Lancaster Rec Foundation

We provide hundreds of low cost (and free) recreational and educational programs each year to Lancaster residents. 

Since 1909, Lancaster Rec has helped tens of thousands of children, adults and seniors get more active and find a greater balance of health and wellness.

Our Program Offerings and the Impact We Have:

• A NEW type of Community Garden Experience - a vibrant community space where residents grow fresh produce to be donated to those in need, learn new skills, and build meaningful connections with their neighbors at Bay Street Community Garden
• A NEW Esports & Technology Center - Featuring Desktop Gaming, Oculus, Nintendo Switch, PS5, 3-D Printing, Laser Engraving, Lego Robotics and a CNC Machine for Youth Workforce Development at Rodney Park Community Center
• Lancaster Beer Gardens - Traveling gardens transforming Lancaster City Parks into a community bub for networking, entertainment, and yard games, with our beverage partner Tellus360
• Each year, we provide more than $25,000 in youth sports scholarships to families in need via our Youth Sports Scholarship Fund
• Free Family Events like Open Streets Lancaster, RECtoberfest, Trick-or-Treat, and Winter Carnival
• Lancaster Unity Cup - A soccer tournament dedicated to Lancaster residents finding Unity in their Community
• Infant Learning and Care at our McCaskey Early Learning Center - Open to the Lancaster Community, starting at age 6 weeks.
• Early Head Start Programs
• Preschool Programs
• Pre-K Counts Programs
• Before & After School Care
• Free Summer Playground and Wading Pool Programs - We provide free programming in 6 Lancaster City Wading Pools
• Free Summer Basketball Program with our Community Partner - CJ's Hoop for Hope
• Summer Camps
• Swimming Lessons for Children
• Youth Sports and Dance
• Esports League
• Adult Sport Leagues
• Social and Cultural Activities for Seniors
• Fitness and Wellness Opportunities for All Ages
• A Full-Service Outdoor Pool at Conestoga Pines Park
• 8,600 Lancaster youth participate in Lancaster Rec programming each year.
• 300+ volunteers donate 10,000+ hours each year to our youth sports programs.
• 3,000+ children utilize our free summer playground and wading pool program.
• 7,000+ meals and 4,000+ rides are coordinated annually at our Senior Center, free of charge.

Who We Are

A nonprofit agency formed through a partnership of the City of Lancaster, School District of Lancaster and Lancaster Township, the Lancaster Recreation Commission has served the Lancaster community since 1909.

We provide hundreds of recreational and educational programs to the community annually at minimal cost. Thousands of children, adults and seniors take part in our programs every year.

We offer programs such as swimming lessons to children, social and cultural activities for seniors, adult sports leagues, summer playground programs, before and after school care, youth sports, fitness and wellness classes and family special events. We provide safe places to play, plenty of ways to be active and healthy, and learning and enrichment activities for all ages.

Children need more opportunities to learn and play. Make a gift to support children in Lancaster and help them create their own small beautiful moments.

Through the Lancaster Rec Foundation, we are able to provide Lancaster children youth sports scholarships that offset the cost of programming. We want every child to be on the field and in the game, regardless of financial barriers. The benefits of team sports include: leadership development skills, critical thinking, problem solving and working together as a team. We provide safe places to play, plenty of ways to be active and healthy, and engaging learning and enrichment activities for all ages.

Recreational learning activities add LIFE to your YEARS, not just years to your life.