The Active Recreation Plan Stimulus Package

Beat a tough economy and get your summer back on track with your own "recreation stimulus package". Playfully termed TARP (The Active Recreation Plan), Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department has devised a list of ways to have active fun without hurting your wallet.

If your child says, "Mom, I don't have anything to do," or your neighbor observes, "It's going to be a boring weekend," your answer should be TARP! TARP offers a wide variety of FREE or moderately priced activities for youngsters, individuals and families.

1. CLANK- the chains at any of our seven disc golf courses.
2. HANG TEN - at Grayson Skate Park.
3. TROT - ride horseback through Latta Nature Preserve.
4. PONY UP - pony rides for kids at Latta Equestrian Center.
5. SPLASH - with great fun at Ray's Splash Planet.
6. GET FIT - work out and tone-up at our eight fitness centers.
7. COOL OFF - in fountains and under spouts at our five spraygrounds.
8. GOOD NATURE - visit our three differently themed nature centers.
9. FETCH - with man's best friend at one of our 5 dog parks.
10. GO GREEN - walk, bike or skate on 33 miles of greenways.
11. ACE - serve up your best shot on our tennis courts.
12. FORE - play a round of golf at any of our four golf courses.
13. GET WET - swim indoors at the Aquatic Center, Marion Diehl Pool or our outdoor pools.
14. PICNIC- in our many parks. Ants not invited.
15.  SEGWAY - tour through the beautiful terrain at Latta Plantation Equestrian Center.
16. GIGGLE - while frolicking at any one of our dozens of playgrounds.
17. CAMP OUT- in the woods, near the lake at McDowell Campground and Nature Preserve.
18. DAY CAMP - enroll in a weekly session at a recreation center near home or parent's work.
19. HIKE - on miles of wooded trails at our nature preserves.
20. GO FISH- at eleven Park and Recreation ponds and lakes.

For more information on any TARP stimulus option, visit www.parkandrec.com.  TARP aims to get this community moving again! Park and Recreation's TARP stimulus package -- the twenty point program to do the job for recreation recovery!