Lawrence Celebrates July as Parks and Recreation Month

Published on July 10, 2026

July is Parks and Recreation Month in Lawrence! At the Tuesday, July 7 City Commission meeting, Mayor Brad Finkeldei officially proclaimed July as Parks and Recreation Month, recognizing the important role parks, recreation programs, cultural experiences, and community spaces play in creating a healthy, connected, and thriving Lawrence.

This year’s national Parks and Recreation Month theme, “The Power Of,” celebrates the many ways parks and recreation enrich our daily lives and recognizes the dedicated people who help bring these opportunities to the community.

Throughout July, Lawrence Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) will celebrate the many ways parks and recreation make an impact through:

  • The Power of Connection

  • The Power of Play

  • The Power of Community

  • The Power of Nature

  • The Power of Belonging

  • The Power of Well-Being

Community members are invited to celebrate all month long by exploring parks, participating in programs, attending events, and discovering new ways to connect with neighbors and the Lawrence community.

Parks & Recreation Month Passport

Download the Passport here(, 0B).

To help residents celebrate, PRC has launched a Parks & Recreation Month Passport, offering a fun way to explore programs, events, and amenities throughout July.

Residents can pick up a passport at any Lawrence Parks, Recreation and Culture recreation center and participate by attending Parks & Recreation Month activities, taking photos, and recording six activities in their passport. Completed passports can be turned in at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St., by Aug. 7 to receive a prize.

Passport activities include opportunities for all ages, including:

  • Bookworms & Waterbugs — July 10 at the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center

  • Gymnastics Kids’ Night Out — July 10 at Sports Pavilion Lawrence

  • Moonlight Safari — July 11 at Prairie Park Nature Center

  • Short Game Golf Clinic — July 12 at Eagle Bend Golf Course

  • Free Youth Skateboarding Class — July 13 at Centennial Park Skate Park

  • City Band Concert: Across the Pond and Back Again — July 15 at South Park

  • Explore Lawrence’s Public Art — July 16 throughout downtown Lawrence

  • Adult Swim Night: Stars, Stripes & Swim — July 17 at the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center

  • Royals R.A.D.s Baseball Camp — July 18 at the Youth Sports Complex

  • Gymnastics Open Gym — July 19

  • Sandcastle Creation Fest — July 21 at Holcom Park Sand Volleyball Courts

  • Ask a Trainer — July 22 at Sports Pavilion Lawrence

  • Bark at the Park — July 23 at Mutt Run Park

  • Glow-in-the-Dark Pickleball Tournament — July 24

  • Rent and Row at Mary’s Lake — July 25 at Prairie Park Nature Center

  • Popsicles in the Park — July 30 at “Dad” Perry Park

  • Family Glow Dance — July 31 at the Carnegie Building

Whether you’re exploring a trail, joining a program, cheering from the sidelines, enjoying a concert, visiting a neighborhood park, or trying something new, parks and recreation provide opportunities for residents of all ages to connect, play, and thrive.

Learn more about Parks & Recreation Month activities and programs at Lawrenceks.gov prc

Contact: City Communications, citycommunications@lawrenceks.gov

About the City of Lawrence  The City of Lawrence supports an unmistakably vibrant community with innovative, equitable, transparent and responsible local government. Together, we are creating a community where everyone can enjoy life and feel at home.

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