Celebrating 50 years of community sports with Sports Illustrated and NRPA

The National Recreation and Park Association congratulates this month's featured America's Sportstown winners.

Here are this month's Sportstowns! These towns have been chosen by NRPA and Sports Illustrated as some of the best in the U.S. at enhancing the quality of sport Through parks and recreation. Keep reading to learn how these Sportstowns improve community through sport. And keep reading Parks & Recreation every month to find out about other winning Sportstowns. For a list of winners to date, see www.nrpa.org.

Although Portland (population 60,000) may be small by "largest-city-in-the-state" standards, Maine's answer to the Atlantic cities to the southwest occupies cultural, economic and commercial roles far bigger than its size would suggest. So it's fitting that Portland--in claiming the role of the Pine Tree State's brightest sporting and leisure beacon--provides a wealth of recreation opportunities for its locals who are among the most sports-happy in the country.

Maine offers both the best beaches and some of the finest skiing in New England, and its crown sporting jewel offers everything in between: baseball, softball, summer camps, before- and after-school programs, aquatics, swim lessons, certification programs, sport specific camps and clinics, martial arts, golf, hockey, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, floor hockey, tennis, youth sport leagues, adult sport leagues and more. Riverside Municipal Golf Course, home of the Greater Portland Open and tire Maine Open tournaments, is one of the state's most popular courses, and the Portland Sea Dogs--a "Double-A" affiliate of the major-league Boston Red Sox--make their home in the city as well.

The Parks and Recreation Department of the city of Portland embodies the core values of the city as a whole--inclusion and diversity among its employees and its constituents. Portland bills itself as a city with high standards of safety and public health and recognizes the critical role of the Parks and Recreation Department in furthering these aims. As with any successful recreation organization, the department is tightly integrated with area organizations in the planning and implementation of sports and leisure programs for residents of all ages and abilities.

Making participation in sports an enjoyable and lasting pursuit is of utmost importance, and the department's stated priorities--Fun and Safety, Knowledge and Skill Development, and Health and Physical Fitness for Life reflect this credo. There are rules mandating minimum playing times and no game scoring at tire younger levels. At the same time, the department recognizes the need for competitive sports leagues for athletes at appropriate and established skill and developmental levels, and collaborates with outside community organizations to sponsor and promote these entities.

Residents facing physical, mental, and financial challenges are never left out in the cold in Portland. Seniors are given door-to-door transportation wherever necessary, The department itself offers financial aid to families in need and has created, among other programs, a "drop-in" atmosphere format in its largest park to serve underprivileged children. Also, LIBRA, a private, charitable foundation, provides $1,000 scholarships to every third through sixth grader in Portland for summer-camp programs. Given that more than 50 languages are spoken in Portland--now a nationally recognized refugee resettlement community--interpreter services are in demand. These are ably met through a joint effort between the department and American Telephone & Telegraph, ensuring that community sports can serve as an excellent vehicle for cultural and ethnic blending.

Portland requires its volunteer coaches to undergo NCYSA (National Youth Sports Coaches Association) sport-specific training. The Department utilizes nationally recognized community sport safety policies, e.g., ASA (Softball), USA Hockey (Ice Arena), and American Red Cross Water Safety and U.S. Swimming (Aquatics programs). Parent education is an important aspect of Portland's inclusive approach to recreation; prior to the start of any program, the staff in charge of conducting it discusses program rules, parent expectations and the particulars of the program's code of conduct. Finally, officials for both adult sports leagues and high-school level programs are board-certified to ensure both quality and competitive integrity.

Skill development is strongly emphasized in all department sports programs, from T-Ball to tennis to ice-skating lessons to basketball. It is the department's philosophy that solid knowledge of a sport confers the background and foundation an athlete later needs in order to develop into a healthy competitor.

Portland gives due emphasis to sportsmanship, physical fitness, good health and nutrition and encouraging a healthy lifestyle, but does more than preach about the importance of such things--as an example of the department's commitment to its own stated values, it partners with East End Kids Katering, a local non-profit agency, to provide free breakfast and lunch to all youth.

