or


[11/20/14 - 09:09 AM]
ESPN and National Recreation and Park Association Create Access to Sports Program
The $150,000 grant will help purchase needed equipment, make improvements in facilities and help local parks and recreation expand their offerings to give more children the opportunity to participate in community-based sports.

[via press release from ESPN]

ESPN and National Recreation and Park Association Create Access to Sports Program

New Collaboration Invests in Youth Sports in Underserved Communities

A new collaboration aims to level the playing field when it comes to youth sports. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and ESPN are teaming up to create the Access to Sports program, which will award grants to local park and recreation departments to improve and expand their youth sports programs, especially in underserved communities. The $150,000 grant will help purchase needed equipment, make improvements in facilities and help local parks and recreation expand their offerings to give more children the opportunity to participate in community-based sports.

Numerous research studies and reports have attributed a myriad of benefits to youth sports such as increased physical activity levels, improved academic performance and positive effects on personal development like self-confidence and leadership. However in some underserved communities there is a lack of participation in sports by youth and often less support and funds for the programs and infrastructure needs. Access to Sports aims to provide the needed support to improve access to sports in a fun, familiar and cost-effective way.

"NRPA has a long history of programs that support and improve underserved communities through parks and recreation and the benefits they provide," said Barbara Tulipane, president and CEO of NRPA. "Strong parks and recreation are part of the solution to improving underserved urban communities and we believe all children should have the opportunity to experience the benefits of youth sports. We are pleased to be working with ESPN on the Access to Sports program because it will support urban parks and recreation as they provide youth the chance to get active, improve their wellbeing and be inspired to positively affect their community."

Local parks and recreation are the community hubs for youth sports and often are the driving force getting children involved in sports and inspiring them to be active. Local park and recreation departments provide opportunities for children of all abilities and backgrounds to enjoy sports and do so right in the neighborhoods and communities they reside. Park and recreation-led sports programs often emphasize teamwork and the fun of the game, and cost much less than private programs.

In 2015, the ESPN Access to Sports program will award grants in seven communities, including:

· Los Angeles, CA

· Hartford, CT

· Miami, FL

· Chicago, IL

· Charlotte, NC

· New York, NY

· Austin, TX

"This collaboration with NRPA further establishes our commitment to improving access to sports for youth around the country," said ESPN's director of corporate outreach, Angela Woods. "Ensuring that youth can enjoy sports in their local parks is vital to the ongoing health and vibrancy of that community. Through this program, we will help local parks expand access to sports by building out their sports programing, acquiring equipment and creating or refurbishing safe spaces to play."

The ESPN Access to Sports program adds to the long-standing commitment local parks and recreation has to serving our nation's youth. Park and recreation agencies across the country offer a wide variety of youth sports programs, including indoor and outdoor sports year-round. For more information, please visit, www.nrpa.org/ESPNaccesstosports.

About ESPN Corporate Outreach:

ESPN has been entertaining sports fans for more than 35 years and strives to be a responsible corporate citizen. The corporate citizenship program of ESPN encompasses our multi-faceted community initiatives, including employee volunteerism, charitable giving and cause marketing, while also utilizing our diverse media assets. ESPN strives to have a positive impact on our employees, fans and communities worldwide.

About The National Recreation and Park Association:

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 47,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.





  [november 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/14/25 - 03:06 PM]
ESPN Records the Most-Watched WNBA Postseason Ever Across Its Networks
Across 24 games, the '25 WNBA postseason averaged 1.2 million viewers, up 5% from last year.

[10/14/25 - 03:03 PM]
"College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Delivers Most-Watched West Coast Episode Ever; ESPN College Football on ABC Scores Top Three Programs Across All Networks and Content for Saturday, Oct. 11
The Texas Longhorns' upset victory over the Oklahoma Sooners averaged 8.7 million viewers.

[10/14/25 - 02:50 PM]
ALCS Game 1 on FOX and FOX Deportes Draws 5.3 Million Viewers
The Mariners victory over the Blue Jays averaged 5,310,000 viewers across FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX Sports streaming services.

[10/14/25 - 02:39 PM]
FOX Sports Delivers Most-Watched LDS on FOX/FS1 Since Launch of Postseason Baseball on FS1 in 2014
On Friday, 8,723,000 viewers tuned in for the Mariners' historic 15-inning ALDS Game 5 victory.

[10/14/25 - 02:15 PM]
"Sunday Night Football" Registers Record Fourth Blockbuster Audience of 25+ Million Viewers This Season, As Lions-Chiefs Averages 27.3 Million Viewers on NBC & Peacock
Lions-Chiefs averaged 27.3 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, based on official Nielsen Big Data + Panel and digital data from Adobe Analytics, marking the second-most watched October audience in the history of NBC "SNF."

[10/14/25 - 02:01 PM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Announcement - Netflix
Your favorites from Season 9 will join hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey to reveal where their relationships stand today and revisit the moments that made us all wonder is love truly blind?

[10/14/25 - 01:45 PM]
ABC Wednesday Comedies Return Strong for New Seasons
"Shifting Gears" earned the biggest audience since the show's Valentine's Day episode; while "Abbott Elementary" jumped over the show's season four premiere among Total Viewers as well as the season four average.

[10/14/25 - 01:01 PM]
Video: "Ms. Pat Settles It" Returns Nov 4 at 10/9c - Season 3 Trailer
In the third season, the comedian and actress returns to the bench to preside over real-life court cases with her signature "real and raw" brand of humor.

[10/14/25 - 12:28 PM]
NBC Sports Announces 2025-26 Big 12 Men's Basketball Schedule Featuring 20 Games Streaming Live Exclusively on Peacock
Peacock Big 12 men's basketball schedule tips off on Friday, November 21, with a non-conference matchup of preseason Associated Press Top 25 teams as No. 8 BYU hosts No. 24 Wisconsin at 4 p.m. ET.

[10/14/25 - 12:19 PM]
Lifetime Greenlights New "Ripped from the Headlines" Movie for 2026 "Shopping Cart Killer" Starring Lela Rochon and Jarod Joseph
Elisabeth Rohm continues her relationship with Lifetime to direct and executive produce the movie.

[10/14/25 - 12:14 PM]
ESPN and the Big 12 Announce Men's Basketball TV Schedule for 2025-26 Season, Tipping Off November 9
Games will be presented across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU an stream on the all new ESPN App.

[10/14/25 - 12:05 PM]
Video: Oxygen Debuts Trailers for Three New Series Premiering on Sunday, November 9
The night of killer new programming kicks off with season three of "Snapped: Behind Bars"; followed by the fourth season of "Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins"; and wrapping with the premiere of new series "Killer Grannies," hosted by Oscar-nominated actress June Squibb.

[10/14/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of October 6: "The Woman in Cabin 10" Rocks the Boat as No. 1 Debut in This Week's Top 10
In the spirit of the season of chills, "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" claimed the No. 1 spot on the English TV list, rising to the top in its second week with 20.7 million views.

[10/14/25 - 12:00 PM]
Video: HBO Releases Official Trailer and Key Art for "Angela Diniz: Murdered and Convicted," Debuting November 13
The series is inspired by the acclaimed podcast "Praia dos Ossos" and revisits the story of Ângela Diniz, a woman who, through her freedom and autonomy, defied the standards imposed on women and was brutally punished for it.

[10/14/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Official Trailer and Key Art Debut - "Obituary" Season 2 (APC Studios)
The second season of "Obituary" is now streaming all six episodes on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.