NRPA enters landmark partnership with Sports Illustrated - Tip-Off - National Recreation and Park Association

Park, and recreation professionals and citizen advocates have longed for the day when the National Recreation and Park Association would deliver a national visibility strategy. Well, this is the year!

Just imagine--a national media icon deciding, to celebrate its 50th anniversary by showcasing the benefits of parks and recreation! Sports Illustrated, the recognized voice of all things sport, will celebrate 50 years of translating American culture through sports by creating a platform to enhance the quality of sports in America. Sports Illustrated has selected the National Recreation and Park Association as a core national partner to celebrate, showcase and enhance the quality of community sports nationwide.

The Sports Illustrated 50th anniversary celebration will include a national tour, an NRPA community showcased in each issue of its magazine and on its Web site, and leaving a legacy to improve community sports for the next 50 years.

Opportunities for NRPA members to participate in celebrating this special anniversary include:

* Celebrate July is Recreation & Parks Month to launch our national partnership to promote quality community sports through parks and recreation. See the article on p. 38 of this issue of Parks & Recreation for ideas on how to celebrate our national month.

* Submit your application to be recognized as one of our nation's top 50 Sports Illustrated Sportstowns (one per state) and gain visibility in an issue of the magazine.

* Get recognition for your community by submitting your best photographs to NRPA for possible use in one of the full-page advertisements promoting parks and recreation that will be run in Sports Illustrated during the anniversary year.

* Sign up to be part of the NRPA/ Sports Illustrated anniversary network and receive monthly updates, programming ideas and special offers.

* Use the customized 50th anniversary logo on print material, sport clothing, etc., throughout the anniversary year.

The anniversary year begins July 1, 2003, and will run through July 2004. Take action today and join this landmark celebration by registering online at www.nrpa.org. For more information, write to programs@nrpa.org.

Do You Work in a Sportstown?

Does your community live and breathe sports all year round for all ages and interests?

If so, NRPA and Sports Illustrated have teamed up as part of the Sports Illustrated 50th anniversary celebration to identify one community in each state that reflects how sports enhances community quality of life.

Any city, county or special district park and recreation agency is invited to apply. Up to ten finalists will be selected in each state, and the one designated as a Sports Illustrated Sportstown will receive national recognition in Sports Illustrated and Parks & Recreation, among other benefits.

The judging criteria will be based on quality community sports practices in the areas of program philosophy, policies and procedures, education and training, youth development, commitment to parks and recreation resources, innovations in community involvement and scope of programming.

The application deadline for the 2003/04 Sports Illustrated Sportstown recognition program is May 1, 2003. Finalists will be notified by July 1, 2003, and the 50 Sports Illustrated Sportstowns will be notified throughout the year in conjunction with the 50th anniversary tour.

The application is available at www.nrpa.org. For more information, write to programs@nrpa.org.