Lawrence recreation budget largely level‑funded; director cites partnerships and ARPA funds to sustain summer programs

Adaley (Adderly) Gonzalez, director of Recreation, told the Lawrence City Council on May 22 that the department’s recommended budget remains essentially level‑funded with a very small net decrease in the mayor’s recommendation.

Gonzalez said the Recreation Department currently has three full‑time staff and additional grant‑funded support; summer program applications for children ages 6 to 12 were open and staff had run multiple hiring days to fill seasonal positions (the department reported 25 program slots and 50 applicants in the recent hiring round). She said the department filled many summer roles with program staff and leveraged those hires to run broader summer programming.

To manage programming with limited operating funds, Gonzalez described partnerships the department has formed with private foundations and regional sports organizations, including the Red Sox Foundation, the Patriots Foundation and a planned tennis program run with a national tennis organization. She said the department is coordinating with the school department and police to secure gym space for fall and winter programming, and that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds previously allocated to the department supported park and program work in recent years.

Councilors praised the department’s outreach but expressed continued concern about staffing and compensation. Councilor Luzon and others noted recreation and senior services have historically received limited operating dollars; councilors urged continued outreach for grants and partnerships and suggested the mayoral administration consider salary adjustments that reflect the workload.

The council did not take a separate vote on the Recreation Department budget during the session; Gonzalez said she would return with operational updates as needed.