Strategic Plan

A look forward at the City's goals and plans to achieve them

UNMISTAKABLE IDENTITY

Lawrence is a welcoming community, synonymous with arts, diverse culture, fun, and a quintessential downtown. City parks and community events contribute to the vibrancy experienced by all people in Lawrence.

Progress Indicators

To realize our Vision for Lawrence, we endeavor to achieve this outcome. As such, the City Commission has identified several Progress Indicators to track progress towards this outcome. The Progress Indicators are listed below.

UI-1: Percent of residents who are satisfied or very satisfied with the Parks & Recreation system


Strategies:

  • Market Lawrence as a destination for parks and recreation as well as community and cultural events.
  • Enhance parks, park amenities and recreational opportunities to meet the needs of a growing city.
  • Invest in green infrastructure to provide attractive entrances to the City, a sustainable urban forest and an inviting downtown business district.

UI-2: Percent of residents who are satisfied or very satisfied with the amount of arts, diverse culture and events

Strategies:

  • Market Lawrence as a destination for parks and recreation as well as community and cultural events.

UI-3: Number of people who have visited or utilized a City park/trail, City recreation facility, City recreation program, Theatre Lawrence, Watkins Museum of History, Lawrence Arts Center, the eXplore Lawrence Tourism Center and/or Lawrence Public Library

Strategies:

  • Strengthen the network linking cultural organizations and events to increase resident awareness and participation in cultural opportunities.

UI-4: Percent of residents who have attended an event in the past year

Strategies:

  • Strengthen the network linking cultural organizations and events to increase resident awareness and participation in cultural opportunities.

UI-5: Percent of black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) residents rating the community as welcoming

Strategies:

  • Develop and support initiatives that engage underserved and under-represented communities.
  • Provide accessible, diverse and inclusive parks and recreation programs and amenities for all ages and abilities, with a specific focus on historically marginalized communities.

UI-6: Percent of residents who believe their culture is celebrated in the community (i.e. festivals, parades, events, etc.)

Strategies:

  • Develop and support initiatives that engage underserved and under-represented communities.
  • Provide accessible, diverse and inclusive parks and recreation programs and amenities for all ages and abilities, with a specific focus on historically marginalized communities.

UI-7: Percent of scholarship need that is met for recreation programs

Strategies:

  • Develop and support initiatives that engage underserved and under-represented communities.
  • Provide accessible, diverse and inclusive parks and recreation programs and amenities for all ages and abilities, with a specific focus on historically marginalized communities.

UI-8: Net City cost per visitor attending each event

Strategies:

  • Establish a system to evaluate the impact of cultural activities on community engagement and inclusion.

UI-9: Percent of Parks & Recreation programming that is meeting the cost recovery target

Strategies:

  • Establish a system to evaluate the impact of cultural activities on community engagement and inclusion.
  • Ensure cost recovery targets meet the goals set in the cost recovery pyramid, and that they allow individuals at all income levels to have access to recreational services provided by the City.

UI-10: Retail sales in Downtown Lawrence


Strategies:

  • Establish a system to evaluate the impact of cultural activities on community engagement and inclusion.
  • Strengthen the perception of downtown as a destination for retail shopping, dining, unique character, atmosphere, culture, art, parks and events.

UI-11: Employee Engagement Index for Parks & Recreation


Strategies:

  • Develop, refine and promote activites related to employee career development and succession planning.
  • Provide safe environments and programs that promote and encourage the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of City employees.
  • Compensate and reward employees so they can focus on complex and long-term outcomes that serve our community.
  • Build trust throughout all levels of the organization by encouraging feedback and creating open, two-way communication.
  • Recognize our successes through open appreciation.
  • Create a welcoming environment with space for autonomy, innovation and continuous improvement where all members of the organization can discover their purpose.

UI-12: Acres of park green space per resident


Strategies:

  • Acquire, identify and develop park properties to assure adequate open space and recreational opportunities are available in all areas of the City.

UI-13: Number of events that celebrate and enhance area environmental sustainability


Strategies:

  • Increase educational classes, public events and celebrations that emphasize preservation of the environment.

UI-14: Number of trees planted, removed and maintained to create a healthy tree canopy

Strategies:

  • Invest in green infrastructure to provide attractive entrances to the City, a sustainable urban forest and an inviting downtown business district.
  • Manage natural resources in the community to assure trees are planted and maintained in accordance with the Street Tree Program.