Celebrating 50 years of community sports with Sports Illustrated and NRPA

Parks & Recreation, Feb, 2004 by Kevin Beck

The specific programs TPR provides are varied, spanning the gamut of its constituents' ages and abilities. Formal athletic leagues are offered to both children and adults, while sports include soccer, basketball, golf, volleyball, tee-ball and softball.

Rather than relying solely on competitive exploits for a sense of merit, these leagues provide environments where participants can learn new skills, connect with others, and enhance ethnic harmony. Recreational activities are also offered, and facilities are operated specifically for the leisure pursuits of all city residents. Instruction in various activities, fitness classes, special events, park operations, senior-citizen activities, golf, travel and special facilities are some of the services available.

Other athletic leagues are offered by non-profit organizations in cooperation with TPR. TPR's Parks Division maintains facilities and fields that are used by these organizations. Among the organizations that offer such programs are the Troy Youth Football Association, Troy Youth Soccer League and Troy Baseball Boosters.

Perhaps the greatest contributor to TPR's success is its close relationship with local schools. Joint sports programming, a matching capital-improvement program and ongoing comnmnication have facilitated the implementation of a number of quality programs to children at a critical time in their lives--when their interest in playing sports is established. By working with schools, TPR can effectively communicate programming to all of Troy's students regardless of their socioeconomic background and maintain top-caliber facilities in which they may pursue recreation opportunities.

Community outreach is vitally important as well. All Troy households receive a quarterly newsletter that lists all offered programs for children, adults, seniors and persons with disabilities. TPR's goal is not only to promote its programs, but also to stress inclusion and participation via the establishment minimum playing-time standards and other measures that ensure equal involvement by all participants.

The Parks and Recreation home page (www.ci.troy.mi.us/Parks) is as information-dense as an almanac, containing updates on facility openings and construction, various maps and directories, online registration forms for a multitude of programs, museum and library information, and even health updates (e.g., links to updates on West Nile Virus). In short, the site, like TPR itself, is not simply a promotional vehicle but a bona fide interactive community resource.

Troy has the vision to maintain its high standards well into the 21st century. In recent years a $26.2 community center has been built and a private architecture firm is currently developing a master plan for five new city parks comprising more than 70 acres. As these parks are developed in the years to come, Troy residents can expect new ball diamonds, soccer fields, basketball courts, pathways and opportunities for passive park usage. The city is also building a new 18-hole, $8 million golf course that is scheduled to open in the summer of 2004.