LAWRENCE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

FACILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT

 

INTRODUCTION

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department (LPRD) facility and space needs are becoming more evident as the community continues to grow.  The need is especially great in the area of indoor recreational space for youth and adult sports and other programming.  Recently, some entities have discontinued facility use once provided to the youth market. The focus of LPRD will continue to be in our commitment to providing excellent city services that enhance the quality of life for the entire Lawrence community. LPRD youth and adult programs have always promoted recreational sports play as part of a healthy, active lifestyle for our community.

 

The concept of the Partners for Lawrence Athletics and Youth (PLAY) proposal is to develop a partnership to help identify, evaluate, and develop solutions for community facility needs as they relate to a “first class sports/recreation complex in Lawrence”.  Discussion of the PLAY proposal should recognize the long history of partnerships that has emphasized recreational venues and programs.  Whether that effort should be redirected is the question before the governing bodies.

 

BACKGROUND

LPRD has always considered the needs of Lawrence youth as an important component to our community programming and we’ve developed activities in our facilities to accommodate the community’s recreational programming needs.

 

Below are some of the many Parks and Recreation facilities and their current use for both youth and adult activities/sports:

 

Used by the City since the 1960s; has been utilized for youth and adult programming.  Currently is used for the following activities/programs:

 

Holcom Park land purchased in 1967; sports complex developed in 1972-73; park developed in 1975-76; recreation center constructed in 1987-88.  The facilities are used for the following activities/programs:

 

Built in late 1970’s; renovated in 1997 – addition of regulation gymnasium.  The facilities are used for the following activities/programs:

 

A $9,000,000 facility built on USD 497 property; opened in 2001; provides both leisure and competitive venue for adult and youth water activities/events. The facility is used for the following activities/programs:

 

Developed in 1961 through a donation by the Department of the Interior to the City, School District, County, and Township.

The facilities are used for the following activities/programs:

 

Developed in early 1980’s by a board of three different non-profit sport entities: Kaw Valley Soccer Assoc., Douglas Co. Amateur Baseball Assoc. and Lawrence Little League Football Assoc. Facility includes: 15 soccer fields/ 2 lighted; 4 baseball fields/ 4 lighted; 5 football fields. In 1995-96, Parks and Recreation became involved in the day-to-day maintenance of the facility, with the cooperation of the YSI Board. The City built two more ball diamonds and added the lighting to all four diamonds. Water, sewer, restrooms, concessions and paved parking were part of the City improvements.  USD 497 soccer programs use a lighted field that meets competitive standards.  The facilities are used for the following youth activities/programs:

 

The following details how the LPRD facilities are being used by outside groups:

 

Holcom Sports Complex

*      Lawrence High School (LHS) Baseball Varsity & Junior Varsity (Ice Field)

*      LHS Softball Varsity & Junior Varsity (Blue and Gold)

*      LHS C-Team Baseball, freshmen & sophomores (Red) - practice only

 

YSI

*      LHS Varsity, Jr. Varsity and C Team  Soccer (Field #14 & #15)   

*      Bishop Seabury Academy (Field #14 & #15)

*      Veritas Christian School (Football Field #3)           

*      LHS C-Team Baseball, freshmen & sophomores (Field #3) 

*      AFA Girls Fast Pitch National Tournament and Qualifiers

 

Clinton Lake Softball Complex

*      AFA Girls Fast Pitch National Tournament and Qualifiers

 

Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center (City – school district written agreement)

*      FSHS: Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving Teams

*      NAIA National Swimming and Diving Championships

*      Numerous swim club(s) State and Regional meets

 

Carl Knox Natatorium (City – school district written agreement)

*      LHS: Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving Teams

 

Other Community Facilities used for Varsity Athletics in Lawrence

*      Haskell Football Stadium – LHS Varsity Football

*      Memorial Stadium – FSHS Varsity Football

 

Additionally, it should be noted that the City of Lawrence has cooperative agreements with USD 497 for the use of many City facilities listed above.  USD 497’s Lawrence Tennis Center, the gyms at many schools like Langston Hughes Elementary School, and ball diamonds at LHS and FSHS are sites for numerous City recreation programs. These agreements enable the City and USD 497 to maximize facility use and programming efforts.

