Garner Lake Benson Boathouse Opens May 16 for Season

Come on out to the lake starting May 16! That's when the Lake Benson Boathouse opens for the season. The popular amenity offers a variety of boat, kayak and canoe rentals and provides the opportunity to fish from the dock during boathouse hours.

Boat House Information HERE

Lake Benson Boathouse 

975 Buffaloe Road
Garner, NC 27529
919.247.3446

Lake Benson Boathouse is located just down the road from Lake Benson Park. Jon boats, canoes and kayaks are available to rent. There is no charge to fish from the dock. Dock fishing is only available when the boathouse is open. All rentals are on a first come, first served basis.

via Town of Garner

Spirit League Comes to Garner

Spirit League is an adaptive basketball program that allows participants with special needs to play a team sport in a positive, self-esteem building environment.

Athletes will have the opportunity to learn new skills and the fundamentals of basketball through drills and fun adaptive games.

Please wear gym clothes, athletic shoes and bring a water bottle.

Personal Assistants are welcome. Team shirts will be provided.

Scan this QR Code for more information

Volunteers Needed

Thanks for considering volunteering with the Garner Spirit League this season! We ask that volunteers commit to attending at least 4 of the 7 sessions to provide continuity for the participants and the  opportunity to build relationships.  All volunteers will be need to pass a background screening before being allowed to interact with participants.  Once you have signed up to volunteer, be on the look out for communication from Sara Shaw, Recreation Program Supervisor, for more information on completing the background check.  If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Sara at scshaw@garnernc.gov. 

Town Seeks Input on Garner Recreation Center Master Plan Update

The Town of Garner is updating its master plan for Garner Recreation Center (215 W. Main St.) to capture the public's current usage and thoughtfully plan for the future.

The initial plan was adopted in January 2014 with a primary focus on indoor features. Now that the facility has been open for a year, a review and update of the master plan will help guide future improvements to the 6.19-acre site. The public is encouraged to attend a drop-in (or open-house-style) meeting on one of the following dates to provide feedback about desired amenities for the future:

• Friday, Sept. 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Garner Recreation Center

• Monday, Oct. 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Garner Recreation Center

This planning process will enable the Town to meet eligibility requirements for a grant opportunity (the Accessibility for Parks Grant, administered through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation/N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund). If funded, the grant would support a future playground on the site.

Friday Family Flicks: Spider-Man No Way Home

The Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department will have a free showing of "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (weather permitting) on Friday, June 10, at 8:45 p.m. on the front lawn of Garner Recreation Center (215 W. Main St.).

Join us outside for a free family movie on the big screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. Rain date is the same time the following day. Don’t forget your lawn chairs or blankets!

Don't miss Spiderman! He will be here taking pictures from 8:15-8:45pm.

Concessions will be provided by Funnel Cakes by Tonio!
Menu:
Fresh Popped Popcorn
Nachos and Cheese
Funnel Cake
Deep Fried Oreos
Baked Pretzel
Cotton Candy
Drinks and Refreshments

Check garnernc.gov or the Town's social media sites on the day of the event for updates on any possible rescheduling or cancellation due to inclement weather.

The Easter Bunny is Coming to Town

Come Join Garner and our Spring Eggstravaganza!

Saturday, April 9th 2022

Lake Benson Park
10 a.m - 12:30 p.m.

The Easter Bunny is coming to Garner!

We have two exciting opportunities scheduled for you to meet the Easter Bunny. Join us at the Bunny Hop on April 8 from 6-7pm at the Garner Recreation Center for dinner, crafts, photos and an egg hunt. Pre-registration is required at https://garner.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail....

You can also catch the bunny on April 9 at the Spring Eggstravaganza event at Lake Benson Park from 10am-12:30pm. This is a free community wide event that will include, games, egg hunts, crafts, music, food trucks and more!

For more information about these and other events and programs, visit GarnerNC.gov/parks

---

Garner Partners on Purchase of Open Space and Wetlands

Acquisition will support possible greenway system extension and protect watershed

A joint news release from The Conservation Fund and the Town of Garner:

Today, the Town of Garner and The Conservation Fund announced the purchase of 86.5 acres of undeveloped wetlands and open space for future public access and the protection of drinking water resources.

Located southeast of U.S. 401 South and near other permanently protected lands owned by the City of Raleigh, Wake County and the Town, the acquired property borders a major tributary to Swift Creek, which is part of the Lake Benson watershed, a critical source of drinking water supply for Wake County. The site's wetlands and extensive floodplain provide a naturally vegetated buffer that helps to filter storm water runoff from surrounding upland areas while providing important upland habitat for wildlife.

