Tag Archive for: #kendrickvann

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Coach’s Corner 06/04/20: H-V Rec. & Parks ‘Uncertain But Hopeful’ for Fall Sports

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department’s Kendrick Vann, director, and Darius Pitt, program director, appeared on the WIZS Coach’s Corner Thursday.

Stating summer and fall sports are in a holding pattern due to COVID-19 concerns, Pitt explained the Rec. Department is following the directives of the National and North Carolina Recreation and Park Associations, as well as the CDC.

“We are watching right now, and everything is on hold,” Pitt said. “We want the kids to be involved in sports, but we are also concerned about their safety and the safety of their parents and others that come to the games.”

Pitt said the department is hopeful that activities will return for the fall, even if that takes on a different format from the norm. “Things change daily, and we are hopeful for the fall. Right now, we are looking at offering camp training programs rather than organized sports leagues. We are looking at ways to space kids out [physically] so they can stay active by doing individual workouts and conditioning.”

Vann said he is working with other area recreation departments and athletic directors to get new ideas for keeping youth and families engaged while still protecting against the spread of COVID-19.

“This is new to everyone and things change daily,” said Vann. “We don’t have a hard deadline, but we’re working with other areas so we can be consistent with our message and with our offered sports.”

To hear more from Vann and Pitt, please listen to the Coach’s Corner audio by clicking the play button above.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Town Talk 06/02/20: Sheriff, H-V Rec & Park Director Discuss Downtown Rally

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame and Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department Director Kendrick Vann appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Brame and Vann discussed Sunday’s rally/walk through downtown Henderson, a response, in part, to the death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died during an incident with law enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25.

With an estimated 30-40 rally participants, primarily young people and community leaders, both men expressed their gratitude that the event remained peaceful.

 

“It went very well on Sunday,” said Brame. “People came together to protest in an orderly fashion. There was no name-calling, no one got out of hand and no one tried to block the street. It was just a great rapport.”

Vann agreed, “Everything went really, really well. I’m truly proud of the young men and women that came out for this great cause. It’s very rare that you have people between the ages of 17 and 25 that stand up for something and have a purpose.”

Vann said the biggest takeaway of the day was the thoughtful conversations and the knowledge gained.

“Participants got an education between myself, Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow, the Henderson City Council members, Rev. John Miles and others,” stated Vann. “They learned a lot about the process of doing things the right way. We also talked about the history of Vance County and downtown Henderson, why the community was named what it was named and the importance of knowing where your City and County offices are located. These young adults didn’t know that information, but they were excited to learn more.”

Sheriff Brame said what was most important to participants is that law enforcement and community leaders took the time to listen. “We cannot solve all the world’s problems, but we need to be there to communicate and listen,” Brame explained. “All people want us to do is hear them out, to be patient and listen to them.”

Addressing a recent press release issued by the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association and posted to WIZS.com (click here for full statement), Brame agreed that the officer in the Floyd incident acted “inexcusably” and his actions were “totally contrary to the training provided to law enforcement officers in North Carolina.”

Brame said he believes the respect for law enforcement in Vance County, and the respect law enforcement shows the community, is in a good place right now, and he doesn’t want to see that damaged.

“I had a young man come up to talk to me in my vehicle at the protest,” said Brame. “He didn’t understand the presence of law enforcement at the event. I explained to him that we don’t want what has happened in surrounding areas such as Raleigh and Charlotte to happen in Vance County. It took us a long time to build up what we have. Why would we tear it down?”

Vann reminded listeners that law enforcement is vital to a successful, thriving community. “Law enforcement is here for a reason and we’ve got to trust the system. Some people have bad experiences of working with the system and don’t have the whole story; that’s what makes it a sensitive topic.”

By working collaboratively, Vann said the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and Henderson Police Department are improving community relations.

“I think Sheriff Brame and Chief Barrow – one being African-American and the other being Caucasian – do a great job of working together to minimize a lot of things,” Vann said. “People in the community have to hold officers and deputies accountable. If you see someone doing something wrong, don’t blow it off. These two great men leading these departments can’t see or be everywhere. We have to tell them so that we can help prevent things from happening. We as a community need to be accountable for what goes on in our own community. That’s what I believe, and that’s why I was there on Sunday.”

Brame echoed Barrow’s request on yesterday’s Town Talk episode asking anyone that wants to hold a rally or protest in Henderson or Vance County to go through the proper channels by contacting the sheriff’s office or police department first.

To hear the interview with Brame and Vann in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

H-V Rec. & Parks Director, Henderson Police Chief Stand Behind Proposed Park

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Kendrick Vann, director of Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks, along with Tara Goolsby, facilities manager, and Victor Hunt, program specialist, were on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss department updates.

According to Vann, the Recreation Department is currently working with City of Henderson and Vance County officials to obtain a park and recreation trust fund grant totaling $500,000 to build a new public park at the corner of Williams and Montgomery Street in Henderson. Vann said the current plan asks the City and County to match dollar for dollar up to $250,000.

If the grant is obtained, funding will be used to build a skate park, bike park, splash pad, outdoor exercise and fitness stations, a shelter for picnics and a walking trail that will encompass the park.

“We want to make Henderson one of the greatest cities in the area, and we want to show that by having a diverse park,” said Vann.

Vann said much of the planning was the brainchild of Recreation employees Alan Gill and Steve Osborne, along with the “hard-working” Recreation Advisory Committee who had the goal of accessibility in mind when creating the park’s design and layout.

“One of the biggest issues people tell us they have with using public parks and facilities is accessibility,” said Vann. “People aren’t always able to get to the Aycock Rec. Center, for example, because they say it is on the outskirts of town.”

After holding several pop-up community events at the corner of Williams and Montgomery Street, a spot some may recognize as the site of the former Vance Hotel, Vann said the committee realized they had an ideal park location.

“We started having community events such as ‘Stop the Violence,’ and we saw that it was a great location because we had a lot of attendance. The team discussed it and said that would be a great place to put a park, especially in conjunction with the happenings in downtown Henderson.”

Vann is referring to the close proximity of Perry Memorial Library, the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center and the future outdoor Breckenridge Pavilion, as well as restaurants, shops and special events such as the annual Vance County Relay for Life and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet Me in the Street” series.

The first of two scheduled public meetings for the community to hear additional information about the proposed park and to provide input was held Tuesday evening at City Hall.

While turnout was low, Vann hopes to see more of the Henderson-Vance community at the next meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening, Thursday, April 25, 2019. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers located at 134 Rose Avenue in Henderson.

“We invite the public to come out to hear the latest on park plans and to bring all ideas and questions that you have,” Vann implored.

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow, who stopped by during the live interview, weighed in on the proposed park. “It’s a key location for the City; it’s right downtown and it’s been empty for over 20 years. This is an element that the City has been missing for a long time and something that Kendrick has been pushing for, and I’ve pushed for it with him. He has a vision, and we’ve got to follow that vision. It will be great for downtown.”

To hear the Town Talk interview with Vann in its entirety, including additional H-V Recreation & Parks updates from staff members, click here.