NRPA and Musco Lighting
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is collaborating with Musco Lighting to expand access to youth sports. This partnership supports park and recreation agencies as they work to increase fair access to sports and play to ensure that all kids can experience the life-changing benefits of sports.
Between 2023-2025, NRPA and Musco Lighting have partnered to provide 16 agencies with grant funding, in-kind infrastructure improvements and training to increase access to youth sports. NRPA has used insights from the grant program to create its Youth Sports Framework, providing a roadmap to help park and recreation professionals implement effective, lasting solutions that expand access and encourage greater participation in youth sports.
Let's build a youth sports culture that is welcoming to all!
Billings Skatepark Committee
Billings, Montana
Billings Skatepark Committee has refurbished and expanded a skatepark in direct extension of utilizing the Youth Sports strategies to assess access, programming and amenities. They have begun hosting events sponsored by youth and pulling in agencies and partners that serve youth with differing abilities. They have relied heavily on a youth committee to plan, engage and facilitate rollersports programming for the community.
Can Play Adapted
West Des Moines, Iowa
Can Play Adapted will partner with West Des Moines Parks and Recreation to expand sport opportunities for youth with disabilities. It will launch a new adaptive sport program (one does not currently exist) and intentionally connect families who have children participating in the program. Can Play Adapted is creating a comprehensive curriculum and framework to help communities offer inclusive sports for youth with disabilities. Their licensing model provides the tools, training and support needed to build meaningful adaptive programs.
City of Kenner, Department of Recreation
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is excited to leverage a community skate park, which includes adaptive features, to create a physical activity hub that is welcoming and inclusive for all youth. They city has created an Adaptive Sports Coalition, which includes representation from many public health organizations in the city, to help program the space — a great example of activating infrastructure for increased physical activity. The department will work with paralyzed veterans in the community to serve as mentors for users of adaptive skate park features.
City of Scottsdale, Adaptive Recreation
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale would like to conduct an assessment of its current adaptive programs and develop an action plan based on community feedback. A key focus will be addressing financial constraints to programs to establish an equitable fee structure model. The agency aims to increase participation in adaptive programs by 30 percent and will provide training for coaches and staff working with youth who have disabilities.
Flywheel Sports Based Youth Development
New Castle, Pennsylvania
This 501(c)3 nonprofit will partner with City of New Castle and the USTA to establish a tennis learning center at Gaston Park. In partnership, these organizations will provide free/low-cost tennis programming, including adaptive programs. The center will also offer youth mentoring to support academic achievement and build leadership skills in young people, specifically girls of color. Reviewers were impressed with the emphasis on partnership and sports-based youth development.
New London Recreation Department
New London, Connecticut
New London has proposed a robust plan for collecting youth input on sports programs. This project aims to unite previously independent organizations into a coalition to gather youth perspectives, with New London developing an action plan based on the collected feedback. Partners include the school system, food pantry and other community organizations that are well connected with underrepresented youth.
Credits:
Photos courtesy of Adobe Stock and City of Glenwood Springs Parks and Recreation.