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 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 Hub for Networking, Entertainment, and Yard Games, with our Beverage Partner Tellus360
• Free Family Events like Open Streets Lancaster. RECtoberfest, Trick-or-Treat, and Winter Carnival
• Lancaster Unity Cup - An 8-week 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.
• Preschool Programs
• Pre-K Counts Programs
• Early Head Start Programs
• Before-and-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
• Swimming Lessons for Children
• Summer Camps
• 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 our Conestoga Pines Campus
• 8,600 Lancaster youth participate in Lancaster Rec programming each year.
• $25,000/year in youth sports scholarships are awarded to thousands of low-income families in Lancaster.
• 300+ volunteers donate 10,000+ hours each year to our youth sports programs.
• 3,500+ children utilize our free summer playground and wading pool program.
• 7,550 meals and 4,461 rides are coordinated annually at our Senior Center, free of charge.
• According to our Youth Sports Scholarship Survey, completed by our participants:
  • 90% feel healthier
  • 82% feel better about themselves
  • 72% have increased confidence
  • 68% stay out of trouble
  • 57% have improved grades

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.