PRC Memberships & Fees

In 1994, Lawrence voters passed a one-percent sales tax to help support a one-time investment in parks and recreation facility expansion, including the creation of Sports Pavilion Lawrence. It was not intended to provide ongoing operational funding for staffing, programming, utilities, or maintenance at our recreation facilities.

The one-percent sales tax funds are collected and directed into the general fund, which supports operations throughout the City of Lawrence, including our Parks, Recreation and Culture, Municipal Services & Operations, Fire Medical and Police departments.

It’s not sustainable to maintain our current recreation facilities and services through taxes alone. Many of the services our Parks, Recreation and Culture department provide — such as parks, trails, playgrounds, and open spaces — are free to the public. These services do not generate revenue, but they still require ongoing maintenance and operating support. The revenue we generate through programs, classes, tournaments, and events helps sustain the broader parks and recreation services that benefit everyone.

We’re exploring fees as a way to diversify and maintain access to current parks and recreation facilities. Implementing fees would be a way for our team to minimize the impact budget cuts would make to recreation facility and park closures. We don’t want closures; we want community use.

We currently offer a scholarship program for community members who are unable to afford fees associated with parks and recreation programming. We’re looking forward to expanding the program and looking at ways to make scholarships easier to access.

We’re prioritizing access for Lawrence neighbors and will propose non-resident fees, which would include anyone living outside Lawrence city limits, for access to our recreation facilities, including Sports Pavilion Lawrence. This will help ensure we can continue to prioritize access for taxpayers.

We’re also exploring options like tournament spectator fees and will continue to work through different scenarios to find the most balanced and sustainable solution to our revenue goals.

The Community Building isn’t currently part of the membership model because it’s not set up to support consistent check-in and access control. It has two public entrances—including a rear ADA-accessible one—which makes it hard to manage entry without expensive upgrades or more staff.

While there were plans in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to improve the building, those were deferred in last year’s budgeting process. For now, we’re recommending that the Community Building only offer scheduled programs (like fitness and youth activities), rentals, and free after-school access in 2026.

No, choosing option 2 does not include access to SPL.

• Option 1 includes access to SPL and all other centers.
• Option 2 includes all other centers, but not SPL—it’s designed for people who don’t use SPL regularly.

If you pick Option 2 but want to visit SPL occasionally, you can buy a day pass or punch card. This way, everyone has a flexible choice that matches how they use the facilities.

No. If you’ve registered and paid for a class or program, you don’t need a separate membership or pass.

We’ll have class rosters at the front desk, and participants will check in. We’re working on using simple tools like wristbands or stamps to make this process easy and visible.

No. If you’re part of a paid gym rental (for volleyball, soccer, etc.), you won’t need a membership or day pass.

We’ll have a list of team participants at the front desk each day, and we’ll use wristbands, stamps, or similar tools to manage access.

No. If someone is participating in a paid class, program, or rental, their supporters—like parents or spouses—can enter for free to watch.

This applies whether you’re watching a gymnastics class or cheering at a league game. If you want to use other amenities (like the walking track or fitness room) while you’re there, you’ll need a day pass, punch card, or membership.

*This does not apply to tournaments, as we are proposing a tournament spectator fee to enter.

For now, we’re keeping punch card pricing the same for everyone. Punch cards are designed to be flexible and transferable, and different prices for different groups could lead to misuse (like someone else using a senior’s card). We’ll keep a close eye on usage and demand and may revisit this in the future based on real data.

Right now, we only track users who live outside Douglas County—they make up less than 1% of total scans and enrollments.

If we define “resident” as only those with a City of Lawrence address, we estimate that number would increase to around 15%.

We know our data is limited because access cards haven’t always been scanned consistently.

If we move forward with a fee system, we plan to use address validation and GIS tools in our registration system to get much better data over time.

We expect only minor up-front costs—things like updated check-in systems or scanning stations at key sites. These improvements are already part of our existing budget. We don’t expect to hire new full-time staff. For busy times, like tournaments, we may adjust full-time schedules or temporarily bring in additional part-time help

We are currently reviewing our scholarship qualification and application process with the goal of making it as accessible, inclusive, and low-barrier as possible. While individuals have historically qualified by providing documentation from programs like free and reduced lunch, KanCare, or SNAP, we recognize that eligibility for these programs is shifting and that they don’t always reflect the full picture of financial need.

Over the next few months, we’ll be working closely with our scholarship team, internal leadership, and the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion to update the process before implementation in 2026. This includes ensuring our policies reflect both efficiency and equity. Our aim is to create a process that supports affordability without adding unnecessary burden to those already facing hardship. We are also implementing a simple online process for scholarship applications but will remain available to assist anyone through the application process in person or on the phone.

PRC will define “resident” as anyone with a City of Lawrence address. Residency will be verified using GIS tools and address validation built into the registration and membership system.