2013 NRPA Partnership Spotlight

September 1, 2013, Feature, by National Recreation and Park Association

Arthritis Foundation — NRPA and the Arthritis Foundation, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have partnered to provide the Walk with Ease Program and Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program in 24 communities across the country. Local parks and recreation facilities have long been centers of health and wellness in their communities, and these grants will help bring new low-impact exercise programs to residents.

CBS EcoMedia — CBS EcoMedia is collaborating with NRPA to provide opportunities for CBS television, radio, interactive and outdoor media advertisers to support park and recreation projects benefiting communities nationwide.

The Coca-Cola Foundation — The Coca-Cola Foundation has partnered with NRPA to implement the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program nationally through parks and recreation. Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness will inspire communities to get fit through their local parks and recreation while hiring veterans as instructors and role models for healthy living.

ConAgra Foods Foundation — ConAgra Foods Foundation and NRPA are collaborating to increase awareness of summer and after-school nutrition programs, while also working to expand food service programs through the distribution of best practices.

Darden Foundation — Darden Foundation has partnered with NRPA in support of the Great American Trails and Grow Your Park programs to improve trail spaces as well as expand community gardening.  Additionally, LongHorn Steakhouse employees are assisting park and recreation agencies with trail construction and event staffing.

Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in partnership with ESPN — The partnership is supporting Green Parks Green Kids by providing grants to communities for the development and expansion of children’s environmental education programs.

Food Research and Action Center — The Food Research and Action Center and NRPA have partnered to increase the number of park and recreation agencies participating in the Summer Food Service Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

The Hershey Company — For more than 35 years, Hershey’s Track & Field Games (HTFG) have inspired youth to be their best while having fun with every run, jump and throw. Together, NRPA and HTFG have enhanced the awareness of track and field and achieved a greater number of active, healthy youth engaged in sports and the outdoors. The Games have become the largest youth sports program of its kind in North America promoting physical fitness for children 9 to 14 years old.

Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG — NRPA is partnering with the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, to deliver golf to the game’s youngest players in communities across the nation. Grants, administered by NRPA, are expected to be available for equipment, coaching and programming materials this year. 

Lockheed Martin — Through the support of Lockheed Martin, the Parks: Return & Restore program is working to create and expand adaptive and therapeutic programming for injured service members and injured veterans in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Major League Baseball — MLB and NRPA have helped to advance the value of baseball and softball in local communities through their partnership and the Pitch Hit & Run, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and The Baseball Tomorrow Fund local initiatives.

National Recreation Foundation — A long-time partner with NRPA, the National Recreation Foundation (NRF) is funding park prescriptions efforts in five communities that link the healthcare community to local park and recreation agencies as a means of increasing physical activity to improve the health of children in disadvantaged areas. 

National Wildlife Federation — The National Wildlife Federation and NRPA have partnered to engage communities in the 10 Million Kids Outdoors initiative. Through this partnership, NRPA is recruiting park and recreation agencies to become local partners in developing opportunities for connecting children to nature.

Rain CII Carbon LLC — Rain CII Carbon has partnered with NRPA to support park and recreation improvements within the communities in which their employees work and live. The company provides grant resources for nine park and recreation agencies to improve the park environment for the community and to engage their employees in volunteering.

Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation — Through a partnership with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), NRPA has provided the Take Me Fishing program to park and recreation agencies, along with the resources that help build and grow recreational boating and fishing programs. NRPA has provided nearly a million children and families with opportunities to experience boating, fishing and education focused on aquatic and environmental conservation.

The Toro Company — The Toro Company is partnering with NRPA to present the Green School with the combined objective to train and educate park and recreational professionals how to be environmentally responsible in their operations, teach the community environmental stewardship and position themselves as green advocates. The Green School equips practitioners to lead their communities in sustainability.  

U.S. Paralympics — U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), has partnered with NRPA to work toward the expansion of local community programs and opportunities for injured military personnel and the promotion of healthy lifestyles for individuals with physical disabilities. Additionally, the USOC has formally recognized NRPA as a Community-Based Multisport Organization member.

United States Tennis Association — NRPA and USTA are working together to build healthier communities through tennis. For more than 10 years, NRPA has partnered with USTA to bring tennis and resources to park and recreation agencies to grow the game.

NRPA thanks all of its partners for their commitment to providing park and recreation opportunities for a healthier America.