Salt Lake County officials report heavy use of My County Rec Pass and seek ongoing support

Salt Lake County Department of Community Services and Parks and Recreation staff told the Salt Lake County Council on May 20, 2025, that the county’s My County Rec Pass program — launched June 1, 2024 — has driven tens of thousands of registrations and hundreds of thousands of facility visits, and staff urged the council to confirm ongoing support while they complete follow-up financial analysis.

The program, funded through TRAC, offers free access to county recreation centers, pools and ice rinks for children and youth (initially ages 5–18 and expanded last fall to include ages 3–4), and staff said it has substantially increased teen use of facilities. Christopher Otto, Division Director of Parks and Recreation, reported that staff had recorded 351,158 facility visits through April 30 and that roughly 250,000 of those visits were by teenagers; staff also said about 18,000 visits came from children ages 0–5. Robin Shalhoub, Director of Community Services, said total registrations to date exceed 78,000 and noted strong early interest: 1,546 pre-registrations on the first day the pass opened.

Why it matters: county officials and council members framed the pass as an upstream, preventive public-health investment that increases physical activity, offers safe after-school options for youth, and builds community connections. Eliza Fasola, Associate Division Director of Recreation, summarized survey findings staff have used to evaluate the pilot: an initial May 2024 survey found 76% of pass holders had never had a Salt Lake County pass before and 62% cited cost as the reason; a March 2025 follow-up showed increases in self-rated overall health and activity levels and that "71% stated that the My County Rec Pass has made them more active and healthier overall." Staff also shared anonymized quotes from youth and parents praising the program’s affordability and impact on activity and socialization.

Program costs and near-term financial questions: staff described the program’s initial funding and the budget context. They said the 2024 launch was funded through TRAC and that the 2024 one‑time cost was over $1 million for staff, temporary employees and supplies. For a full 2025 year the program budget is roughly $2.2 million, staff said. Recreation staff told the council they expect a revenue shift tied to offering youth passes for free: youth and family pass sales declined after the launch, while adult and senior pass sales have risen. Staff estimated an initial revenue loss in the range of about $200,000–$250,000 and noted an earlier $303,000 offset request to cover that anticipated reduction; they told council members they will return with a more robust financial assessment in the coming months.

Council and mayoral response: council members and Mayor Jenny Wilson praised the program’s reach and community impact. Council members asked for more detailed revenue-and-cost data; one council member requested specific dollar figures for lost revenue and staff said those details exist and they would provide them in a follow-up meeting. Mayor Wilson urged the council to treat the program as ongoing for operational planning, arguing its per-child community impact justifies continued support. Staff also described operational next steps for 2025, including a new point-of-sale system expected in the third quarter to improve usage data, “try it” events to convert free users into paid leagues and clinics, and deeper outreach with school districts, community health coalitions and partners such as Intermountain Health.

What staff will do next: staff said they will finalize a more complete financial analysis of revenue impacts and costs, refine program offerings based on survey feedback, expand outreach and partnership activity, and report back to the council. Taylor (program manager for the My County Rec Pass) was publicly acknowledged by staff for day-to-day program operations and community engagement.

The council did not take a formal vote on funding at the May 20 meeting; presenters requested the council’s continued support and said they will return with detailed financial and utilization data for consideration.