Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture Comprehensive Plan

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Background

The Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture Comprehensive Plan will provide a ten-year plan for Parks and Recreation with a focus on the Unmistakable Identity outcome area in the City Strategic Plan. The plan will also integrate arts and culture as part of the newly formed Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture Department.

The City is working with Confluence, a firm based in Kansas City, to help our community develop a more inclusive and robust plan to meet the goals described above.

Community Engagement Opportunities

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the second Community Open House on Thursday, May 23 from at Sports Pavilion Lawrence!

All of the draft implementation recommendations can be found linked below from the April 4 and May 9 steering committee meetings.

Your thoughts are welcome!  The consultants will be receiving your feedback through Friday, May 31. Please email us at: parksrec@lawrenceks.org

History/Information – Most recent to oldest

Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

  • Clara Ketchell
  • Francesca (Frankie) Haynes
  • Austin Bogina
  • Rochelle Freed
  • Lindsay Sayre Pederson
  • Mike Logan
  • Jessica Burghart
  • Margaret Weisbrod Morris
  • Kim Anspach
  • Brett Mosiman
  • Larry Englebrick
  • Mary Doveton – Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission
  • John Nalbandian – Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Confluence Consulting Team

Background/Previous Plans from 2017 and 2000

The 2017 Lawrence Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan was developed through a community process overseen by a 16‐person steering committee comprising a cross‐section of community members who helped develop guiding principles that were used to frame the plan. The 2017 City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department Master Plan allowed the department to continue its mission of providing excellent City services to further enhance the quality of life of the Lawrence Community.

The 2000 Lawrence Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan was developed through a community-driven process that engaged Lawrence citizens in interviews, public meetings and through a household and student survey. The final components of the 2000 comprehensive plan included the development of a phased action plan with developmental, capital, and operational costs and a systemic ‘changes matrix’ that allowed the department to evolve through a manageable process. This plan gave both the department and the community a roadmap to continue providing high quality park spaces, recreation facilities and programs in Lawrence.

City Strategic Plan

The Lawrence City Commission adopted the Strategic Plan framework in October 2020 with Resolution No. 7344.

The framework outlines the core components of the Strategic Plan:

  • Mission – We create a community where all enjoy life and feel at home.
  • Vision – The City of Lawrence – supporting an unmistakably vibrant community with innovative, equitable, transparent, and responsible local government.
  • Organizational Values – Character, Competence, Courage, Collaboration and Commitment
  • Outcomes – To realize our Vision for Lawrence, we endeavor to achieve these important strategic outcomes. The outcomes represent what our City is “in business to do” and what we plan to accomplish with our community. While much of what the City has always done is foundational to these areas, we are now building plans that are targeted at achieving these outcomes with excellence.
    • Unmistakable Identity
    • Strong, Welcoming Neighborhoods
    • Safe and Secure
    • Prosperity and Economic Security
    • Connected City
  • Commitments – The way we do our work is as important as what we do. The City will ensure we’re following through on our five community outcomes with the below commitments to how our team will do our work. The community we create is reflected in the decisions that our employees will make every day.
    • Community Engagement
    • Efficient and Effective Processes
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Sound Fiscal Stewardship
    • Engaged and Empowered Teams
    • Environmental Sustainability

Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture Information

Check this page for updates and community engagement opportunities!

To receive digital notifications about this planning process, go to the city’s subscription page, https://lawrenceks.org/subscriptions, enter your email address at the top and then, under “City Projects” select “Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture Comprehensive Plan”