The Town is eager to add the open space to its park system as part of Garner's Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Town officials say the acquisition could make possible the extension of Garner's greenway system, creating new trails that will connect existing parks and schools throughout southern Wake County.

“As Garner grows, we continue to look for opportunities to preserve open space and to do it in a strategic way based on our long-term planning,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said. “The Council and I were excited to have the opportunity to acquire this acreage because it fits well into our master planning efforts and will allow us to provide nature-oriented recreation opportunities, such as hiking, in the future. This land will be a great asset for residents, and its conservation also will help to protect our local drinking water resources.”

The Town partnered with The Conservation Fund—a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing conservation solutions that deliver both economic and environmental benefits—to purchase six parcels of land totaling 86.5 acres from Kay Boling Singletary.

“This project represents a rare opportunity to conserve a large section of undeveloped land in a rapidly urbanizing area that sits within a critical water supply watershed,” said Bill Holman, The Conservation Fund’s North Carolina State Director. “Land protection efforts like this are key to a comprehensive strategy for clean water and pollution reduction in the Triangle, and we are pleased to work with the Town of Garner to secure this site for future public recreational access and enjoyment.”

This project utilized funds from Raleigh’s Watershed Protection Program through the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative, the Wake County Open Space Bond Program, and the Town of Garner. Additional private-sector support from the Caterpillar Foundation was provided through a new partnership recently created with Conservation Trust for North Carolina to safeguard important local natural lands in North Carolina’s Triangle region through investments in natural infrastructure and land conservation.

“This is an exciting step in providing local watershed protection, and we are thrilled that everyone in the community, including Caterpillar families, will see sustained water quality and avoid nitrogen and phosphorous impacts,” said Asha Varghese, Caterpillar Foundation president. “The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to be a part of this multi-sectoral collaboration as part of our focus on building resilient communities through sustainable infrastructure solutions.”

“We are excited about this project due its proximity to Lake Benson and the opportunity to partner with Wake County and the Town of Garner to protect water quality,” said Ed Buchan, Senior Communications Analyst, City of Raleigh. “Lake Benson helps provide approximately 20 percent of the drinking water to our 600,000-plus customers, so it is critical to protect this natural resource through conservation efforts like this.”

“Wake County’s population continues to grow. With that growth comes the need to protect land that preserves natural resources, wildlife habitat, and historical and cultural properties; protects forest and farmland, scenic landscapes, riparian corridors and water quality; and provides venues for outdoor recreation,” said Chris Snow, Wake County’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space. “This project can do all of these things.”

About The Conservation Fund

At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 8.5 million acres of land, including nearly 235,000 acres of beloved natural lands across North Carolina.

Town of Garner Names New Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Director

María Muñoz-Blanco has been selected to become the next director of the Town of Garner’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

Muñoz-Blanco brings more than 25 years of experience in the public sector, working at the state, county and municipal level in arts, parks, venue management and grantmaking organizations. Her work in the public sector has focused on improving quality of life in diverse communities, expanding programs and services in the arts and parks, and successfully integrating diverse voices and a broad spectrum of creative organizations and artists.

Most of Muñoz-Blanco’s professional experience has involved working in large metropolitan areas, and she has had direct responsibility for managing annual operating budgets as large as $38 million. She most recently served as vice president in the Leadership Transitions practice of Arts Consulting Group, Inc. (ACG), a bi-national cultural management consulting firm.

“Maria brings a wealth of experience in all areas of parks and recreation, including programming and cultural resources,” Garner Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. “Her experience in larger organizations should translate well to the Town of Garner as we plan for continued growth.”

Muñoz-Blanco will assume leadership of a nationally accredited department that currently has 12 parks totaling more than 473 acres and facilities including the Garner Performing Arts Center, Garner Senior Center, White Deer Park Nature Center and the soon-to-open Garner Recreation Center.

“I am honored and delighted to join the Town of Garner Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department,” Muñoz-Blanco said. “Public parks and leisure activities are central to the quality of life of a community and increasingly play an important role in health and wellness. This is an exciting time for the Town of Garner and for the department, with a new master plan and new assets coming online to better serve the community. I look forward to working alongside Town leadership, staff and our advisory boards to provide Garner residents with great recreational experiences in our beautiful park system.”

Muñoz-Blanco has served as deputy director of the Fulton County Arts Council in Atlanta; executive director of the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County; director of cultural affairs for the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs; executive director of cultural affairs for Miami Dade College; and director of parks and neighborhoods for the City of Memphis.

In her leadership role with the City of Memphis, Muñoz-Blanco oversaw a recreational system with 162 parks, 24 community centers, five senior centers, 17 pools, eight public golf courses, a football stadium/fairgrounds and a variety of athletic and sports facilities. 

