John Day Canyon City Parks & Rec awarded $35,000 to boost girls’ participation in sports

By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

JOHN DAY – According to a news release, John Day Canyon City Parks and Recreation District has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to help boost girls’ participation in local sports. JDCC Parks and Rec report the efforts are powered by Nike.

JDCC Parks and Rec stated, “This grant supports our efforts to increase access to sports for girls in our community. Alongside funding, we will participate in an NRPA-led Community of Practice — a collaborative network providing education and resources to help us implement new strategies that encourage girls’ participation and increase the representation of women coaches.”

The local district was one of ten organizations throughout the nation to receive the funding.

Find the full press release below:

(Press Release from the National Recreation and Park Association)

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) today announced the award of 58 grants totaling more than $1.2 million in cash and in-kind support to park and recreation agencies across 25 states and the District of Columbia, accelerating efforts to expand access to high-quality youth sports opportunities. Made possible through partnerships with Musco Lighting, Nike and ESPN, the funding will help communities remove obstacles, build welcoming programs and create positive sports experiences for young people nationwide. Despite the proven benefits of youth sports, access remains uneven for many children and families. As one of the nation’s largest providers of out-of-school programming, serving more than 50 million youth each year, park and recreation agencies are uniquely positioned to close these gaps and ensure more young people can participate, belong and thrive through sports.

This investment will support new and improved sports infrastructure in seven communities, provide training for 6,000 additional coaches, and support the implementation of evidence-based strategies from NRPA’s Get Her in the Game Playbook in 10 communities, strengthening local sports systems and expanding opportunity where it is needed most.

“This investment reflects a shared belief in the transformative power of parks, recreation and youth sports,” said Kristine Stratton, president and CEO of NRPA. “These grants will accelerate progress toward more fair and welcoming sports opportunities nationwide by removing obstacles to participation and expanding access to high-quality programs. Through sports, children build confidence, connection and character — skills that they will carry with them from the playground to the classroom and beyond.”

Powered by Nike, NRPA is supporting 10 organizations to implement activities that increase access to sports for girls. Participating agencies receive $35,000 to implement new strategies and participate in an NRPA-led Community of Practice, which provides education and networking opportunities focused on increasing access to sport, especially for girls. In addition to increasing girls’ participation in programs, the Community of Practice also will collectively advance strategies to increase the representation of women coaches.

Agencies awarded include:

John Day Canyon City Parks and Recreation (John Day, Oregon)
New London Recreation Department (New London, Connecticut)
City of Casper Recreation Division (Casper, Wyoming)
City of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Department (Chula Vista, California)
Mundelein Park and Recreation District (Mundelein, Illinois)
Albemarle Parks and Recreation (Albemarle, North Carolina)
Desert Recreation District (Indio, California)
Greater Ithaca Activities Center (Ithaca, New York)
New Bedford Parks, Recreation, and Beaches (New Bedford, Massachusetts)
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department “Girls Sports Division” (San Francisco, California)

“Nike is powering the future of youth sport, with the vision of a world that inspires all youth to play and achieve their greatest potential,” said Matt Geschke, senior director of Americas, Social & Community Impact, Nike. “We’re leading this work by providing quality coaching, engaging more youth in sport with a focus on girls, and helping to bring all youth onto the playing field and off the sidelines. Together with NRPA, through these grants and support of Get Her in the Game, we’re changing the game for girls and the coaches who serve them in park and recreation programs across the United States.”