Dover named SI Sportstown

By Jody Woodman

Dover, Del., Parks and Recreation Director Zach Carter says that when he thinks of the standard in the sports industry, he thinks of Sports Illustrated. Carter says the chance to be associated with the 50-year-old magazine was one reason that prompted him to enter his community in the SI Sportstown competition.

As it turns out, Carter needed to look no further than his office to find Delaware’s leader. Thanks to its commitment to community recreation, Dover is a trendsetter in the First State -- and the winner of the Sports Illustrated Sportstown title.

“Dover's application demonstrated a responsiveness to meet community needs and to provide opportunities for lifelong leisure,” the SI Sportstown judging panel said in announcing the city's selection.

Carter credits the “sports-minded” community with helping his staff meet local recreational needs, as the Dover Parks and Rec cooperates with private organizations to create the best sporting opportunities possible. The department teamed up with the Central Delaware Soccer Association, offering use of its fields for practices, games and tournaments, and provided the local Little League organization with a plot of land to build its complex.

The Parks and Recreation Department also continues to fill holes in the Dover sports landscape on its own.

“I think a new big need is female sports,” Carter said. “Look at field hockey; right now we have a 22-team field hockey league. It started five years ago with six teams, and the adults and high schoolers were playing together. Now we have separate leagues for high school players and for adults.”

Now that Carter and his staff have proven themselves leaders in the recreation field, they hope the exposure they receive from the Sportstown title will motivate even more people in the community to experience and benefit from what the organization has to offer.

“We feel like we run a great program,” Carter said. “With our sports complexes and our leagues, which so many people are involved in, we want people to know that there’s a place where they can come out and play.”