Johnson County Park & Recreation District

What Johnson County Park & Recreation District does

Johnson County Park & Recreation District (JCPRD) is a Kansas government special district founded in 1955 to provide parks, recreation, and cultural services to residents of Johnson County, Kansas — the most populous county in the state with 620,000+ residents. JCPRD is the only special district of its kind in Kansas and is governed by an eight-member policy-making board appointed by the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. The district operates 18 developed parks spanning more than 10,000 acres, 150+ miles of trails, two premier golf courses (Heritage Park and Tomahawk Hills), 33 softball/baseball fields, 18 soccer fields, 10 football fields, multiple indoor fieldhouses, an aquatic center, a nature center, an outdoor theatre, and the Johnson County Museum. Annual reach includes 7.8 million visitors and 2.7 million+ participants across 4,200+ programs.

JCPRD generates revenue through a mix of program registration fees, facility and field rentals, permit fees (boating, archery, metal detector, activity), golf course operations, childcare tuition for Out-of-School Time programs, and museum/cultural admissions, with pricing structured as unit pricing by tier — typically with a resident/nonresident differential. Pricing ranges from $2 for youth movie event tickets to $30 for nonresident boating permits, with most programming at pay-as-you-go or annual billing cadence. Funding is supplemented by a property tax base and corporate sponsorships (CapFed, Walmart, Explore Crawford). The core technology stack consists of the Active Network (ActiveNet) registration platform for 24/7 self-service program enrollment, the CivicPlus CivicEngage government website platform, RunSignUp for race registrations, and standard mapping/social integrations. JCPRD is CAPRA-accredited (2022, 100% standards pass) and the 2025 recipient of the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

The district serves a broad and segmented customer base across all demographics: general public, children and youth (including 4,000+ children daily in childcare across four school districts), adults aged 50+ in dedicated programming, athletes and sports participants across youth and adult leagues, individuals with disabilities via adaptive recreation and Special Olympics partnerships, and arts/culture/outdoor enthusiast segments. Distribution is multi-channel — online self-service registration, in-person at facilities, phone reservations, and facility/field rentals for organizational use. Marketing spans the JCPRD website, segmented email newsletters (50 Plus, EMNC, Museum, Sports, Theatre in the Park), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, printed and digital Visitor Guides distributed at Johnson County libraries, and major community events including Symphony in the Park, Heritage Hustle races, triathlons, and seasonal festivals. The district is led by Executive Director Jeff Stewart and operates with 300+ full-time and 1,000+ part-time staff.

Name

Johnson County Park & Recreation District

Legal name

Johnson County Park and Recreation District

Website

https://jcprd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Johnson County Park & Recreation District is a Kansas government special district founded in 1955 that operates 18 developed parks across 10,000+ acres and delivers 4,200+ annual recreation, childcare, cultural, and sports programs to the 620,000+ residents of Johnson County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK), Venue & Facility Reservations (Private Rooms, Event Spaces) (HSACALAJ), Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

Keywords

• Parks and recreation
• Public park management
• Recreation programs
• Community leisure services
• Municipal recreation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shawnee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program and Activity Registration Fees: Revenue generated from registration fees for recreation programs including sports leagues, fitness classes, camps, arts programs, and special events. Fees vary by program type and residency status.
2. Facility and Field Rentals: Rental fees for indoor facilities (fieldhouses, community centers, theatres) and outdoor spaces (fields, shelters, campgrounds) for private events, tournaments, and organizational use.
3. Permit Fees: Fees collected for boating permits, archery permits, metal detector permits, and activity permits. Pricing varies by residency and permit type.
4. Golf Course Operations: Revenue from Heritage Park Golf Course and Tomahawk Hills Golf Course including green fees, memberships, and pro shop sales.
5. Childcare Services: Fees for out-of-school time programs and early childhood development centers serving children in multiple school districts.
6. Museum and Cultural Admissions: Admission fees and memberships for the Johnson County Museum and cultural programming at the Arts & Heritage Center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

JCPRD operates a comprehensive public parks and recreation system for Johnson County, Kansas residents, managing 18 developed parks across 10,000+ acres, 150+ miles of trails, two golf courses, multiple sports complexes, indoor fieldhouses, community centers, a museum, an outdoor theatre, and a nature center. It delivers 4,200+ recreation programs annually serving 2.7 million+ participants, plus Out-of-School Time childcare for 4,000+ children daily across four school districts, with registration centralized through the Active Network (ActiveNet) online platform.

