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Welcome to
Friends of SPARC!
Friends of SPARC is a group of community members who came together with a shared goal to bring SPARC (Sports, Play, Arts, Recreation & CommUNITY Club) to life. In 2023, we proposed this FREE, low-barrier youth program to the City of Concord through the Community Events Fund and Concord Parks and Recreation. Through collaboration, we launched a successful volunteer-led pilot in 2024. Now in its second year, SPARC is a fully funded and staffed Parks and Recreation program, with the capacity to serve up to 60 youth, thanks to the support of City Council.
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SPARC provides Concord and Penacook youth with a safe and welcoming space on winter weekends to learn, grow, and strengthen community bonds through play. The program includes sports, arts & crafts, games, and more—offering opportunities for youth to feel a sense of belonging and make lasting connections. SPARC is especially focused on supporting youth facing racism, socioeconomic barriers, and other challenges to inclusion by providing a space where diversity is celebrated and unity is fostered.
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As Friends of SPARC, we remain dedicated to the program’s continued success. Our work focuses on advocacy, volunteer recruitment, and ensuring that SPARC stays true to its mission of inclusion and community building. Together with Parks and Recreation, we regularly ask:
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Are we reducing barriers for children and families?
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Are we fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion?
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Are we building connections across families, volunteers, and city staff?
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Are we growing a sustainable program for the future?
We invite adults and elders to volunteer, helping create a multigenerational community where everyone has the chance to play and connect. Join us in growing SPARC into a cornerstone of Concord Parks and Recreation, helping shape it into a program that empowers youth and fosters an inclusive, creative community for generations to come.
Join Us!
2025 Program Details
Community SPARC
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Families and kids all ages!(Children under 10 must be supervised by a parent, guardian or mentor age 16+)
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January 4th-March 30th
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Saturdays & Sundays
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2-4pm
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City Wide Community Center
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Cost is Free!
Community SPARC time is open to youth of all ages however children under 10 years old must be supervised by a parent, mentor or guardian who is at least 16 years old. Adults can bring up to 6 kids per session. Sign in at the front desk and come join the fun!
Teen SPARC
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Ages 10-15
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(PS. No grown ups allowed!)
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Jan 4th-March 30th
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Saturdays & Sundays
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4:15-5:30pm
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City Wide Community Center
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Cost is Free!
A new offering this year is Tween/Teen SPARC. Youth ages 10-15 can come hang out and enjoy activities tailored to tweens and teens. Teen time is from 4:15-5:30pm on both Saturday and Sundays throughout the program. There is a max capacity of 60 youth and each session is first-come/first-served. We encourage youth to plan ahead & get here early to secure a spot!
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BACKGROUND
Friends of SPARC
The Birth of SPARC: A Community-Driven Vision
SPARC was born out of a recognition of two critical needs in our community: the need for greater inclusion and the need for free, low-barrier access to the City Wide Community Center, providing a space for youth of all backgrounds to gather, connect, and thrive.
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A Call for Inclusion
During a Project STORY community listening session in September 2023, local youth shared their experiences of racism and exclusion, offering valuable ideas for positive change. Their suggestions focused on bringing youth from all backgrounds together through sports and art to foster unity and belonging. Inspired by these insights, a group of community members came together to draft a proposal for a program through Parks and Recreation that was initially called the "CommUNITY Activities Program" and is now called SPARC (Sports, Play, Arts, Recreation & CommUNITY Club).
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Friends of SPARC: Born from Advocacy
This community group, which evolved into "Friends of SPARC," formally united to advocate for the program, working to ensure that SPARC would provide a safe, inclusive space where every child—especially those from historically marginalized communities—could find connection and belonging.
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Lowering Barriers at the City Wide Community Center
At the time, the City Wide Community Center, located on the Heights - a diverse neighborhood, offered limited free access to its facilities. With few options for youth to gather without barriers, the center wasn’t meeting the full needs of the community. SPARC was created to address this gap, offering a free, warm, welcoming space where youth can connect, create, and play during the winter months.
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Year One: A Volunteer-Led Pilot Program
Friends of SPARC volunteers, in collaboration with Parks and Recreation, launched the pilot program in February 2024. Serving an average of 22 youth per session, the program quickly became a vibrant community hub for relationship-building, creativity, and a sense of belonging. The pilot was funded by a grant through the City of Concord Community Events Fund.
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Year Two: Fully Funded, Staffed, and Expanding
Now in its second year, SPARC has grown into a fully funded program staffed by 6 dedicated employees through Parks and Recreation. With the capacity to serve up to 60 youth per session, year two kicked off on January 4th and 5th, 2025 with around 35 participants per session. We are excited for the prospect of Parks and Recreation expanding SPARC to the new Penacook community center.
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The Evolution of Friends of SPARC: From Volunteers to Stewards
While SPARC relied on Friends of SPARC volunteers during its first year, it now thrives in the capable hands of Parks and Recreation staff. Although Friends of SPARC no longer handles day-to-day operations, we remain dedicated to supporting the program and ensuring it stays true to its mission of inclusion and lowering barriers to participation.
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Building Inclusion into Concord’s DNA
As we work to make SPARC an integral part of the city's offerings, we are proud to see Concord’s values reflected in every activity. We’re excited to see SPARC grow into a cornerstone of Concord’s dedication to empowering youth and fostering an inclusive community for generations to come.
Get Involved
Join Friends of SPARC
Join our online meetings, share your ideas, spread the word, volunteer, help host an event table...opportunities abound at Friends of SPARC! Your support drives this important community initiative forward. Dive into the spirit of community by dedicating your time, energy, and talents as a SPARC volunteer. Subscribe to our mailing list or Facebook page for updates and reminders! We look forward to serving the community with you!
