The City of Sparks Parks and Recreation Department continues its lead role in creating awareness and providing recreational programming for people with disabilities in the Truckee Meadows. The Playground Program dates back to 1990 and was provided at 3 various parks in Sparks. Historically, the program has been offered free of charge to children in first through sixth grade. Prior to 2008, the program was held at school sites/parks with limited facility/storage access.

With funding and a stable "home" at the Larry D. Johnson Community Center, the program can continue with the following components:

1. Staff to participant ratio of 1:10 maximum.

2. Daily organized active and passive activities on and/or off site.

3. Weekly themed arts and crafts activities on site through collaborative efforts with VSA arts of Nevada.

4. Weekly swimming at Deer Park Pool.

5. Weekly themed educational components to inspire young minds

6. Each year, the program has access to the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

Free nutritious lunches are served to children between the ages of 1 and 18 years from approximately (June 16 - August 8) from 12:10 - 12:30 p.m. at Ardmore Park. The hours of the Playground program continue to be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to best accommodate the 'local neighborhood' children during the summer months. With permission, the program is still named "The Nell J. Redfield Neighborhood Free Playground Program". The Leisure Without Limits program provides programming for people with developmental and/or physical limitations who wish to meet new friends through recreational activities. This program encompasses activites such as: arts and crafts through a partnership with VSA arts; Special Olympics Bowling averaging 80 bowlers weekly; Teen Discovery Camp for teens out of school (off track); Mark Wellman Adventure Day and various social dance events. Although we have worked hard to maintain quality services through community partnerships and new revenue sources, severe departmental cutbacks as a result of the continuing economic conditions force staff to eliminate low-to non-revenue generating programs such as the programs detailed in this report beginning in 2009. Without this grant, these programs will be discontinued. It is hoped that these programs will find their way back into the budget as the economy improves. We are very fortunate to receive funding from The Nell J. Redfield Foundation for five consecutive years.