A Decade of Sustained Partnerships with Parks and Recreation Systems

At CHJS, we’ve always believed that Nothing Heals Like Sport – and we’ve spent the past ten years proving it works at scale. Our sustained partnerships with Parks and Recreation systems across the country show what happens when you move beyond one-off trainings to build lasting systems change that transforms how entire cities approach youth programming.

Beyond Ad Hoc Solutions

If we want to change youth sports systems, we can’t just host ad hoc trainings and expect transformation. At CHJS, we partner with youth sports programs with long-term change in mind. That means providing support through our proven comprehensive three-pillar approach:

Training that transforms mindsets, not just skill sets
Consulting that provides intentional design tailored to each community
Collective action focused on changing systems, not just individuals.

A Network of Transformation

Our partnerships with Parks and Rec departments across the country have demonstrated this comprehensive approach. In just summer 2025, we’ve reached more than 3,600 Parks leaders and coaches across major metropolitan areas. The scale matters but the depth of these Parks and Rec partnerships tell the real story:

Chicago (10 years): Our flagship partnership together with Nike and Chicago Parks District – Swoosh Summer Academy – proves that sustained investment pays off. Over the past ten years, we’ve trained 14,000+ recreation leaders who have served over 159,000 young people. The partnership evolved into a comprehensive train-the-trainer model with 60 internal Chicago Park District Ambassadors, creating lasting system transformation that continues through Chicago’s new Professional Development Manager role.

Los Angeles (3 years): In collaboration with City of Los Angeles Department Recreation and Parks and Nike, we built the DNA of Coach LA’s coach training from the ground up, creating the Three BEs (BE Ready, BE Better, BElonging) framework and playbook that now serves as the foundation for all LA Rec and Parks staff development. Through Women Coach LA, All-Star leadership training across four regions, Leadership Summits, and an emerging “Ambassador Lead” train-the-trainer program, we’ve embedded our brain-based coaching practices at every level of LA’s youth programming.

Philadelphia (2 years): Our strategic collaboration with Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaboration has supported the training of 1,200 summer youth workers facilitating programming at Philadelphia’s Park & Recreation.

Portland (3 years): In partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation, we provided coach and referee training for the longest-running and largest recreational basketball league in Portland, Goldenball.

New York City (2 years): Specialized training for approximately 150 coaches to create safe, inclusive spaces for girls, as well as healing-centered environments for all athletes with the New York City Parks Foundation.

San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, DC and St. Louis (1 year): San Francisco’s Recreation & Parks, Toronto’s Parks & Recreation, Washington DC’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and St. Louis’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry are our newest partnerships and demonstrate how a decade of learning accelerates impact from day one.

Impact That Lasts

I never realized how trauma showed up in my coaching – this training changed the way I see my athletes.” – Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Trainee

This was the most engaging and relevant training I’ve had in my 10 years at Parks & Rec.” – Washington D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation Trainee

With 92% of participants reporting increased confidence in creating emotionally safe spaces for youth, our partnership with Parks and Recreation systems is helping transform entire systems to center the humanity of every young person who walks through their doors.

Partnership through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

Through our collaboration with NRPA, we’ve expanded our reach beyond direct city partnerships. Organizations across the country have identified CHJS as a preferred training partner, extending our healing-centered approach to communities nationwide.

The healing-centered sport work extends to additional Parks systems nationwide:

City of Las Vegas Parks (NV)
Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Henrico County Recreation and Parks (VA)
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (CA)
City of Columbus, Parks & Recreation Department (NE),
East Windsor Parks & Recreation (CT),
Town of Windsor Parks & Recreation (CO),
City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (NC)
City of Anderson Parks and Recreation (CA),
City of Casa Grande (AZ), and

The following nonprofits that partner with NRPA:

Flywheel Sports Based Youth Development (PA),
#INTEGRITYFIRST INC. (NY),
Monroe Family YMCA (MI),
First Tee of Western New York (NY),
YMCA of Snohomish County (WA)

Partnership through Nike

The sustained and vertical approach to true systems change is also thanks to the incredible belief and support of our long-term partner, Nike. Their vision and partnership have allowed us to show up as the training and capacity builder for these numerous parks districts, specifically in the cities of Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Portland.

What Real Partnership Looks Like

One healing-centered coach training is better than no training. #facts. Though for the coaches, parents, leagues, and coalitions that want true change, to really address the inequities and injustices found throughout sport, you can count on CHJS for the long game. To design strategic relationships with community organizations, to provide ongoing consultation through staff collaboration calls, to create train-the-trainer programs that build internal capacity, and to support true organizational transformation.

We know that healing happens through relationships, movement, and manageable stress. Turns out, systems change works the same way.

Want to explore how CHJS can partner with your Parks System? Email us at team@chjs.org.