Plans for improvements and expansion are always in the air in a town resonating with resident and taxpayer support. Within the next several years, Memorial Field is scheduled for artificial turf, a new softball complex for high school and community leagues will be built, and continued renovations will be made to existing fields, basketball and tennis courts.

If healthy sports and recreation programs are a sign of life as well as an occasional metaphor for same, Portland has vital signs that are truly among the nation's strongest.

Mention Indiana and sports to outsiders, and visions of basketballs soaring cleanly through nets fill their heads. Mention Indianapolis itself and the venerable Brickyard--home of the world's most famous automobile race--roars into their consciousness. But the 12th-largest city in America is the wellspring of a remarkable variety of top-tier community sports and recreation programs, earning Indianapolis recognition as the largest Sportstown in America.

What organization can capably and energetically serve the needs of more than 812,000 residents? Look no further than the venerable Indy Parks and Recreation (IPR). IPR's chief mission is ensuring access to recreation opportunities for all of Marion County's citizens. In aiming to promote sports and recreation as a positive contributor to children's physical, mental and emotional well-being, IPR seeks to increase available sports and leisure opportunities in concert with the growth of the city itself and to accomplish this in a safe, clean environment--a vital component of any child's spiritual nourishment.

Participants in IPR programs are quickly introduced to the core concepts of sportsmanship, respect, teamwork, Pair play and self-confidence. Practices and games are designed to be enjoyable, challenging learning experiences for all participants. Prudent behavior--not only by participants but also by spectators, parents, coaches and officials--is mandatory. In keeping with the theme of offering quality programs to children across the socioeconomic spectrum, IPR makes community awareness of its programs and certification of coaches and officials its main "quality-control" strategies.

As with most top-tier parks and recreation organizations, IPR requires coaches to undergo NYSCA (National Youth Sports Coaches Association) training. Coaches are selected on the basis of their ability to prioritize safety, health and fun and maintain a proper perspective on athletics at all times. A specific code of conduct clarifies these expectations, reminding coaches to place the emotional and physical well-being of their players ahead of a personal desire to win, to treat each player as an individual, to review and practice basic first aid principles, and lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all players. Parents are held to the same group of expectations and are encouraged to bear their role as exemplars of sportsmanship, tolerance and positivity at all times.

Indianapolis ensures that adequate funding is provided to IPR to meet the deep and varied needs of a population base approaching one million people. Every year, the city earmarks approximately $3.5 million in capital improvement funds for the development of new facilities and the maintenance of existing amenities. This amounts to more than $15 million invested in the past five years, because these funds are used to leverage additional grants, alliances, partnerships and sponsorships (G.A.P.S.), which have totaled more than $25 million, $10 million of which has been used to build and renovate several community centers. In total, IPR has utilized Federal, state, local and private funds combined with tax dollars to make more than $40 million in capital improvements to the park system in the past half-decade. Both public and private schools have collaborated with IPR to expand sports programs and recreation opportunities. Memorandums of understanding have been created to establish the cooperative use of school buildings, gymnasiums and pools after school hours, with IPR staffers on hand to supervise. IPR is currently funding a $1.3 million gymnasium addition to the public school at Rhodius Park. IPR stall; through a memorandum of understanding, manages three public school pools--Forest Manor, Washington Middle School and La Shonna Bates. In this innovative partnership arrangement, the school system provides the facilities and maintenance, while IPR staff develops and implements programs.

