About Us:
The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department was officially established as the Lawrence Recreation Commission on April 2, 1946, to fulfill
the mission of providing excellent city services that enhance the quality of life for the Lawrence community.
Since that time the department has grown to encompass services related to not only parks and recreation but also
hike/bike trails, recreation facility operations, golf, forestry, landscaping throughout the community
and Downtown Lawrence, cemetery and other quality of life programs and
facilities.
The department has twice been a finalist for the National Recreation and Park Association's Gold Medal
Award Program, which is the highest award an agency can receive in the field of Parks and Recreation.
The Parks and Recreation Department operates several indoor facilities, including recreation
facilities and an aquatic center, and a park system which includes 52 parks. The department is
currently developing 1,612
acres of land leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers below the dam at Clinton Lake for
long-term recreational purposes.
A parks and recreation comprehensive plan was completed and approved by the Lawrence City Commission
in May 1994 and was updated in 2000. A one-cent sales tax was approved by the citizens by a vote in
1994, which included funding for a wide variety of park projects. A park acquisition fund has
provided for 17 new park and open space areas adding over 400 acres in the past few years.
Since 1995, over $30 million has been allocated to the Parks and Recreation capital improvement
program. This includes:
- the $9 million Indoor Aquatic Center, opened in 2001
- the $3.2 million Eagle Bend Golf Course and Golf Learning Center, opened in 1998
- $2 million in renovations to the East Lawrence Recreation Center, opened in 1997
- the $2 million Clinton Lake Softball Complex, opened in 1997
- $2.9 million in renovations to the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center
- the $950,000 Prairie Park Nature Center, opened in 1999
The department employs 75 full-time staff and over 450 part-time and seasonal employees in recreation, parks, forestry, facilities and maintenance, cemetery and golf course divisions. The department operates with a 2004 budget of $7.5 million.
Over 14 miles of 10' wide hard surface recreational trails have been completed along the South Lawrence Trafficway, Prairie Park, Naismith Valley Park and Heatherwood drainage area and a connection from Clinton Parkway south to the South Lawrence Trafficway trail along Kasold Drive. A study has assessed where bike lanes may be located, particularly in and around the University of Kansas campus and Downtown Lawrence, which will add to the already 60+ miles of bike routes in Lawrence.
The Parks and Recreation Department continues striving to develop innovative and cost-efficient programs and services to enhance Lawrence's quality of life.
Questions/Comments? Let us know at parksrec@ci.lawrence.ks.us.