In Dallas, where she led the Office of Cultural Affairs for nine years, Muñoz-Blanco oversaw 22 city-owned cultural facilities managed through long-term partnerships with leading arts organizations or directly by her staff team.

Her capital projects experience includes planning and opening the $40 million City Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District and a neighborhood cultural center in Oak Cliff, as well as managing $5 million in improvements to the historic Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis.

Muñoz-Blanco has a bachelor of arts degree in arts theory from the University of Puerto Rico, where she graduated magna cum laude, and a master of arts in art history from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey.

For more information on the Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, please visit garnernc.gov/departments/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources.

Garner PRCR's Lorie Clark Receives Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award

Town of Garner Cultural Arts and Events Manager Lorie Clark has received the 2021 Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award, which recognizes an alumna who has demonstrated committed service in the advancement of gender and family justice since graduation from Eckerd College.

Clark has worked for social justice in the Chapel Hill–Carrboro community of North Carolina for more than two decades. As a high school specialist to the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate Program (BRMA) in the Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools for 18 years, she provided opportunities for student growth with a social justice focus. In BRMA, she created experiences for students of color that empowered them to succeed in spaces not originally welcoming to them.

She also was the adviser of BRMA’s Youth Leadership Institute, serving 100 students of all races each year. Under Lorie’s guidance, the Blue Ribbon Leadership Institute was the third-largest extracurricular program in the school district and earned the University of North Carolina’s University Diversity Award. 

"I am delighted and humbled to be this year’s recipient of the Eckerd College Margaret Rigg Social Justice Award," Clark said. "I believe my family's commitment to service and the experiences at Eckerd College prepared me for a life of service to others."  

In her current role as youth adviser to the Chapel Hill–Carrboro NAACP Council, Lorie worked with students to organize peaceful protests in support of the changes asked by the Black Lives Matter movement. With homemade posters, students marched—socially distant and masked—in summer’s heat with community leaders from Chapel Hill–Carrboro’s NAACP and local churches.

Lorie’s work for social justice extends beyond the school system. She founded The Hannah Ruth Foundation to honor her maternal and paternal grandmothers, who have deep roots in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. By bringing together the youth and the elderly, bonds are built between generations, as bridges to the future. The youth learn about the elderly through service—including holiday meal delivery and organizing events such as a formal Valentine’s Day dance and a holiday party for seniors.

Lorie’s service has been recognized by many organizations, including the Chapel Hill–Carrboro NAACP and National Council of Negro Women. Among numerous awards for her community service, the Pauli Murray Service Award, given to Lorie in 2019 by the Orange County Human Rights Commission, is particularly significant. Born in the Jim Crow era, Pauli Murray—poet, writer, activist, labor organizer, legal theorist and Episcopal priest—overcame obstacles during her youth in nearby Durham, North Carolina. In learning about her, one student wrote that Murray reminded her of Lorie Clark: “Ahead of her time, and behind the scenes.”

Lorie began her employment with the Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department in January of 2020 as the Cultural Arts and Events Manager.  

Learn more about this award program.

Courtesy Town of Garner

CALLING ALL ARTISTS FOR ART AROUND TOWN

CALL FOR ARTISTS

The Downtown Garner Association (DGA) and the Town of Garner are looking for local and regional visual artists to participate in an outdoor Art Around Garner art installation beginning August – October 2021.

Art Around Town  is a community art project for the residents of Garner and artists from surrounding areas to participate in a temporary art exhibit that will illustrate community and natural beauty and bring joy, healing, and civic engagement.

• Artists will be required to submit their “Art Around Garner” idea, concept, or theme of painting at the time of application.

• DGA will hold an artists interest meeting on May 13 at 6:30pm via Zoom.

• Twenty local and regional artists will be selected to participate.*

• $50-100 material stipends are available upon request.

• Artists will be notified if their artwork is accepted and where it will be located.

• Painting must be completed by July 1.

• *This is not a juried exhibit; however, artwork not consistent with the theme will not be accepted.

SPECS & INSTALLATION

Artists will be provided with a 3′ x 4′ board to paint.  Acrylic paint is recommended and pieces will be varnished by the exhibit coordinators to be weather safe.

The art will be on display August through October 2021 at the following proposed pedestrian-friendly locations including Town Hall, Garner Senior Center, Garner Rec Center (GRC), Garner Performing Arts Center, and other locations around downtown and town parks.

AUCTION

Upon completion of the exhibit, the art will be auctioned with 75% of the proceeds going to  the respective artists and 25% to DGA to benefit future art projects throughout the Town of Garner.
The exact time, location and date of auction is yet to be determined but anticipated for November 2021.

INQUIRIES

Questions from artists should be directed to Lorie Clark at lclark@garnernc.gov.