 2009, right?

Hit the street, dog!

Just because I can’t scold my dog for leading me on a neighborhood chase Tuesday doesn’t mean I couldn’t exact some revenge! So, yesterday afternoon I hopped on my mountain bike, leashed Rocket up, took my life in my own hands, and took off through the neighborhood as fast as he could run.

My original plan was to take him on the Middle Crabtree Creek greenway, where I could ride and he could run for 11 miles without turning around. Instead I turned him around before we got within a quarter-mile of the greenway. He was winded and not used to this kind of exercise. On the trot back home he was putty in my hands: something I haven’t seen much of since we got him.
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Job hunting

I updated my resume last night and snagged about six job descriptions off the Internets to get me started. I’m holding out for a cabinet-level position with Obama’s administration but if that doesn’t come through I’ll need a backup plan.

Still trying to decide what I’d like to do. There are plenty of things I can do, but I’m not the same person now as I was when I did those things.

I should have more to say about the layoff experience later today. Right now I’ve got a Parks and Rec tour of Sanderford Road’s new neighborhood center to attend.

Parks book

After posting the history of Lions Park last night, I thought it would be a fun project to write a book on the history of Raleigh’s parks. Certainly it would be a good education for me as a new member of the Raleigh parks board.

Now, where can I find the time to do this …

Lions Park: a park born of love

I took a tour this afternoon of Raleigh’s Lions Park with the park director, Mark Wilson. On the way out he handed me a photocopy from a book which tells of how the park came to be.

Reading it blew me away. A huge number of Raleigh citizens and civic leaders banded together to donate their time, money, and sweat to create this park. I truly had no idea. What a contrast to today’s park process: one which has been accused of completely ignoring the citizen involvement.

I’ve retyped the article in its entirety on my East Raleigh blog. Reading it will open your eyes to this jewel in our midst (a midst that was once known as “North Raleigh”)!

Strickland Park vote

Tonight’s Parks and Rec meeting was a bit contentious (or so I am told – that’s the only kinds I’ve witnessed so far). There are many stakeholders passionate about their views for the park. I came to accept the Strickland Park plan as probably the best that we could get. I hope the neighbors who will frequent the park will enjoy the finished product.

On a totally unrelated note, I need to start eating supper before dashing off to these meetings. Votes like tonight’s are not easy on my stomach!