Gold-medal Olympian highlights partnership benefits: health, safety and sports define park and recreation partnerships in 2007.

Things are on fire from an NRPA perspective, in terms of our partnerships," NRPA Partnerships Director Kathy Spangler began at a luncheon for urban directors at the 2006 NRPA Congress & Exposition in Seattle, Wash. "Last year alone, our estimates are that between $5 and 6 million in resources from our partners were delivered through parks and recreation. We're really proud of being able to harness that kind of energy through our partners," Spangler said.

Spangler used the luncheon to high-light priorities for NRPA Partnerships in 2007.

"We really have three signature areas we're focusing on with laser intent," Spangler explained. "Certainly healthy lifestyles and liveable communities are a primary focus for us and have been for sometime." Another partnership focuses will be on safety, playing a major role in a new community initiative aimed at volunteer management. The other focus will be on quality sports programming through parks and recreation.

Spangler recognized representatives from several partners, including the US Tennis Association, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and the National Recreation Foundation. The Hershey Company was highlighted in celebration of its 30-year partnership with parks and recreation.

"You don't find many corporations in this country that sustain that kind of commitment to an ideal, an agenda, to a resource like parks and recreation," Spangler said. "NRPA is privileged to have the kind of partnership in The Hershey Company that many national organizations only hope they could have. The Hershey Company is celebrating with NRPA the 30th anniversary of the Hershey Track & Field Games."

A Hershey Track & Field Games participant from years past was the keynote speaker at the luncheon--gold-medal Olympian Dan O'Brien.

O'Brien said that his childhood experiences in parks made him into an athlete. "I was asked the other night what kind of experience I've had in a park or recreation department. I laughed because that was my scene," O'Brien explained. "I spent the whole entire summer every year on those baseball fields. If it weren't for those programs, I wouldn't be an Olympic champion."

The goal for park and recreation facilities should be to provide opportunities for children, O'Brien said. "If we don't have programs, those kids are going to slide away."

There are many other NRPA partnerships prepared for 2007 beyond the historic Hershey Track & Field Games, according to Spangler. Here is a taste of what NRPA's Partnerships have up and coming in each realm of its focus:

Healthy Lifestyles

* Step Up To Health: Online training now available, SUTH Management Practice available early 2007.

* Partnership for Play Every Day: This partnership will launch in January with a goal of getting kids to exercise 60 minutes every day.

Scientific Collaboration

* Cooper Institute Conference Series: Conference on parks, recreation and public health.

Research into Action

* Partnerships for Health Study: A study with Pennsylvania State University funded through a grant from the National Recreation Foundation.

* Sun Safety Initiative: Study for skin cancer prevention with Pool Cool and Emory University, launching this year. Safe Communities

* Operation [TLC.sup.2]: NRPA Management Practice Resource to qualify, credential and train volunteers.

Quality Sports

* Congressional Youth Sports Caucus: Youth sports report card pilot project.

* Youth Football: Facility and program inventory, five football hubs and local program grants with USA Football.

* Football Inventory: Partnership with NFL and USA Football will conduct a landmark inventory of all publicly funded football facilities and independent youth football programs.

* Tennis in the Park: USTA program for advocacy development and facility funding.

* The PGA of America: Partnership providing management tools, marketing support, program benchmarking and operational resources.

* Sticks for Kids: GCBAA Foundation partnership for introductory youth golf programs.

* Major League Baseball: Expanded to include local incentive grants.

* National Basketball Association: Offering materials for coaches, parents, officials or any of the 205,195 players involved in the Jr. NBA or the Jr. WNBA.

* Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation: Equipment grants for new fishing programs-new for 2007.

All photos by Terrence Nowlin