Florida Sports Foundation teams with Florida Recreation and Parks Association to recognize Excellence in Sports Tourism
Florida Sports Foundation teams with Florida Recreation and Parks Association to recognize Excellence in Sports Tourism
The Florida Sports Foundation presented its annual Florida Recreation and Parks Association (FRPA) Sports Tourism Awards to Charlotte County Community Services – Parks & Recreation and the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Department, Wednesday, at the annual FRPA Conference, held at the Rosen Shingle Creek, in Orlando.
The awards recognize a small market destination and a mid-to-large market destination. Charlotte County received the small market award and Clearwater received the mid-to-large market award. The Parks and Recreation Departments were nominated by representatives from their respective convention and visitors bureaus, Visit Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.
As a premiere sports city, Clearwater provides an array of sporting facilities for youth, amateur and professional teams to reach their full potential – all against the backdrop of America’s Favorite Beaches. (Pictured in photo L-R: Rick Durr, FRPA President, Mike Lockwood, Clearwater Parks and Recreation Director, Michael Washington, FSF Amateur Sports Director, Carla Scrivener, Clearwater Parks and Recreation and Terrell Griffin, Incoming FRPA President)
With year-round sunshine, the City of Clearwater is a sought-after destination for its beautiful weather facilities. The Parks and Recreation Department takes great pride in curating facilities that meet the needs for a wide variety of sporting events.
This allows the St. Pete-Clearwater Sports Commission the opportunity to partner with the City of Clearwater to bring a series of annual high-profile events to the destination providing maximum exposure for the City as well as the facilities it manages.
The Eddie C. Moore Complex hosted 28 softball events between April, 2025 and March, 2026, that contributed to the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Department’s total of over 69,000 hotel room nights to the area, creating more than $72 million economic impact.
The largest of the events held at the Eddie C. Moore Complex was the 2026 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Softball Invitational featuring top NCAA Softball teams from around the country. Games televised on ESPN, featuring Florida State vs Texas Tech and LSU vs Oklahoma State, along with games featuring Nebraska and Tennessee, drew well over one million viewers.
Between the Clearwater Inivtational and the NFCA Division 1 Leadoff Classic, held the previous week, brings more than 30 teams and over $23 million in economic impact to the area.
Charlotte County Community Services – Parks & Recreation Division, in partnership with the Visit Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, has developed an innovative, results-driven sports tourism model that positions the industry as a leading economic and community driver for Charlotte County. Through high-quality facilities, athlete-focused service, and strong operational leadership, the Parks & Recreation Division supports a sustainable, year-round event ecosystem that consistently delivers measurable economic impact and exceptional visitor experiences.
From April 2025 through 2026, Visit Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach welcomed more than 30,000 athletes and 72,000 spectators, generating over $62 million in economic impact. Notably, 60% of these events were hosted at county-owned and operated facilities managed by the Community Services Department, demonstrating the effective and efficient use of public assets. (Pictured in photo L-R: Rick Durr, Lonne Moore, Charlotte County Community Services, Michael Washington, FSF Amateur Sports Director, and Terrell Griffin, Incoming FRPA President)
The strength of this partnership is further demonstrated through the successful recruitment and hosting of NCAA Division I and Division III baseball programs, Florida College System Activities Association Divison I & II Baseball Championships along with Division III swim and diving teams for extended winter training camps. These groups stay in the destination for an average of eight days, maximizing overnight visitation and generating significant economic impact across lodging, dining, and local attractions.
The Florida Sports Foundation has supported the Florida Recreation and Parks Association and the annual Excellence in Sports Tourism Award since 2014.
FRPA Sports Tourism Award Winners presented annually at the FRPA Conference, in conjunction with the Florida Sports Foundation
2014 Small Market – Pensacola Neighborhood Services; Large Market – Lee County Parks and Recreation
2015 Small Market – Leon County Parks and Recreation; Large Market – Clearwater Parks and Recreation
2016 Small Market – Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs; Large Market – Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
2017 Small Market – Charlotte County Parks and Recreation; Large Market – Plantation Parks and Recreation
2018 Large Market – Seminole County Leisure Services Small Market – Collier County Parks and Recreation Division
2019 Large Market – Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation
2020 Small Market – Leesburg Parks and Recreation; Mid/Large Market – Osceola County Parks and Recreation
2021 Mid/Large Market – Winter Haven Parks, Recreation and Culture
2022 Small Market – Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources; Mid/Large Market – Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
2023 Small Market – Escambia County Parks and Recreation; Mid/Large Market – Pompano Beach Parks and Recreation
2024 Small Market – Seminole County Parks and Recreation Agency; Mid/Large Market – Palm Beach Gardens Recreation
2025 Small Market – Panama City Beach Parks and Recreation; Mid/Large Market – Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation
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