On Monday, April 15, at Sandstone Ridge Park in North Las Vegas, the U.S. Soccer Foundation opened its 700th mini-pitch—a significant milestone in the organization's goal of creating 1,000 new mini-pitches on the road to the FIFA World Cup 26. The mini-pitch was opened in partnership with soccer legend, NBC sports analyst, and former USMNT Goalkeeper Tim Howard and the City of North Las Vegas.

The USA Swimming Foundation awarded $780,000 to 162 swim lesson providers across the country in its initial round of 2024 Learn-to-Swim Grant program funding. 

SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators has announced the release of the new SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards and National Health Education Standards.

New peer-reviewed research from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Fund demonstrates how landscape architecture solutions can help with extreme heat and its deadly impacts. 

Connected walking and biking infrastructure will provide equitable access and opportunity to communities across the country with projects funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) under the one-time Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant program. So says Rails to Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trails, walking and biking advocacy organization. 

Every one of the seven major sport and fitness physical activity categories showed increased year-over-year rates of participation, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Topline Participation Report. 

Long one of the most recognized associations representing health and fitness clubs, IHRSA has launched into a new chapter of member service and engagement for an innovative and consumer-focused industry. 

More than 900 elementary and middle school students in 2024 will get connected to the great outdoors, thanks to grants from the National Park Trust, in partnership with Edison International. 

The American Red Cross has launched its freshly updated lifeguarding program, backed by science and including new virtual reality capabilities. 

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has received funding to support its Healthy Aging in Parks initiative, grounded in research. With support from RRF Foundation for Aging, NRPA is tapping into the power of parks and recreation to support aging in place, foster social connection and combat the epidemic of loneliness and isolation among older adults.

The most common type of sports-related amenity currently included in the facilities of respondents to the Industry Report survey is outdoor sports courts, such as basketball, tennis and the ever-more-popular pickleball courts. More than half (55.7%) of respondents said they currently have outdoor sports courts at their facilities.

Various grants and programs across the country have made it their mission to remove the barriers to learn-to-swim program for minority and low-income communities. The number of respondents to the Aquatic Trends survey who are involved in these types of outreach programs has remained relatively consistent over the past few years. 

The percentage of school respondents who report that they have plans for construction has been falling over the past several years.

Respondents to the Industry Report Survey from parks and camp facilities were the most likely to indicate both that they were involved in conservation initiatives and that they felt that conservation issues were a top concern for their facilities over the next several years.

While less than half (46.4%) of all respondents to the Industry Report survey in 2023 said they currently include walking and hiking trails at their facilities, more than seven out of 10 respondents from camps (76.4%) and parks (71.2%) said they currently include walking and hiking trails.

Respondents to the Industry Report survey from schools and Ys were the most likely to offer youth sports programming at their facilities, while those from health clubs were the most likely to be planning to add this type of programming over the next few years.