Product overview

Johnson County Park & Recreation District operates as a comprehensive parks and recreation system offering a diverse portfolio of recreational programs and facilities. The organization functions as a single integrated platform with multiple service lines rather than separate products. Core offerings include 50 Plus senior programs, Adaptive Recreation (Special Olympics), Aquatics, Children's Services with Out of School Time childcare serving 4,000+ children daily across four school districts, and extensive Sports Leagues with facilities including Mid-America Sports Complex, Mid-America West Sports Complex, Okun Fieldhouse, and New Century Fieldhouse. Cultural attractions include the Arts & Heritage Center, Theatre in the Park (nation's largest outdoor community theatre), Johnson County Museum, and Ernie Miller Nature Center. Adventure programming is provided through TimberRidge Adventure Center. The district also operates two golf courses (Heritage Park and Tomahawk Hills), manages 18 developed parks with 150+ miles of trails, and hosts annual races including triathlons and the Heritage Hustle Half Marathon. Program registration is centralized through the My JCPRD Online platform powered by Active Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 50 Plus Programs
• Adaptive Recreation
• Aquatics
• Gymnastics
• RideKC BikeShare
• Birthday Parties
• Camps
• Out-of-School Time (OST) Childcare
• Early Childhood Programs
• Arts & Heritage Center
• Theatre in the Park
• Ernie Miller Nature Center
• TimberRidge Adventure Center
• Races & Triathlons
• Sports Leagues & Clinics
• Mid-America Sports Complex
• Mid-America West Sports Complex
• Okun Fieldhouse
• New Century Fieldhouse
• Roeland Park Community Center
• Johnson County Museum
• Golf Courses
• Disc Golf
• Park Facilities & Rentals
• My JCPRD Online Registration
• Special Events

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.8 million visitors annually, making JCPRD one of the most visited park systems in the region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on fisheries management for JCPRD lakes. KDWP's local fisheries biologist stocks JCPRD lakes and conducts population surveys in partnership with JCPRD natural resource staff. KDWP will manage the trout program beginning in 2026, transitioning JCPRD lakes to standard state permit-wide creel and length limits.
• Special Olympics KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCPRD Stormin' Rangers program provides Special Olympics athletes with training and competition opportunities. JCPRD sends athletes to state powerlifting and flag football tournaments annually. The partnership provides athletic programming for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Capitol Federal (CapFed)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the KC Unity Cup presented by CapFed, a soccer tournament event hosted at Theatre in the Park. Partnership supports community sporting events and World Cup watch party activities.
• WalmartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Special Olympics Kansas state competitions including powerlifting and flag football tournaments where JCPRD Stormin' Rangers compete.
• Johnson County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCPRD operates as a special district under Johnson County Government with an eight-member policy-making board appointed by the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. Partnership includes joint events like the Johnson County Watch Party for FIFA World Cup.
• Johnson County Library SystemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJCPRD Visitor Guides available for pickup at Johnson County and Olathe library locations, expanding distribution of program information to community members.
• Explore CrawfordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Special Olympics Kansas state competitions where JCPRD Stormin' Rangers athletes participate in powerlifting and flag football.
• Parks and Recreation Foundation of Johnson CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit foundation supporting JCPRD programs. Donations support Access & Equity for All Fund, helping ensure everyone has opportunity to participate in sports leagues, camps, clinics, and more.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fairfax County Park Authority: Independent public agency managing 24,000+ acres of parks, 325+ miles of trails, and nine RECenters in Fairfax County, VA. Operates with similar scale, governance model, and program mix to JCPRD.
• Three Rivers Park District: Special park district in suburban Minneapolis serving ~900,000 residents with 27 parks, 200+ miles of trails, and extensive recreation programming. Closest structural analog to JCPRD as a special-purpose district with comparable scale and program breadth.
• Denver Parks and Recreation: Municipal parks department managing 300+ parks, 20+ recreation centers, and extensive cultural/nature programming in Denver, CO. Comparable scope and program breadth across aquatics, sports, golf, and adaptive recreation.
• Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department: Municipal parks and recreation department serving Kansas City, Missouri. Operates the largest municipal park system in the KC metro with comparable program mix (sports leagues, aquatics, community centers, cultural programming), serving an adjacent population to JCPRD.
• Montgomery Parks (Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission): Special taxing district operating 37,000+ acres of parkland serving ~1M residents with extensive programming in aquatics, sports, nature, and cultural facilities — similar affluent suburban county demographics to Johnson County.
• Mecklenburg County Parks, Recreation and Science: Public agency operating parks, recreation centers, aquatic facilities, and nature preserves in Charlotte-Mecklenburg with comparable population base (~1.1M) and similar urban-suburban service profile.
• Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation: Government recreation department in Gwinnett County, GA (~960,000 residents) operating parks, sports complexes, aquatic centers, and senior programming. Similar fast-growing suburban county profile and program portfolio.
• Cobb County PARKS: Government parks department in Cobb County, GA managing 60+ parks, recreation centers, and aquatic facilities with similar suburban-Atlanta demographics and operating model to JCPRD.

Regional players

• Overland Park Parks and Recreation: Municipal parks department serving Overland Park, KS — the largest city in Johnson County with overlapping residents. Operates complementary parks, pools, and recreation programming in the same county.
• Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department: City-level parks and recreation department serving Shawnee, KS — a city within Johnson County that overlaps JCPRD's service territory. Provides directly competitive municipal recreation programs to overlapping residents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubejcprd.com/youtube
• Facebookfacebook.com/facebook
• Instagramjcprd.com/instagram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jcprd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Johnson County Park & Recreation District