In Bend, a city experiencing rapid growth, the demand for youth sports has surged. N Zone has emerged as a solution, offering basketball, flag football, and soccer leagues. Bend, with a population exceeding 100,000 and being one of Oregon's fastest-growing cities, has seen significant changes. From 2020 to 2023, the US had a 1% population growth, while Oregon saw a slight decline. Deschutes County, however, bucked the trend and grew by 5.2%, making it the second-fastest growing county in the state.

N Zone - Filling the Gap in Youth Sports in Bend

Youth Sports in a Growing Town

When thinking about Central Oregon's growth, it's easy to focus on new apartment buildings and the expanding Urban Growth Boundary. But down at the grassroots level, young Bendites are facing growing pains. The competition for spots in youth sports is fierce, and parents struggle to get their children on the field. Lindsey Barry, who grew up in Bend and returned with her family four years ago, experienced this firsthand. She and her husband Chris saw the challenges their children faced in securing spots in Bend Park and Recreation District (BPRD) programs.

Barry remembered playing Parks and Rec as a child and still cherished those Saturdays at Bear Creek. But now, things have changed. When she went to sign up her kids, it was a reality check. "You're like hitting submit to all the things that you have in your cart, and do you get into those?" she said. "There's thousands of other people doing the same thing." Unfortunately, neither of her kids secured a spot, highlighting the growing pains of the changing town.

N Zone - Filling the Athletic Gap

Justin Winn and his wife Erica started N Zone in 2023 to address the lack of athletic opportunities created by the region's growth. Their three sports - basketball, flag football, and soccer - have quickly gained popularity. Their first basketball season reached capacity with 225 kids signing up. The unique schedule is a big draw, allowing kids to come to one location once a week and practice and play a game right after.

For example, on Sundays, they go for soccer with music playing and a happy vibe. Parents and grandparents fill the sidelines to support. N Zone is now inching towards 300 participants, showing its significance in the community. While it's a far cry from the more than 3,000 BPRD serves on soccer Saturdays, it's making a difference.

BPRD and N Zone - Partnerships in Youth Sports

BPRD has dealt with negative feedback on their sports sign-ups, but community engagement director Julie Brown said enrollment has gotten easier since the pandemic. Last year, 80% of school-aged kids participated in BPRD's recreation programs. However, not all families will find what they need there, and that's where partnerships like Bend FC and N Zone come in.

BPRD understands that parents will explore their options, and they are supportive of other offerings. N Zone, while more expensive at $165-185 per season depending on registration time, offers the convenience of getting kids on the field without the intense competition. It's a backup for families like the Barrys, who were benched by BPRD.

Future Plans for N Zone

N Zone is going to assess how the three-sport offering goes and has expansion on the back burner. They may move to other cities like Redmond or La Pine. BPRD has also made moves to ease registration struggles, such as staggering registration to prevent website crashes. With indoor sports like basketball facing space limitations, both BPRD and N Zone are working to meet the needs of the community.

To register for basketball through N Zone, click here. As Bend continues to grow, N Zone is playing an important role in providing youth with athletic opportunities and easing the crunch in youth sports.