contents september 2019 volume 54 | number 9 | www.parksandrecreation.org k d ti FEATURES 50 A Conversation with Baseball's 'Iron Man' Cort Jones Cal Ripken Jr. will be sharing his story at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference. Parks & Recreation magazine spoke with him to find out about the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, why he believes it's critical to provide opportunities and safe spaces for at-risk youth and why he's excited about the NRPA Annual Conference. 56 Designing the Great Park that Everyone Deserves Mike Abbaté, FASLA; Gina Ford, FASLA; and Joseph Webb, RLA What exactly makes a great park? Learn about the three primary categories that can help residents, elected officials and park and recreation professionals assess the " greatness " of the parks in their communities. 62 Esports: The Next Big Thing for Parks and Rec Neelay Bhatt Revenue from esports (electronic sports), the fastest-growing sport genre nationally and 6 Parks & Recreation | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G globally, is estimated to have crossed the $1 billion mark in 2019 - a steep rise from $130 million just seven years ago. What can and should park and recreation agencies do now to incorporate this phenomenon into their offerings? 68 Tennis: A Game Changer in Park Revitalization Mary Helen Sprecher The appeal of tennis spans across all demographic and socioeconomic groups, and parks have traditionally been the epicenter of tennis in the United States. This case study explores the ways tennis courts bring life - and revenue - to parks. 2019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 74 Bring on the Charm! 82 The Importance of Parks Build Community Donors and Their Shared Vision 86 2019 Local Host Committee 87 The 2019 Conference Program Committee 89 Product Preview