NYC Parks Recieves $15,000 Grant From ESPN

Today, NYC Parks announces its Bronx Sports Extravaganza summer program schedule which includes a number of fun-filled indoor and outdoor activities set to take place at St. James and Hunts Point Recreation Centers. Both Centers reach historically under-served neighborhoods that have been identified as Community Parks Initiative zones.

Supported by National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the Access to Sports Grant Program intends to expand youth sports opportunities through programming, infrastructure improvements and supply of needed equipment. ESPN and its staff will volunteer in conjunction with the project which will include a Sports Festival on Saturday, September 19 at Hunts Point Recreation Center. Project funding will allow programming including flag football, softball, soccer, street hockey, table tennis and an instructional basketball clinic.

"It is extremely important that children in New York City are able to participate in sports and fully engage themselves in a variety of fitness opportunities," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. "We are delighted that NRPA and ESPN are willing supporters of our initiatives and we are extremely thankful for their partnership in a commitment to encouraging a healthier lifestyle for our youth."

"NRPA has a long history of programs that support and improve underserved communities through parks and recreation and the benefits they provide," said Barbara Tulipane, President and CEO of NRPA. "Strong parks and recreation are part of the solution to improving underserved urban communities and we believe all children should have the opportunity to experience the benefits of youth sports. We are pleased to be working with ESPN on the Access to Sports program because it will support urban parks and recreation as they provide youth the chance to get active, improve their wellbeing and be inspired to positively affect their community."

"This collaboration with NRPA further establishes our commitment to improving access to sports for youth around the country," said ESPN's director of corporate outreach, Angela Woods. "Ensuring that youth can enjoy sports in their local parks is vital to the ongoing health and vibrancy of that community. Through this program, we will help local parks expand access to sports by building out their sports programing, acquiring equipment, and creating or refurbishing safe spaces to play."

As part of the Community Parks Initiative, enhanced programming this summer will be targeted to under-resourced parks in densely populated communities that are home to a higher-than-average percentage of individuals and families with incomes below the poverty line. NYC Parks has identified 55 of these priority zones across the five boroughs, which are now benefitting from capital investment, extended recreational programs, increased maintenance staffing, expanded community engagement efforts and partnership-building, and physical park repairs through the Community Parks Initiative.

The Community Parks Initiative, launched in October 2014, is one of the immediate steps NYC Parks is taking toward a brighter, greener and more equitable future. To learn more about the ways we are creating thriving public spaces for all New Yorkers, visit: http://nyc.gov/parks/cpi

The ESPN Access to Sports program adds to the long-standing commitment local parks and recreation has to serving our nation's youth. Park and recreation agencies across the country offer a wide variety of youth sports programs, including indoor and outdoor sports year-round.