Annual Park Clean-up and Leaf Removal

Mark your calendars... Our annual park clean-up and leaf removal day will be December 10th. This event calls for any and all supporters, including moms, dads, coaches, board members, current or former players and siblings.  This is also a great opportunity for students or service clubs to log volunteer hours, or parents and kids who just want to show their appreciation for all the hard work our volunteer grounds crew does throughout the year.  We encourage anyone who has enjoyed our great park to give some time back to help us maintain it. 

Volunteers should bring gloves, rakes and/or gas-powered blowers. Work will begin at 8am and go into late afternoon. Come as early and stay as long as you can. Email Paxton Hollar if you have any questions. phollar@suncappg.com. 

Spring Registration Update

Registration for the 2016 Spring Season is in full swing. Sign up online at www.mptll.org. Players must reside or attend school within our designated boundary. Here are some important deadlines and dates to be aware of:

UPCOMING KEY DATES

• 2-04-16 - 9-12 year old challenge baseball registration ends
• 2-07-16 - Challenge Baseball Tryouts for 9-12 year olds
• 2-07-16 - Softball Registration Ends
• 2-13-16 - Softball Tryouts
• 2-14-16 - Baseball Registration Ends
• 2-14-16 - 8 year old challenge baseball registration ends
• 2-20-16 / 2-21-16 - Baseball tryouts for 6-12 year olds
• 3-06-16 - T-Ball Registration Ends
• 3-07-16 - Challenge Baseball Tryouts for 8 year olds

MPTLL History Project: Aerial Photos of Randolph Park

Below are some interesting aerial photos showing how the land in and around Randolph Park has evolved over the years. It also shows how much our volunteers have accomplished since we first arrived at Randolph Road.

The photo on the left is from 1950, two years before the Myers Park Civitan league was created and began play at Myers Park Elementary School. It was all farm land back then. The road running north to south in this picture was Sardis Road, and later became Randolph Road. Sardis intersects Billingsley Road on the left side of the picture.

The middle photo is from 1961. Our one Little League field, E.C. Griffith, is seen on the northwest side of Randolph Road. To the south, the old Pony/Babe Ruth Field, Culp Field, is barely visible. Across the street, what we now call Grier Heights #1 has been built. At the bottom of the picture Billingsley Road has been rerouted further to the south in the current location. The old Billingsley Road still exists in the photo and runs through the farm on the land where our current fields sit.

The photo on the right is from 2012 and shows our current park, with two Grier Heights fields, three tee ball fields among the trees separating the upper and lower fields, and five Little League fields and other structures between the tree line and the current Billingsley Road. Interestingly, the path from behind the backstop of Randolph East Field to the concession stand follows the same route as the old Billingsley Road.

A lot has changed in 65 years. It will be interesting to see how the park continues to evolve as we grow and make more improvements over the next several decades.

Randolph Park land in 1950, 1961 and 2012. Click for a larger picture.

Capital Campaign Update and Plans For Randolph Park

 

Please read the following special message from MPTLL League President, Rich Little....


Dear MPTLL Parent, Coach, Sponsor and/or Volunteer,

I am sending you this message to update you on our progress towards finalizing our Capital Campaign, and to let your know of an opportunity we have to receive a $200,000 matching gift. 

As an update, we have made significant progress because of the willingness of many people to give back to the League.  To date, we have accomplished the following:

     1)    We have surpassed the $525,000 mark in total pledged donations

     2)    Largely because of the strength of the donations we have received so far, we have successfully secured an additional 10 year term of the Priority Use Agreement with Mecklenburg County and our partners at Park & Rec.  The new term will dovetail into the existing term which expires December 31^st, 2016.  We now have Randolph Park (and our other off site practice locations) under contract through the end of 2026.

     3)    Once we complete the Capital Campaign, we will be strategically positioned to go back to Park & Rec/Meck County and negotiate to add several decades to the Agreement beyond 2026. 

  

     4)    We have had Randolph Park surveyed in preparation for the construction projects.

     5)    We have had meetings with architects and a construction company to start the process of narrowing in on the actual costs of the projects we would like to complete.

     6)     Based on the conversations we have had so far, the cost to complete everything we want to do will be approximately $1.5 million.  This amount includes the covered seating, press box, dugouts, new backstop, bathrooms and concession stand for the New Field.  The cost estimate also includes the construction of a large building that will house an Indoor Teaching Center, and storage for the League’s equipment (i.e. a new Boyd’s Building).  The $1.5 million price tag also covers a fairly significant enhancement to the entrance of the park coming in from the main parking lot next to the soccer field.   The target number should also include enough money to build ground level, basic press boxes for several fields, including Kiser/Chapman. 

     7)    Depending on where we stand with money raised on November 15^th, 2015, we may find that we are not able to do everything we want to do as one big project.  If that is the case we will prioritize the components of the plan and look to complete the projects using a phased approach.

As mentioned, we have a very special, time sensitive opportunity to receive a matching gift of $200,000.   I mentioned the date November 15^th, 2015 in point #7 above because one of our Capital Campaign supporters has made a generous offer over and above his current donation.  He has committed to match all new pledges up to $200,000 received between now and November 15^th.   So, if we are able to raise the full $200,000, that amount will turn into $400,000 because of the matching gift.  We have 3 weeks to make sure that we maximize this awesome opportunity.  If we can get to the full match, AND if we can close at least one of the naming rights opportunities we have, we will be in a position to complete most if not all of our grand plan.

And that’s where I need your help.  I am writing to ask you to consider making a pledge to the Capital Campaign.  You have the option of spreading the payments out over 5 years.  You can go online and make a donation on the website using a credit card at  www.mptll.org – the link to the Capital Campaign is under About MPTLL – then click the Donate icon on the right hand side of the page. Alternatively, send me an email to the address below and request a pledge card to be sent to you.   (Thank you to those of you who have already stepped up and made a 2^nd donation!)

