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Fields & Futures reports $35M invested in OKCPS facilities and aims to double youth sports participation
Summary
Fields & Futures told the OKCPS board it has invested $35 million across district facilities and created a $10 million endowment, and said participation in district sports rose from ~14% in 2012 to ~29–30%; the group aims for 35% by 2028 and 50% by 2030.
Fields & Futures representatives briefed the Oklahoma City Public Schools board on June 8, reporting multimillion‑dollar investments in facilities and a renewed focus on increasing youth sports participation across the district.
Dr. David Kines, executive director of Fields & Futures, said the nonprofit has completed 72 projects across 21 OKCPS campuses and has raised and invested about $35 million in district athletic facilities. He also said Fields & Futures has created a $10 million endowment intended to maintain facilities for the next 25 years.
Kines said the organization pivoted from facility builds to participation work and that district athletic participation has increased from about 14% when the group began in 2012 to about 29–30% today. Fields & Futures and district partners have an agreement to work toward a 50% participation rate by 2030, with an interim goal of 35% by 2028.
Kines described data linking participation to academic and attendance outcomes (for example, district data showing student athletes average roughly 22 more school days of attendance than non‑athletes) and said the organization is expanding research to health and wellness measures (childhood obesity, diabetes, mental‑health indicators and DHS referrals).
Presenters outlined pilot programs to expand access — examples included after‑school middle‑school rowing pilots and outreach tied to the 2028 Olympics (partnerships with USA Softball and local professional teams to expose students and coaches to athletes and clinics). Shane (district athletics partner) and OKCPS staff discussed targeted efforts to raise sixth‑grade and female participation, and to remove pay‑to‑play barriers for OKCPS students in grades 3–12.
Board members praised the partnership and asked Fields & Futures to be a regular annual presenter. The board recorded no formal vote on the presentation itself.
