Tri-Valley Students Partner with LARPD on “Sports Stack” Pilot Program

Livermore, CA — The Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD) is partnering with a group of local high school students to launch a new pilot program to encourage outdoor recreation and community connection at neighborhood parks.

Beginning June 1, 2026, visitors to Jack Williams Park will have access to “Sports Stack,” a community sports equipment box stocked with items such as tennis rackets, balls, frisbees, and other recreational equipment available for park visitors to borrow and enjoy.

The idea was originally presented during public comment at a LARPD Board of Directors meeting by students from Foothill High School. Several members of the student team later attended the District’s April Facilities Committee meeting to further present the concept and answer questions. Following the discussion, the Board supported moving forward with a summer pilot program at Jack Williams Park.

The Sports Stack team includes Foothill High School students Varun V., Neti V., Vrindha P.,  Anushree T., Laya T., and Pranav V.

“We wanted to create a way to encourage more kids and families to be active outdoors,” said Neti Vyas, a member of the Sports Stack Team. “By making sports equipment freely available at parks, Sports Stack helps park visitors experience a variety of sports whenever they want and build a stronger community within our parks.”

According to the student team, the concept was inspired by similar programs implemented internationally that provided free access to recreational equipment in public parks. Earlier this year,  the students also created a prototype and conducted a small-scale test at a local park to gather feedback and refine the idea. 

“Our parks are designed to bring people together, and this pilot program is a creative way to encourage kids and families to get outside and connect with one another,” said Jan Palajac, LARPD Board Director and Facilities Committee Chair. “What makes this project especially exciting is that these students identified an opportunity to enhance local parks, and they worked through the public process to help bring their idea to life. We’re looking forward to supporting the pilot program and seeing how the community responds.”

The pilot program is expected to run through August 31, 2026. During that time, the student team plans to regularly monitor the equipment box, collect community feedback, and evaluate usage to help determine the program’s effectiveness.

LARPD staff are assisting with the pilot by coordinating equipment and helping support the program launch. Future expansion opportunities could include partnerships with community organizations and volunteer groups to help construct additional equipment boxes.