The IPR Web site (www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPR/home.htm) provides a user-friendly interface through which visitors can glean information about IPR's myriad leagues and programs, down load detailed maps of the region's ever-expanding greenways and trails networks, locate parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, golf courses, natural resources and other facilities, and learn about ways to volunteer. Above all, the Web site highlights the fact that the Indianapolis public is kept in the IPR loop at every turn, and that the role of the individual voice in contributing to the greater collaborative good cannot be overstated, in the context of all organization proven to be amazingly responsive to the needs of the large community it

In a state with more than 15 million people, spectacular year-round weather, more than one thousand miles of coastline, and an untold number of parks, rising above the crowd of eligible Sunshine State communities to emerge as a Sportstown is a tall order indeed. Clearwater, a city of 110,000 just north of Tampa Bay on Florida's Gulf coast, earned this distinction in 2003 thanks to its investment in the quality of life of all its citizens--young, old and in-between. Thousands of people participate in sports on an annual basis in this community blessed with a for giving Gulf of Mexico climate conducive to year-round participation iii outdoor endeavors of all stripes.

The city of Clearwater's Parks and Recreation Department (CP&R) is the leading provider of community sport facilities and programming, not only to Clearwater itself, but also to residents of unincorporated portions of Pinellas County and guests of the Tampa Bay area. In fact, CP&R's mission statement--"To provide parks and recreation programs, services, facilities and beautification to benefit residents and visitors of the city of Clearwater"--signifies its commitment to out-of-towners as well as locals and, by extension, its recognition of the importance of sports and leisure activities. And this is no small task: Administering CP&R are more than 250 full-time and part-time employees, 60 professional contract employees, 150 umpires and officials and 500 volunteers.

The department's facilities list is remarkable in its depth and scope, encompassing eight urban open space areas, 14 community parks, 17 resource based/scenic parks, 40 neighborhood parks and 41 special-use facilities. Specific sporting facilities include not only the "usual" complement of baseball, softball, football, basketball and tennis venues but fishing piers, boat ramps, bocce-ball courts, lawn-bowl courts, horseshoe pits, shuffleboard courts, and over 40 miles of trails. Simply put, if it concerns recreation and you can't find it in Clearwater, it probably hasn't been invented yet.

CP&R partners with more than 50 local organizations to ensure the delivery of top-tier programs for residents of all ages. These entities range from little leagues to organizations offering disc golf, cheerleading, shuffleboard, beach volleyball, sailing, fencing, distance running, gymnastics and more. The Philadelphia Phillies and the city of Clearwater--home of the Phillies' "Double-A" affiliate, the Threshers--have the second-longest-running partnership between a professional baseball team and a Florida city. CP&R also joins threes with both local school districts (municipal and county) and St. Petersburg College by way of expanding the availability of quality facilities and personnel. CP&R's partnership efforts have enabled the hosting of tournaments that not only benefit local sports participants, but provide tremendous economic benefit to the community; in the 2001/2002 fiscal year, CP&R generated nearly $8 million in revenue from tournaments, meets and other contests.

Clearwater's affluence has allowed for programs and policies that are, without exception, inclusive and available to persons with a variety of special physical needs. The city developed and executed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Plan to ensure facility accessibility, typically going the additional step to ensure that the most acceptable means of accommodation were incorporated (e.g., choosing the more costly option of utilizing ramps and zero-depth entry to swimming pools versus implementing lifts). CP&R also has the benefit of an ADA Design Review Committee, which is facilitated by the Department of Equity Services. This committee is made up of individuals with disabilities who review new construction plans regarding accommodation design.

The Therapeutic Recreation Section has aligned itself with 29 partner/resource agencies to assist with inclusion initiatives and programming for those with disabilities.

Finally, CP&R supports life-long sports participation by providing avenues for customer input, as well as developing partnerships with organizations that demonstrate a strong desire to offer life long sports participation avenues. Some of these partners are Clearwater's Disc Golf Club, Golf Course operations, Horseshoe Club, Lawn Bowls Club, Shuffleboard Club and Sunrise Table Tennis Club.

The recreation-based and leisure-related attributes of the city of Clearwater stand out, and their scope in terms of delivering programs and opportunities to people at every phase of life cannot be overemphasized. The city rightfully takes pride in its comprehensive approach to youth sports, and at the same time, Clearwater's outlets for senior athletes are unmatched. With such an all-encompassing way of sporting life, Clearwater's standing as an All-American sports town will undoubtedly continue flourishing will into the new millennium.

