Park Planet Becomes NPF Premier Partner

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 1, 2017) – National Pro Fastpitch announced today a league-wide partnership with Park Planet.  This partnership marks the first time in league history for the designation of  “NPF Official Recreation Equipment Partner”.

Park Planet will take a title position as “Energized By” for the Championship Series and will take a significant role in the championship action through the digital media coverage, in-venue advertising and the annual Awards Banquet, where they will give out the inaugural NPF Player of the Year Award, Presented by Park Planet.

“Park Planet is excited to partner with the NPF because of the league’s dedication to developing softball as a professional sport.  That development creates opportunities not only for the elite athletes of today, but for young girls who will be the next generation of professionals,” said Cindy Cooper, CEO of Park Planet. “We look forward to being a partner with the NPF, a league that we believe has proven to be world-class and is dedicated to its athletes and the great sport of softball.”

Park Planet executives Dena Carter and Cindy Cooper are former standout collegiate players themselves. Carter, as a top recruit from the state of Oregon was a decorated All Big-8 performer at Oklahoma State, earning All American honors and pitching in the Women’s College World Series for the Cowgirls, before concluding her career in 1991. Cooper was a 3-time All American and a 1983 National Champion while at Texas A&M, which led to a Hall of Fame Induction in 2007. Cooper was also a Women’s Majors National Champion numerous times and a member of Team USA in 1994.

“The League is, of course, thrilled to add a high quality company that specializes in recreation equipment for children and families, to our list of partners,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “But most important about this partnership, is the fact that the two owners of this company, both highly successful women who have deep roots as former players themselves, have chosen to support the game at its highest level. That is a statement to others who have the ability to do this and we are grateful to Cindy Cooper and Dena Carter for leading the way with Park Planet.”

Park Planet is the nationwide sales division of Park Associates Inc., and leads the recreation industry in full-service equipment supply and installation. The company offers a myriad of innovative products for parks, playgrounds and outdoor gathering spaces. The Park Planet equipment line includes shade structures, stadium seating and bleachers, playgrounds and surfacing, solar parking systems and outdoor site furnishings.

Park Planet products and services can be found at www.parkplanet.com.

The NPF Championship Series Presented by Marucci and Energized by Park Planet, takes place August 17-20 at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The annual NPF Awards Banquet will take place on the eve of the Series, August 16, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge. A pre-banquet reception starts at 6 o’clock pm followed by the Awards Banquet which begins at 7 o’clock. The Awards Banquet is open to the public and ticket information can be found at

http://www.championship.profastpitch.com.

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2004, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in fastpitch softball beyond their collegiate and amateur success.  The NPF affiliate teams consist of the Akron Racers, Beijing Shougang Eagles, Chicago Bandits, Scrap Yard Dawgs, Texas Charge and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2017 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the United States, Australia, Canada and China among which are the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.