As summer settles into autumn, our parks and recreation spaces take on a whole new personality. The shift in seasons always feels refreshing, and this year I’m especially excited to experience fall in Lawrence with new eyes.

Our team has built a wonderful lineup of programs to celebrate the season – Walk the Loop, Autumn Harvest Fest, the mushroom walk at Prairie Park Nature Center, fall break camps, and so many other chances to get outside and enjoy the cooler weather. October also brings some of the most beautiful tree color of the year, and I hope you’re able to pause and enjoy those moments of “cozy weather” when they find you.

I continue to be energized by the dedication and creativity of this department. Every day offers a clearer look at the good work happening across PRC, and I feel grateful to be part of it.

Thanks for connecting with us this month – I look forward to seeing many of you out in our parks and programs as fall unfolds.

Full-Time Employees: Becky Childers and Lisa Hughes

"Lisa and Becky have not only maintained the aquatics program while short-staffed, they have also expanded programs (two new classes) and worked hard to hire enough summer staff to open as planned on May 25. Then they found a way to offer the indoor pool when the outdoor opening was delayed by construction. This ensured their staff were able to work and swimmers had an option. Each obstacle has been unexpected and out of their control, but they have rallied."

~ Gayle Sigurdson, Nominator

Thank you to Rosie Shelton for spending 40 years with Parks, Recreation and Culture. Her skill as an instructor has enhanced the lives of innumerable participants. Her ability to connect with each individual participant has created a community that supports, challenges, and inspires.

Rosie started with the department at the new Outdoor Aquatic Center and then worked in the administration office as an assistant to Kathy Fode, who served as recreation superintendent between 1968-2002. She then created her own fitness class, called Danceworks. Her classes continue to be all original moves and playlists – adapting to, and outlasting, fitness trends over the years.

Rosie is modest about her contribution, so we asked class members (many for decades) to describe her impact. A recurring theme is that Rosie’s classes have been there to stay fit, strong, flexible, and connected through decades of life changes, including raising children, injury and recovery, vacations, retirement, grandchildren, and more.

We have all benefited from Rosie’s knowledge and dedication. She sets a high bar for everyone who is fortunate enough to cross paths with her.

A closing thought from Rosie: “Get your heart rate up, it’s the last exercise”

KSHB Covered East Lawrence Recreation Center's Contribution to the Lawrence World Cup Story

KSHB 41 recently featured the East Lawrence Recreation Center’s signed ping-pong table, a fun piece of history from Team Algeria’s time in Lawrence. Our own Kahner Sampson, Recreation Facility Operations Programmer, and Annette Deghand, Assistant Director of Recreation, shared how the team's simple request turned into a lasting reminder of the connection between Algeria and Lawrence. Check out the story!

New City of Lawrence Website

Have you checked out Lawrence’s new website? The City has launched a redesigned site to make it easier to find services, information, and ways to get involved in our community. Explore the new site at lawrenceks.gov and let us know what you think! If you find something that isn’t working or have an idea to make the site better, we want to hear from you.

Sign up for Rainout Line Notifications

Be the first to know when a PRC class or event is canceled, changed, or updated. By signing up for our Rainout Line notifications via text and email, the system will automatically send you a notice whenever our rec programmers update their classes. Sign up here.

Ask a Naturalist

Welcome to Ask a Naturalist, a new feature from Prairie Park Nature Center! Each month, we will answer questions from the community and share a little more about the work that happens behind the scenes at the Nature Center.

Question: What exactly does a nature center do?

Answer: Prairie Park Nature Center is an environmental education center. Our work is focused on helping people better understand and appreciate the natural world through education, programming, exhibits, and animal ambassadors.

Our animal ambassadors play an important role in that work. Many are animals that cannot be released into the wild and can serve as educational ambassadors for their species. They allow visitors to observe wildlife up close while learning about animal behavior, habitats, adaptations, and conservation.

Our goal isn’t simply to give people an opportunity to see an animal. It’s to help people leave with a better understanding of the wildlife and natural places around them.

We’re hiring an Assistant Director - Parks to help lead the planning, operations and maintenance of Lawrence’s parks, facilities and outdoor spaces. This position provides leadership for teams across park maintenance, forestry, horticulture, golf, pools, recreation centers, athletic fields and more.

The Assistant Director - Parks also coordinates projects with City departments, community partners and organizations to help ensure our public spaces are safe, welcoming and well-maintained. If you’re passionate about serving the Lawrence community, we’d love to hear from you! Apply today.

It’s been an incredible year for park and shelter rentals! From birthday parties and family gatherings to community celebrations, our parks have been a favorite place to get together, make memories, and enjoy the outdoors. Thank you to everyone who chose a Lawrence park for your gathering this year.

Shelters and gazebos may be reserved from April 15 through October 30. If you’re hoping to reserve a park or shelter this year, don’t wait!

Friday, October 30, 2026, is the last day to make a reservation for the year.

Note: The shelter in Broken Arrow Park is still available for reservations until Dec. 20 and must be made 1 week in advance.

Prairie Park’s new playground brought some familiar faces back to the park this year. As part of the project, we repurposed the park’s original turtle statue and brought in two others from Broken Arrow Park and Dad Perry Park. We then partnered with Van Go, Inc. to give all three turtles a creative makeover. Van Go artists gave each turtle a vibrant, nature-inspired design that celebrated Lawrence and brought the set together. These colorful turtles are now a fun new part of Prairie Park!

35 Years of Friendship with Hiratsuka

Take a moment to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden and celebrate a special connection between Lawrence and Hiratsuka, Japan. This October marks 35 years of friendship, cultural exchange, and shared experiences between our two Sister Cities.

The relationship began in 1990 and has grown through decades of student exchanges, homestays, cultural programs, official visits, and personal friendships. Since the youth exchange program began, hundreds of students have traveled between Lawrence and Hiratsuka, experiencing each other’s communities and cultures firsthand. The 2026 Hiratsuka youth delegation marked the 33rd exchange.

Located next to the Watkins Museum of History, the garden was dedicated in 2000 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sister City relationship. Today, it remains a peaceful place to explore, reflect, and celebrate a friendship that has connected generations.

Q: What's up with the closed shelter in Clinton Park?

A: The Clinton Park shelter is temporarily closed while our Parks, Recreation and Culture Department team completes some extended maintenance. The shelter has experienced several recent incidents of vandalism, so we’re taking the time to address the damage and make sure the space is ready for everyone to enjoy. If you have a reservation, don’t worry. The shelter will be reopened before any existing reservations.

Thanks for your patience as we take care of this community space!

Q: Why was the playground area sprayed at McSwain Park?

A: The playground at Chief Jim McSwain Park, 1941 Haskell Ave., was temporarily closed for a day while our parks team treated grass and weeds growing through the playground mulch.

Much of the growth was Bermuda grass, which can be especially difficult to remove because it spreads through its roots. We placed orange fencing around the playground and posted signs so visitors knew what work was taking place. The playground was reopened once the work was complete. Thanks for your patience as we take care of our parks and keep these spaces clean, safe, and ready for play!