                                               

CURRENT DEPARTMENT NEEDS

Planning for a large community recreation center at Centennial Park was discontinued in 1996.  A formal agreement was signed between the City and USD 497 in 2000 for a neighborhood recreation center to be attached to Langston Hughes Elementary School.  That facility has not been constructed.

 

Both LPRD programs and USD 497 extracurricular activities have grown over the years. Facility allocation, particularly for indoor gymnasium space, is at a premium.

 

The LPRD comprehensive long-range plan (2000) projected a need for an indoor multi-use facility. This type facility would need to accommodate up to four regulation gyms for basketball and youth soccer courts and flexible space for fitness, gymnastics and a variety of indoor activities. This need for recreational facility space has been exacerbated recently with the change in ownership and future use of the Sport2Sport facility and with the Robinson Gym at KU no longer available for the LPRD gymnastics program.

 

LPRD programming has concentrated efforts in recreational programming where participation and inclusion regardless of abilities by all is achieved.  As noted on the previous page, LPRD also understands the need in the community for competitive league play and its importance in skill and social development of youth.

 

The needs of the PLAY committee do not fully mirror the needs of LPRD.  If the efforts of City, County, USD 497 and the private sector are combined to explore possibilities of sharing a multi-use indoor facility, LPRD needs for additional indoor recreational space could be addressed.

 

 The LPRD comprehensive plan should be updated every five years.  If comprehensive plan update efforts are combined with the PLAY proposal for a feasibility study, there could be a community-wide evaluation of recreation and competitive facilities needs and a re-evaluation of long range goals.

 

OTHER COMMUNITIES’ FACILITIES

While the Douglas County community has its own way of approaching needs and developing facilities, it is important to look at nearby communities and how they addressed recreational/competitive sports facility needs.  The attached appendix lists some of the area sports venues. Most of these facilities are school district owned and operated and provide competitive, not recreational, venues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX

 

Lee’s Summit District Activity Complex

 

 

 

*      Owner / Operator:  Lee’s Summit School District

*      Size:  230 Acres at 3 separate sites

*      Lee Summit High (LSH), 40 acres including the school

*      Lee Summit North (LSN), 95 acres including the school

*      Lee Summit West (LSW), 95 acres, including the school

*      Amenities

*      LSH - Full Soccer, Football Stadium, 3 General Practice areas

*      LSN - Full Soccer Stadium, Football Stadium, 2 Baseball Fields, 2 Softball Fields, 6 Practice Fields

*      LSW - Full Soccer Stadium, Football Stadium, Baseball Field, 3 Baseball/Softball fields, 6 Practice fields

*      Yearly Operations and Maintenance Costs – Unavailable

*      Completion Date: Unavailable

*      Cost: Unavailable

*      Funding Source(s): School District Bonds

*      Users (excluding the School District):  Main outside user is Parks & Recreation Department

*      Levels of Competition using facility:  All levels, including Varsity Sports.

 

Olathe District Activity Complex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*      Owner / Operator:  Olathe School District

*      Size:  80 acres

*      Amenities:  Football Field, 2 Soccer Fields , 2 Baseball Fields, 2 Softball Fields, 400 meter, 8 lane track, Parking for 1,500 cars, Maintenance Facility, Restrooms / Locker Rooms, Concessions

*      Yearly Operations and Maintenance Costs:  $90,000 to $100,000 minus employee costs

*      Established:  1991

*      Cost: Unavailable

*      Funding: School District Bonds

*      Users:  Not many outside users.  Mainly the NAIA Championships. 

*      Levels of Play:  Varsity Football, JV and Varsity Soccer and all levels of Baseball and Softball.  

 

 

College Boulevard Activity Center

 

 

 

 

*      Owner / Operator:  Olathe School District

*      Size:  76 acres

*      Amenities:  Football Field,  2 Soccer Fields, 2 Baseball Fields, 2 Softball Fields, Parking for 1,890 cars, Maintenance Facility, Restrooms / Locker Rooms, 3 Concession buildings, 4 Ticket buildings

*      Yearly Operations and Maintenance Costs:  $90,000 to $100,000 minus employee costs

*      Established:  2003

*      Cost: Unavailable

*      Funding: School District Bonds

*      Users:  Not many outside users.  Mainly the NAIA Championships. 

*      Levels of Play:  Varsity Football, JV and Varsity Soccer and all levels of Baseball and Softball.  

