Congratulations to the winners of the NBA2K21 Tournament, the first eSports competition for Philadelphia teens brought to you by Parks & Rec in partnership with Nerd Street Gamers!

• PlayStation

• • • 1st Place: Dan Lasalle, Pelbano Recreation Center
    • 2nd Place: Micah Carreram, Nelson Recreation Center

• Xbox

• • 1st Place: Dylan Handley, Torresdale Recreation Center
  • 2nd Place: Grant Gambino

Thank you to the Sixers Youth Foundation for presenting team jerseys and other great prizes to our winners. 

Big prizes aside, teen competitors took away 5 important lessons from Parks & Rec’s first eSports tournament:

1. Say YES to safe, friendly competition. After being cooped up for nearly a year thanks to the pandemic, gaming is a COVID-safe outlet for teens to let loose and have fun with each other.
2. Stay connected with the community. Competitors represented their local rec centers while playing at home. It feels great to have the support of the neighborhood cheering squad, even from a distance.
3. Practice problem solving. ESports let teens try different ways to achieve a goal under pressure.
4. Join a team. ESports tournaments encourage players to cheer on their teammates and work together.
5. Flex new muscles. ESports can help teens build soft skills like communication, team work, and self-confidence.

ESports are here to stay at Parks & Rec. Contact your local rec center to find more information about future programs.