NRPA and Nike
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), in partnership with Nike, is conducting key nationwide research to evaluate fair access in sports, providing professional development opportunities to the park and recreation field, and highlighting case studies and impactful stories of girls and women who have played sports in park and recreation programs across the country.
Together, we are providing funding to park and recreation agencies to support strategies that expand opportunities in sports. This effort will lead to the creation of a roadmap, helping more than 10,000 park and recreation agencies enhance access and fuel an environment where girls and women in sports can thrive.
To better understand gaps and opportunities for increasing access to youth sports through parks and recreation, NRPA partnered with Nike to launch the Youth Sports in Parks and Recreation survey in October 2024. This report includes findings from the survey, along with insights into the current state of youth sports delivery through parks and recreation, and reflections on the potential for advancing strategies that level the playing field and promote positive youth development.
Let's level the playing field!
Chicago Park District
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Park District (CPD) will use grant funds to expand participation in its Girls P.L.A.Y. initiative, which provides recreational sport opportunities citywide. In addition to providing scholarships for nearly 30 girls, the city will leverage grant funds to address common barriers to sport including transportation, apparel and personal hygiene supplies. CPD will work with partners to collect feedback from participating girls to inform future programs.
City of Eudora Parks and Recreation
Eudora, Kansas
Eudora will form a coalition of local girls, women athletes, coaches and community leaders to assess existing sports programs, identify areas for improvement and lay the groundwork for new initiatives — including rolling out expanded sport offerings and leadership and mentorship opportunities for youth.
City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Building on their existing partnership with Nike, City of Los Angeles will leverage the grant to dive deeper into recruiting and training women coaches. The agency will train and recruit women coaches, plus inspire young female athletes, ages 16–22, to explore coaching by introducing "Coach Trainee" roles. Trainees will engage in leadership workshops and hands-on coaching clinics.
City of Menifee Community Services Department
Menifee, California
Currently, only 15 percent of Menifee's program registrants are girls, despite the city's population being evenly split between boys and girls. To bridge this gap, Menifee is launching Get HER in the Game, a dedicated all-girls sports initiative designed to promote gender equity by offering girls meaningful opportunities to participate, connect and grow through sports. This six-week program will create a supportive and empowering environment where young female athletes can develop both their athletic abilities and essential life skills.
City of Twentynine Palms Parks and Recreation
Twentynine Palms, California
Twentynine Palms will partner with Girls on the Run to offer evidence-based programming for girls that is focused on building self-esteem and physical wellness habits. A unique element of this project is the agency's plan to leverage art as a way to celebrate end of season accomplishments via a gallery walk. The agency will also launch a junior coaches and junior advisory council program for high school girls.
City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation Department
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington Parks and Recreation will partner with local universities to offer camps and clinics for girls, using college students as program leaders. The agency will offer sports that are included in middle and high schools, which generally have low participation rates (schools are also listed as a partner). The program will also provide equipment for girls to take and use at home.
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department will expand girls' volleyball from one site to 10 centers, plus leverage partnerships with local organizations like the Columbus Fury and former college athletes to help provide mentorship, coaching and skill development opportunities.
King County Play Equity Coalition
Seattle, Washington
In partnership with City of Burien and the local school district, King County Play Equity Coalition will use the grant to recruit and train community-based coaches, creating role models for girls in sports programs. This project will focus on translating recruitment and training materials, empowering BIPOC women to pursue coaching. King County will also implement interventions like roundtables with school and community sports leaders to identify barriers and solutions to sport engagement across the county.
Positive Coaching Alliance
Boston, Massachusetts
In partnership with groups like parks and recreation and local school districts, Positive Coaching Alliance has built a citywide sports coalition in Boston aimed at expanding opportunities for girls in sports and increasing coaching rates among women of color. The initiative is focused on making change at all levels to build sports equity, especially changing policies that break down barriers to participation and coaching.
Township of Willingboro Recreation and Parks Department
Willingboro, New Jersey
Willingboro is building a supportive and engaging pathway to sport for girls through specialized clinics, mentorship and inspiring women role models. By collaborating with local schools, faith and community-based groups, this initiative will create opportunities for more girls to participate and succeed in sports, especially girls of color and girls in low-income households.
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Photos courtesy of Adobe Stock.