New community initiative reduces youth recreation registration to $25 per child, making it easier for more families to experience everything youth sports have to offer.
ALBERTVILLE, Ala., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Every child deserves the chance to play. That belief is at the heart of Drive to Play, a new long-term community partnership launched by Howard Bentley Buick GMC and Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater to make youth recreation more affordable and accessible for local families.
Beginning this season, registration for eligible youth recreation sports at Sand Mountain Park is just $25 per child, making it easier for more families to experience everything youth sports have to offer. But Drive to Play is about more than a reduced registration fee. At its core, it reflects a shared belief that youth sports build stronger children, stronger families and stronger communities.
"This initiative is about giving back. Plain and simple," said Taylor Bentley Conner, dealer principal of Howard Bentley Buick GMC. "Our family has been blessed by this community for nearly 40 years, and this is simply one way we can meaningfully give back. Youth sports teach lessons that extend far beyond the game—they build confidence, character, teamwork and lifelong friendships. If together we can help more children experience everything youth sports have to offer, then we'll know we've made a real difference."
Drive to Play supports eight youth recreation sports: Spring Baseball, Spring Softball, Spring Tee Ball, Fall Tackle Football, Fall Flag Football, Fall Cheerleading, Fall Soccer and Winter Basketball. Each sport is supported during its primary recreation season. The initiative also helps fund Miracle League registration so it can remain completely free, ensuring athletes of all abilities have the opportunity to play. Any child who registers for an eligible sport through Sand Mountain Park qualifies for the $25 registration fee—no residency requirement or special qualifications required.
"Partnerships are at their best when they begin with a shared purpose, and that's exactly what happened here," said Tanner Bozeman, Business Development Director, Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater. Howard Bentley Buick GMC saw an opportunity to make a real difference for local families, and they didn't hesitate to jump in. Their generosity and commitment to community aligns perfectly with our mission at Sand Mountain Park, making this a natural partnership from day one. By opening the door for more kids to participate, explore new sports and build lifelong skills, we're creating opportunities that will have a lasting impact on families across our region."
Drive to Play is powered by a shared commitment from everyone involved. Howard Bentley Buick GMC is making a significant financial investment in the initiative, while the City of Albertville and Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater are reinvesting concession proceeds directly into youth recreation. Every registration, every hot dog and every drink purchased at the park helps support youth sports in the community.
The name Drive to Play captures the spirit of the initiative. Drive represents showing up, working together and moving the community forward. Play represents every child's opportunity to grow, build confidence, make lifelong friends and simply enjoy being a kid. Together, the two words reflect a simple but enduring belief: when a community invests in its youth, everyone benefits—and those benefits last far beyond a single season.
To register, visit Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater online at www.sandmountainpark.com for registration dates, league information and season details.
About Drive To Play
Drive to Play is a long-term community initiative founded by Howard Bentley Buick GMC and Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater to lower the cost of youth sports for local families and give back to the community that has supported them both. By combining private support with the City of Albertville's and Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater's reinvestment of concession proceeds into youth recreation, Drive to Play reduces registration costs so more children can experience the lifelong benefits of youth sports.
About Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater
Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater is a 130-acre sports, recreation and entertainment destination in Albertville, Alabama, created to serve families and communities across the Sand Mountain region. Featuring family-friendly public play spaces, live entertainment and elite-level athletic facilities, the park brings athletes, families and the community together while supporting the health and well-being of the region.
About Howard Bentley Buick GMC
Howard Bentley Buick GMC is a third-generation, family-owned dealership based in Albertville, Alabama. Since 1988, serving customers has gone hand in hand with serving the community. The dealership is committed to investing in local families, schools, nonprofits, and initiatives that strengthen the communities it calls home. Learn more at www.howardbentleyauto.com
Media Contact
Yvonne Lorie, Howard Bentley, 1 3055463688, [email protected], www.howardbentleyauto.com
SOURCE Howard Bentley
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