photo by: Bremen Keasey

Sports Pavilion Lawrence is one of the city's four recreation centers.

This story was updated at 4:06 p.m., Friday, July 11, 2025.

A proposal from the Lawrence Parks, Recreation and Culture department would add a variety of membership fees to access the city’s recreation centers, with costs for residents ranging to $25 a month for adults and up to $5 for day passes.

According to the presentation, the fee structure is needed to protect essential services and create a sustainable funding model for the department. During the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, PRC Director Luis Ruiz told commissioners that without the fee proposal, the impact to the department could be even greater. The department already needed to cut $1.8 million from its budget, which is about 10%.

In the proposal, membership fees for adults to access all four rec centers would cost $25 a month for residents. For seniors or youth — seniors are 60 and older while youth is considered for anyone between 5 to 17 years old — that price is $15 a month for residents. The costs for membership for non-residents is a 20% higher cost across the board. The city also offers household memberships which can be used by to 5 people living at the same address. The cost for household memberships is $40 a month.

The proposal also includes a membership option that would include entry to just East Lawrence and Holcom rec centers which would be 50% cheaper.

The proposed memberships can also be purchased on an annual basis, which would reduce the cost compared to a monthly membership by making two months free. The rates to access all four centers would be $250 a year for adults, $400 for households and $150 for seniors or youths.

The city also will offer flexible options like day passes and “punch cards” that allow for multi-visit flexibility. Day passes to Sports Pavilion Lawrence will cost $5 for residents, while passes to Holcom or East Lawrence rec centers would be $3. The “punch card” option is good for 20 visits at any recreation facility and will cost $60.

During the feedback process, many residents expressed concerns about how fees might lower access for low-income residents or school-age children. The city plans to offer memberships for qualified residents who can “demonstrate financial hardship” that would be 60% lower than the regular fees. Monthly memberships for qualified residents would be $10 a month for adults, $16 a month for households and $6 a month for seniors or youths. The city said qualified residents will go through a “low-barrier application process,” and qualification will be based on programs like KanCare, reduced school lunch or SNAP.

Additionally, the rec centers would have free after school entry for youth ages 5 to 17. As proposed, the rec centers would be free for use by that age group from 3 to 5 p.m. every weekday except Wednesday, when they would be open from 1 to 5 p.m. because of the school district’s early release schedule.

Both the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Lawrence City Commission will provide feedback on the proposal next week. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets Monday July 14 at 5:30 p.m., while the City Commission will meet at Tuesday July 15 at 5:45 p.m. Both meetings will be held at City Hall, 6 E Sixth St.