City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Press Release 9-20-12

 

For Immediate Release: September 20, 2012

For More Information Contact: Allison Marsh, 919-996-4818

 

City of Oaks Foundation Welcomes Executive Director

The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department has contracted with Kevin Brice to serve as Foundation Administrator and Executive Director of the City of Oaks Foundation.

The City of Oaks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 2010 by the late William Joslin, his wife Mary Coker Joslin and the City of Raleigh to receive from the Joslins the generous gift of their 4.2-acre homeplace and garden inside the Beltline for use as a public garden. Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department will assume management of this property upon Mrs. Joslin’s death.

“It is gratifying to me, and I know William was pleased as well, that our special place in his hometown will be enjoyed by many others for decades to come,” said Mary Joslin. The Joslins purchased the property in 1951 as wooded land, and spent the next 60 years developing their garden.

The City of Oaks Foundation’s Board of Trustees is chaired by former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and also includes Nell Joslin, Raleigh Parks and Recreation Director Diane Sauer, and Louis Wilkerson, Jr. Three trustees are appointed by the Raleigh City Council, one trustee is appointed by the Joslin family, and one trustee is appointed by Triangle Land Conservancy, which holds a conservation easement on the Joslin Garden.

As the Foundation’s Board of Trustees worked with Mary Joslin and the City of Raleigh to make plans for the eventual public enjoyment of the Joslin Garden, the Foundation trustees came to realize that other Raleigh landowners might also be interested in donating their land or a conservation easement.

“Kevin’s volunteer service on the Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Greenways Advisory Board has provided him with an in-depth view into the City’s park system,” said Diane Sauer. “Couple this with his nearly 20 years of experience working with the Land Trust Alliance nationally and locally leading the Triangle Land Conservancy, and you can see why he is the right leader for the City of Oaks Foundation.”

“The City of Oaks Foundation’s local focus is part of a natural progression for me,” said Kevin Brice. “My activity on the national level and then on the regional level was very rewarding, but I was able only to scratch the surface of what needed to be done. Focusing now on Raleigh, where my family lives, will be even more rewarding because I believe the City of Oaks Foundation will have a profound impact on improving the lives of Raleigh citizens through conservation.”

Landowners interested in learning more about the benefits of conservation land donations should contact Kevin Brice at (919) 996-4773 or kevin.brice@raleighnc.gov.

 

Coats Cause We Care-Community Service Project

Coats Cause We Care is a community service event where individuals, private and public sector organizations that care about their community provide new or gently used/clean coats for children in the Raleigh area. Our goal is to provide 500 coats to children in need.

How you can get involved:

Volunteer as a Coat Captain - Gather new or gently used/clean coats on hangers from your friends, neighbors, place of work and your closet. Please take these coats to a designated drop off location.

Event Volunteer - We will need volunteers to organize the coats on Friday, November 9th at the Sgt. Courtney T. Johnson Community Center from 2pm-8pm. We will also need volunteers to help registration and find appropriate sizes for the children on November 10th.

The coat giveaway event is November 10^th 11am-2pm at the Sgt. Courtney T. Johnson Community Center 1801 Proctor Street Raleigh, NC 27610. For more information please call Grady Bussey at 919-831-6719. 

2012-13 Youth Basketball Registration

The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department is holding youth basketball registrations for boys ages 5-18 and girls ages 5-16. League age is determined by age as of March 31, 2013. Registration will be held at all local community centers and at the Athletics office from October 1 through October 12. Registration is $36 for city residents and $48 for non-city residents. Games and practices will be held at various community centers throughout the City of Raleigh. Please contact Raleigh Parks and Recreation Athletics Division at 919-831-6836 or athletics@raleighnc.gov for more information.

 

The purpose of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department is to actively, encourage, provide, promote, and protect quality leisure, recreation and cultural opportunities, facilities and environments that are essential for the enhancement of the lives of our citizens.

For more information visit parks.raleighnc.gov or call (919) 831-6640.