photo by: Bremen Keasey

Lucy-Kaegi Park in Eudora shown on March 20, 2025. The Eudora Parks and Rec department received a $20,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association and Nike to address gender disparity in youth sports.

The Eudora Parks and Recreation department received a $20,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Nike that will help address gender equity in youth sports.

The City of Eudora announced in a press release Wednesday that the city was one of ten in the country to receive the grant. Other cities that received a grant through the partnership included Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle. In Eudora, the grant is expected to lead to additional sports offerings and leadership training for girls and women athletes.

Sally Pennington, the City of Eudora Parks and Recreation Director, said in a press release being one of 10 communities in the country to receive the grant was a “huge accomplishment.” The funding is part of a nationwide initiative that began with the NRPA’s completion of the Youth Sports in Parks and Recreation survey in October 2024, which identified key gaps and opportunities in youth sports. The initiative aims to directly address the fact that girls are twice as likely than boys to quit youth sports.

Pennington said this initiative aligns perfectly with the department’s goals of creating more opportunities for youth sports, and the funding gives a chance to advance the department’s goals.

“We cannot wait to see all the good that will come from this incredible partnership for young athletes in Eudora,” Pennington said.

Eudora Parks & Rec will use this funding to form a coalition of local girls, women athletes, coaches and community leaders to evaluate current sports programs, identify areas for improvement and roll out innovative initiatives. Planned efforts include expanding sports offerings, enhancing leadership and mentorship opportunities and encouraging a more inclusive environment for young athletes.