Twentynine Palms Parks & Recreation Selected for NRPA Gender Equity in Youth Sports Community of Practice

Twentynine Palms Parks & Recreation is excited to announce its selection as a participant in the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) Gender Equity in Youth Sports Community of Practice (CoP), supported by Nike. This initiative aims to advance gender equity in youth sports, ensuring that girls have equitable access to the physical, mental, and social benefits that sports provide.

Through a shared commitment to fostering inclusive play, NRPA and Nike are empowering local parks and recreation agencies to lead the way in closing the gender gap in youth sports. As a grantee, Twentynine Palms Parks & Recreation will receive funding and participate in professional development opportunities and peer networking to implement strategies that successfully increase equitable access and participation in sports for girls in Twentynine Palms.

"We are thrilled to be selected as one of 10 parks and recreation agencies in the nation to receive funding through an NRPA and Nike partnership to advance gender equity in youth sports! Together, we're working to ensure every girl has the chance to play, thrive, and lead," shared Amy Tessier, Twentynine Palms Recreation Program Supervisor.

With Nike's partnership, NRPA is leading a nationwide effort to assess gender equity in youth sports, sharing impactful stories of girls and women in sports, and developing a gender equity roadmap. Twentynine Palms Parks & Recreation will contribute to this work by partnering with Girls on the Run Inland Empire, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident. Girls on the Run combines physical activity with engaging lessons that emphasize the importance of self-confidence, healthy relationships, and vital life skills. Over the course of the 10-week program, participants prepare for a celebratory 5K event, all while learning how to set goals, overcome challenges, and make a positive impact in their communities.

Registration is open now for girls in grades 3-5 to participate in the signature Girls on the Run program and for girls in grades 6-8 to participate in the Heart and Sole program. These programs begin March 11, 2025, at Luckie Park. The program fee for the season is $55, which is a discounted rate thanks to the grant funding received from NRPA and Nike. The program fee includes registration for the end-of-season 5K Celebration, a program t-shirt, supplies, and athletic shoes if needed. Interested families can learn more about the spring season and register here. The grant funding will also be used to run two week-long Girls on the Run Summer camps, with additional information forthcoming.

Twentynine Palms Parks & Recreation is proud to join this initiative and looks forward to empowering the next generation of female athletes and coaches in Twentynine Palms.