Celebratng 50 years of community with Sports Illustrated and NRPA

Parks & Recreation, Nov, 2003

Here are this month's Sportstowns! These towns jave been chosen by NRPA and Sports Illustrated as some of th 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.

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

ARLINGTON COUNTY, VA

Teaming Up to Win

Nothing is left to guesswork, wishful thinking or pie-in-the-sky plans for the Arlington County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources (DRPRC). Staff and policies apply an unusual degree of mindfulness and commitment to the needs of its roughly 190,000 residents, who live in a 25.7-square-mile mix of urban and suburban community in the heart of the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. This high-density population of a highly diverse mix of races, religions, languages and ethnic groups, as well as a large aging population, requires all innovative approach to both program needs and the use of limited land space for recreation.

The emphasis Arlington County places on recreation and sport reflects the central importance of its philosophy: "The pursuit of leisure, including sports activities and programs, is a condition necessary for human dignity and well-being, and sports are a part of a healthy lifestyle and productive life." Sport and recreation is not merely one way to fill spare time, but is essential to living well. As a result, Arlington has amassed an array of programs and facilities, partnerships and inclusiveness that mirror this philosophy. Examples include the following:

* Arlington County has launched the NRPA Hearts N' Parks initiative. This program is a collaboration between NRPA and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to encourage people to engage in regular activity, aim for a healthy weight and follow a heart-healthy eating plan. The community-based programs are aimed at stemming the rising tide of obesity and heart disease in the U.S.

* Arlington County was chosen as one of four communities (including Houston, Minneapolis, and San Diego) to participate in a study conducted by the University of Delaware and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to investigate the relationship between health and local park and recreation use in adults ages 50 and over.

* Arlington County has adopted the Asset Development model as the cornerstone of its programs for youth. Youth programs are specifically designed to nurture developmental assets using adult role models, giving kids an opportunity to use time and energy in constructive ways, allowing young people to participate in planning programs, having high expectations and fostering competence of youth on many levels.

* The DRPRC partners with numerous other agencies and nonprofit organizations, including the police department, public and private schools, local YMCAs, league and club sports across all ages, as well as local universities.

* Arlington youth sports leagues have had a guaranteed play rule in effect since the early 1980s. The DRPRC contributes to a culture in which participants enjoy playing, emphasize fun and skill development, and yet are challenged to perform at their highest potential.

* Good sportsmanship is demanded of all coaches, parents, players and officials. All participants in area sports agree to a specific code of conduct created to place the emotional well-being of players ahead of any personal desire to win. Fun, safety, respect and good sportsmanship are paramount values emphasized throughout all sports programs.

Arlington County has used its resources wisely and, despite dense development of its small amount of space, it has facilities rivaling any larger community. These include 36 miles of trails, petanque courts, frisbee golf courses, synthetic fields, 111 natural and alternative surface athletic fields, a state-of-the-art gymnastics center. youth boxing, 13 neighborhood recreation centers each with indoor gymnasiums and weight and fitness equipment and trainers, 95 tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds and athletic tracks.

Plans for the future include new field complexes, an award-winning skatepark design, new basketball and tennis courts, handball walls and new outdoor lighting for existing facilities. The community shows its support with bond issues totaling nearly $8 million to cover the costs for these projects. Plans are in progress for a new 26-acre park site, and the redesign of existing park and high school complexes including the upgrade of an aquatic facility. The Washington Capitols professional ice hockey team and the Virginia Baseball Authority are working with Arlington to create an indoor ice hockey practice facility and a Major League Baseball stadium.

Arlington residents are truly fortunate to live in a community that recognizes the importance of sports and recreation lot all its residents and teams up with all possible players to win.