In addition to making a pledge, you can also help by reaching out to someone you know who has fond memories of MPTLL or who is currently enjoying their experience and ask them to join you in supporting the campaign.  Most people are glad to give to a worthy cause, but they must first know about it, and in most cases they need to be asked.  Just think of the impact we can make if everyone receiving this email is able to convince one additional person to give to the Campaign.  You can also forward a name or names to me so that I can contact them on your behalf, although I don’t think that that will be as effective as you contacting them directly.  The reality is that your contact to them will be more personal.  I am however happy to reach out to anyone you feel is a potential candidate.

We believe that the capital improvements outlined above have something for everyone at MPTLL.  The indoor teaching center will be used by softball and baseball teams, Challenge and All Star teams, and our 13-16 year old teams playing for Myers Park Academy and Jr Little League.  We will also hold free and paid player clinics, coaching clinics, have a winter workout program and provide private lessons.  The covered seating complex will be a great place to hold Opening Day and Closing Day Ceremonies, as well as be a first class field for regular season and tournament games for baseball players ages 9-12.  We will all be proud of an upgraded “front door” entrance area to the Park, which will also include a better drop/off and pick/up area for the kids coming to and leaving the field.  And finally, press boxes for our primary softball and baseball fields will add a new level of excitement to our games.  

Please join me in supporting this exciting plan, and please act before November 15^th so that we will be able to take full advantage of the matching gift.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

 

Rich Little

President

Myers Park Trinity Little League

mptllpres@gmail.com

Fall 2015 Registration

Parents and Coaches,

Registration for Myers Park Trinity's Fall programs will close on this Friday, August 21st.  Sign up today for t-ball, baseball or softball ages 4-16.  MPTLL is also offering Challenge Baseball and Softball, MP Academy baseball for rising 13 year olds, and Little League Junior Baseball for rising 13 and 14 year olds. Most divisions in our fall program allow time for kids to play other traditional fall sports.  Don't miss the chance for your son or daugther to have fun and improve their skills this fall.  Register today at https://www.mptll.org/Sign-Up/Fall-Registration.

We hope to see you soon.

Myers Park Junior League Season

Myers Park Trinity's Junior League season for 13 and 14-year-olds is fast approaching. The league is excited to announce that Providence Day Varsity Baseball Head Coach Jim Cerbie will serve as the team's manager.

Junior League tryouts will be held on Sunday, April 19, from 1:00-3:00 pm at Independence Park. Players interested in signing up should contact the league at juniorbaseball@mptll.org. Games will begin in mid-May.

Umpires Needed for Spring and Fall Baseball

Randy Helms, Supervisor of Baseball Officials, is looking for additional umpires for the upcoming spring and fall seasons.  If you are interested, please contact him at r_helms59@hotmail.com.  Randy will be holding clinics during the later part of February and first weeks of March. 

MPTLL Day at Dick's Sporting Goods

This Saturday, February 7th, is Myers Park Trinity Day at Dick's Sporting Goods' SouthPark location. It's time to gear up for our spring season. Stop by the store on Saturday and receive 20% off your purchase using our special MPTLL Day in-store coupon. MP volunteers will be on site from 10:00-1:00 to answer questions and register players for Baseball, Softball and T-Ball. Come by and see us.

If you have not yet signed up to play, please do it soon. Early registrations help the league prepare for the season. Families can sign up online through February 15th at www.mptll.org. Or in addition to our DSG walk-up registration, we will also have sign-up tables at Grier Heights Community Park and the Food Lion store  at 931 N. Wendover Road on Saturdays, Feb. 7 & 14 from 11:00-3:00 and Sundays, Feb. 8 & 15 from 1:00-3:00.

Thanks so much for supporting Myers Park Trinity. We are looking forward to another great season.

Spring Registration Continues Though February 15th

Online registration for Spring Baseball, Softball and T-Ball is open at www.mptll.org and will continue through February 15th. Walk-up registration will take place at the Randolph Park Concession Stand on Saturday, January 31st from 10:00-2:00. Our Grier Heights sign-up events begin the same day.

MPTLL Families - please show your support for the league by sharing this registration flyer with friends, family, social media contacts, school or church groups, etc. There are many exciting things happening at MP - from the creation of our own instructional academy, to the rapid growth of our softball program, to our all-star baseball state championships - Myers Park Trinity is better than ever. So help us get the word out.

Thanks so much for doing your part. See you at the fields!

MP Leaf Days 2014

The leaves have fallen. It's time to pitch in and help keep our park beautiful. Saturdays, December 6th and 13th are our annual MPTLL Leaf Cleanup Days at the fields at Randolph Park. The fun will begin each day at 9:00 a.m. and continue into the afternoon. This event calls for any and all Myers Park Trinity supporters - moms, dads, coaches, players, siblings, board members - anyone who can work a rake, gas blower, tarp, etc. The more the merrier. We encourage anyone who has enjoyed our great park to give some time back to help maintain it. This will be a great opportunity for students or service clubs wanting to log volunteer hours, or parents and kids who just want to show their appreciation for all that our hard-working volunteer grounds crew does throughout the year.

The work we accomplish on these Saturdays will pay dividends down the road and free up time for other projects. Please plan to attend and bring the whole family. Don't forget to bring any rakes or other tools that may be helpful. We will especially need as many gas powered blowers as possible. Make sure to mark your name on anything you bring.

If you would like to volunteer to help clean up the park on the 6th and/or 13th, please CLICK HERE and select the times that work for you. Thanks!