Fort Richardson, a military community comprised of 9,500 active duty military, family members, Alaska

National Guard, Department of Defense civilian employees and retired military, is nestled between the majestic mountains of the Chugiak Mountain Range and the Cook Inlet near Anchorage. Despite Alaska's long winter months, the recreation department--part of the Community and Family Activities division within the Directorate of Community Activities--administers and conducts sports, fitness, recreational activities and outdoor adventure programs, and are the community's heart and lifeline.

Within this and every military community, the philosophy for sports and recreation is to provide quality programs that help promote teamwork, enhance individual abilities and offer opportunities for families to experience new activities that encourage an active and healthy lifestyle. Recognition in special programs is a main function of the total recreation program, so competitive leagues are a part of the overall equation, but more important is encouraging participation from single soldiers, families with young children, teenage youth, and even encompasses those of the retired military in activities balanced across the gamut of participatory age groups.

As a military outpost, Fort Richardson faces unique challenges in the way of funding and organization when it conies to recreation and leisure. For example, access to the military installation is restricted to those with identification (ID) cards, but in order to allow more groups or individuals use of some of the facilities and fields, policies are in place to assist organizations in gaining clearance and exceptions to the restricted post access by the Post Commander. But on the whole, the qualities that make Fort Richardson a Sportstown mimic those of its civilian-world counterparts. Safety is a top priority; fields and playing areas are in spected prior to each activity to ensure no significant problems exist. Parents, coaches, and participants are required to attend organizational meetings explaining the conduct of each activity and procedures for registration, and parents also sign waivers for liability and permission papers for their children to participate in any given sports or activity. Volunteers are used extensively in all of the military adult and youth programs. Participation in sports activities by both children and adults is regulated by national governing rules and guidelines.

All volunteer coaches receive National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) training for each sport they coach. A mandatory meeting is held for all the adult sports coaches prior to the beginning of each organized activity to review existing rules, requirements and by-laws governing the sport. Parents must attest in writing that they will abide by and support the NAYS Parents Code of Ethics during all league sports activities and are encouraged to attend pre-season clinics and skills assessments with their children to put them in touch with techniques for teaching skill development and skills-assessment drills.

Because the standards for officiating are crucial to the conduct of a successful sports program, an independent contractor is selected to provide certified officials for any given sport; these individuals must have a current certification in order to officiate the sport in question. To promote skills development, two coaches and a team parent are provided for each youth team prior to each sports season. Enough facility and field space is allotted to allow coaches to conduct a minimum of two team practices each week.

Fort Richardson's actively interfacing its sports and recreation programs with members of the community at large combats any notions of insularity. Offering sports within the military community increases opportunities for active-duty members to interact with civilian employees and participate with them in recreational sports. Normally, such opportunities are limited, and giving civilian employees the chance to participate with military personnel on a recreational level encourages the development of comradeships and friendships.

Despite funding cutbacks, the past five years have seen improvements in facilities, particularly in the area of youth-oriented programs. These improvements have included the resurfacing of three baseball fields, the building of a skate park, and the construction of a "Challenge Course." Plans in place for the next five years include the building of an indoor ice skating arena with dressing rooms, the addition of a fitness and wellness area to provide increased programs for all military and family members, increasing the size of free-weight and cardiovascular exercise rooms, and reconfiguring post racquetball courts. The planned conversion of one of the racquetball courts into a rock-climbing room is expected to enhance the recreation department's ability to offer new innovative programs to community members.

All in all, relatively small Fort Richardson provides a breadth of quality and variety of services rarely found in much larger communities. Programs offered cater not only to actively training soldiers but also to civilian employees and more than 1,800 retired military personnel. Clearly, the Fort Richardson community is in the top echelon of sports and recreation programs, not only in the state of Alaska, but nationwide.

COPYRIGHT 2004 National Recreation and Park Association
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group