Magazine says Springfield is top sports town in state

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Jackie Stiles returned to the scene of her college basketball glory to help honor Springfield as Sports Illustrated's Missouri's Sportstown.

"Springfield, I just want to say thanks," said Stiles, who set the women's college scoring record as a guard at Southwest Missouri State. "You're great. You definitely deserve this honor."

Lester Munson, associate editor of Sports Illustrated magazine, made the award Saturday on behalf of the magazine, which is honoring one town in each of the 50 states.

Each community also receives a special road sign, which reads, "This is a Sports Illustrated Sportstown," above a map of the United States adorned with the stars and stripes.

The National Recreation and Park Association judged the event for the magazine.

A video application produced by the Springfield-Greene County Parks Department captured the program's theme of using sports as a force for good.

"On the tape, what really impressed us was the enthusiasm of the citizens," said Art Berke, vice president of communications for Sports Illustrated. "Obviously this is an excellent sports community that's doing great work for all ages. The programs for every age level and every competitive level just really put Springfield over the top."

Other cities that have been honored so far are Casper, Wyo., Newport, R.I., and Westerville, Ohio.

The magazine is giving out the designation to mark its 50th anniversary.

In 2001, Greene County voters approved a sales tax increase that will generate $52 million to build new parks and sports fields and renovate existing park facilities.

Munson said Sports Illustrated was impressed by the public investment in sports and recreation.

"The sales tax referendum that has produced these glorious facilities here is a model for the entire United States," he said. "That was an amazing vote of confidence."

Sports Illustrated will publish a special section next July with short features on each of the 50 sportstowns.

"The main focus of the sportstown is to get the community engaged," Berke said. "When you're thinking of a sportstown on a grass-roots level, this is the consummate one."

Getting a mention in Sports Illustrated will certainly boost Springfield's reputation, Mayor Tom Carlson said.

"The premier sports publication to give this kind of recognition to our community is something that our community will be grateful for a long time," Carlson said.