NRPA partnership with sports illustrated launched with media blitz - National Recreation and Park Association, sports magazine partnership; - Brief Article

Parks & Recreation, August, 2003

NRPA was a major player as Newport, R.I., was announced as the first of 50 American Sportstowns last month at the kick-off of Sports Illustrated's 50th anniversary, Sports Illustrated chose NRPA to be its partner for the year-long celebration of "Enhancing the Quality of Sports Through Parks and Recreation."

The Newport kick-off received major coverage on the NBC station in Providence, including an interview with Sue Cooper, Newport's director of parks and recreation. The Providence Journal and Newport Daily News quoted NRPA Executive Director John Thorner and covered a presentation by NRPA President Jonathan Korfhage. The next day, NBC's "Today Show" featured Anniversary Spokesperson David Robinson (see photo above) talking about visiting the park and recreation center in Newport. See www.nrpa.org for details on the anniversary kick-off.

NRPA will continue to be in the media spotlight throughout Sports Illustrated's anniversary celebration. Sports Illustrated will announce a new Sportstown--one per state--each week. Also, Sports Illustrated's 5 million subscribers received their first anniversary-related issue with a letter that included NRPA's logo and information about NRPA's involvement. In addition, during the next year, NRPA will run, for free, 18 full-page ads in Sports Illustrated that highlight the role of parks and recreation in keeping America active and healthy, These ads are valued at $5 million.

To read about the first four winners in the year-long Sportstown celebration, see p. 61.