City of Lawrence opens online survey about adding entrance fees or memberships to recreation centers; in-person feedback opportunities also available

photo by: Bremen Keasey

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

The City of Lawrence is asking for community feedback about the possibility of adding memberships and fees to its parks and recreation facilities.

The city has opened up an online survey and will host multiple pop-ups in the coming weeks for residents to weigh in.

As part of the 2026 budget process, the Lawrence City Commission earlier this year directed the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department to explore implementing fees for more services, as the Journal-World reported. The discussion about adding fees or memberships comes as the city is facing a $6.5 million budget shortfall for 2026.

In March, Luis Ruiz, the PRC director, told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that if the department didn’t explore adding fees, it could mean cuts to programming, as the Journal-World reported.

Lindsay Hart, assistant director for the PRC, said in a news release Friday that the city is thinking about memberships or entry fees as a way to “maintain community access to our incredibly robust system of parks and recreation programs and facilities.”

“We want to hear from our community to make sure our proposal reflects what Lawrence needs,” Hart said in the release.

Hart previously told the Journal-World that the membership or fee plan would bring in an estimated $500,000 annually for the department, which would help in defraying proposed cuts of about $1.8 million to the department.

The public survey is available on the city’s website. The city will also be holding focus groups with community members who express interest through the online survey.

Additionally, the city will have four pop-up events at its recreation centers where people can chat with city staff and share feedback. Those events will take place at:

• East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St., on May 27 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

• Community Building, 15 W. 11th St., on May 28 from 8 to 10 a.m.

• Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St., on June 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.

• Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane, on June 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.