 

 

Anneberg Park - Manhattan

 

Owner/Operator:  City of Manhattan---Parks and Recreation

 

Size:  104 Acres

 

Established: 1988 -- Addition Twin Oaks Complex opened in 1992

 

Park Amenities:  Six lighted softball fields, Eight lighted regulation soccer fields, Two covered shelters, Grills, playground inside sports complex, Fishing lake, 1.6 miles of trails and Restrooms

 

Funding source:  1986 “Quality of Life” Bond issue

 

Cost: $1.4 million

 

Operating costs:  $150,000 annual

 

Levels of Play:   All levels of competition are held at the facility from parks and recreation to High School competition.

 

 

Gardner Parks and Recreation Facility

 

Owner Operator:  City of Gardner

 

Size:  40 acres and have an option on additional 42 acres of adjacent land

 

Established:  Under planning phase; completion for phase one is set for fall 2007; phase one will be athletic fields and related facilities.

 

Park Amenities:  Baseball/softball complex (3 fields at 300’ and on field at 335’, Soccer fields 2 regulation, 3 youth fields, Multipurpose fields (includes 2 t-ball fields and 3 soccer fields), parking for roughly 660 stalls, Two shelter, 9 acre lake, Maintenance building, Playground an Spray Ground, asphalt trails around lake and limestone throughout the park an two concession and restroom facilities.

 

Funding source: Land purchase came from Gardner’s share of the county sales tax that was passed 3 years ago ($582,000).  Additional 42 acres will cost $630,000.  Development funding will be the ½ cent sales tax passed in June of 2005.

 

Cost:  Complete build out is estimated at $6.9 million

 

Operating costs: Not completed at this time.

 

Levels of Play:  City leagues and groups affiliated with the city will have first priority and the facility will be available for rental to outside groups.

 

 

Gardner Activity Complex – USD 231

 

Owner/operator: USD 231

 

Size:  20 Acres

 

Established: 1999; Additions 2005

 

Park Amenities:  Competition Football, Competition Baseball, 2 Batting Cages, Competition Softball, main Concessions, Auxiliary Concession w/restrooms and storage, Two Locker Rooms, Two equipment Storage Garages, Football Press Box, restrooms

 

Funding Source:  2000 School Bond

 

Costs:  1999 $5.2 million; 2005 addition $2.1 million

 

Annual operating costs:  Personnel $55,000; Utilities $15,000; Fertilizer/Seed/Paint $10,000

 

Levels of Play:  Primarily used for Gardner Edgerton High School competitive activities. Outside groups are limited.

 

Mid-America Sports Complex and West Complex

 

 

 

 

Owner/Operator:  Johnson Co. Parks and Recreation (JCPRD); size: 40 Acres

 

Established:  Fields built in 1989, Field house in 1999; facility was originally privately owned and purchased in 2004.

 

Park Amenities:  12-outdoor youth softball fields, Eight-stall batting cage, Pro shop, concessions. West complex includes 56,500 sq, ft., Okun Field house which houses four full-size basketball court/ eight volleyball courts, Pro shop, concessions.

 

Funding source:   Purchase made through Revenue Bonds

 

Cost:  NA--$200,000 per year on Bond payment

 

Annual operating costs:  $1.5 million; revenue approx. $1.5 million

 

Levels of Play:  All JCPRD activities, tournaments, leagues, camps etc. Space is rented by various users and the fields are used by area school districts for high school games.

 

 

Hummer Sports Park

 

 

Owner/Operator:   Topeka School District –Unified 501

 

Size: 40 Acres

 

Established:  Ground breaking Feb. 2002---Construction completed in 2003

 

Park Amenities: 

·    Football/Track stadium-- 6000 seats, restrooms, concessions Home and Visitors, locker rooms two level Press Box.

·    Soccer Stadium—200 seats, locker rooms, restrooms and concessions shared with football

·    Maintenance shop and storage

·    Baseball fields—two natural turf playing surfaces, dugouts, bullpens, pitching/batting cages, restrooms/concessions

·    Softball Complex—two natural turf playing surfaces, dugouts, bullpens, and pitching/batting cages

·    Aquatic Center 50 meter long course with separate diving well, seating for 500 permanent plus pullout bleacher for additional 500

 

Funding Source: School Bond

 

Costs: $17.5 million

 

Annual operating costs: NA

 

Levels of Play:  All school district activities— usage by outside groups is limited.