Lincoln Parks and Recreation

What Lincoln Parks and Recreation does

Lincoln Parks and Recreation is a municipal government department of the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, responsible for managing public parks, recreation facilities, and community programming for city residents and visitors. The department operates an extensive physical footprint that includes 168 parks, 185.9 miles of trails, 97 playgrounds, 9 public pools, 6 recreation centers, 5 golf courses, 5 dog runs, the Pioneers Park Nature Center, and public gardens (including the Veterans Memorial Garden). It also manages an urban forestry program covering over 83,000 street trees, including planting, maintenance, and preservation activities on city property.

The department delivers programming across multiple categories: summer day camps, nature camps, adaptive camps and clubs for individuals with special needs, adult and youth team sports, swimming lessons, wellness and fitness classes, and free community events (Party-in-the-Parks). Programs and facility reservations are administered through two third-party digital platforms: CivicRec for online reservations and rec1.com for secure registration, payment, and pool pass purchases. Most facilities are also accessible through direct walk-in access, with advance reservations required for shelters, ballfields, and courts.

Lincoln Parks and Recreation is led by Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross and employs approximately 130 staff. As a municipal department, it is funded through the City of Lincoln's tax-based budget and does not publish revenue figures. Marketing and outreach are conducted through the official City of Lincoln website, Facebook, X, Instagram, the LNKTV City YouTube channel, and seasonal printed Program Guides. Service delivery is geographically constrained to Lincoln, Nebraska, with a single-segment customer base of residents and visitors, and the department does not pursue customers outside its municipal jurisdiction.

Name

Lincoln Parks and Recreation

Legal name

City of Lincoln

Website

https://parks.lincoln.ne.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lincoln Parks and Recreation is a municipal government department of the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, managing 168 parks, 185.9 miles of trails, recreation centers, pools, and golf courses, and delivering community recreation programs to city residents and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Parks and Recreation

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Facilities Maintenance & Environmental Services (Waste, Water, Trail Maintenance, Restrooms) (THAAAGAI), Campus Recreation Centers & Fitness Facilities Operations (EDALAIAD)

Keywords

• Public parks management
• Recreation programs
• Community facilities
• Urban forestry services
• Municipal recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lincoln Parks and Recreation is a municipal department that operates and maintains 168 parks, 185.9 miles of trails, 97 playgrounds, 9 public pools, 6 recreation centers, 5 golf courses, 5 dog runs, a nature center, and public gardens for the residents and visitors of Lincoln, Nebraska. It also offers structured recreation programs including summer day camps, adaptive programs for individuals with special needs, adult and youth team sports, swimming lessons, wellness and fitness classes, and free community events. Program registration and facility reservations are processed through the CivicRec and rec1.com online platforms.

Product overview

Lincoln Parks and Recreation is a municipal government department that provides a comprehensive portfolio of parks, recreation facilities, programs, and services to the Lincoln, NE community. The department operates 168 parks covering 185.9 miles of trails, 97 playgrounds, 9 public pools, 6 recreation centers, 5 golf courses, 5 dog runs, a nature center, and public gardens. Services include online reservation and registration systems (via CivicRec and rec1 platforms) for park areas, facilities, programs, and pool passes. Programs offered include summer day camps, adaptive programs for individuals with special needs, team sports, nature-based classes, wellness and fitness classes, and free community events. Major facilities include the recently opened Canopy Yard Skatepark (largest between Denver and Des Moines).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parks
• Trails Over 185.9 miles of trails providing connectivity for walking, biking, and hiking to homes, workplaces, and parks throughout the city.
• Playgrounds 97 playgrounds located throughout the city parks, providing recreational equipment and play areas for children.
• Community Forestry Management of over 83,000 street trees throughout the city, including planting, maintenance, and preservation of trees and associated vegetation on city property.
• Public Pools Nine public pools offering swimming recreation, aquatic programs, and swimming lessons for community members.
• Recreation Centers Six recreation centers providing fitness facilities, wellness classes, and community programming for residents of all ages.
• Golf Courses Five golf courses managed by the department, offering public golfing opportunities with online tee time booking available.
• Dog Runs Five dog runs providing designated off-leash areas for dog owners to exercise their pets.
• Pioneers Park Nature Center A nature center offering nature-based classes and educational programs for the community.
• Public Gardens Public gardens maintained by the department for community enjoyment, including the Veterans Memorial Garden.
• Summer Day Camps Day camps, nature camps, and adaptive camps for children during summer break.
• Adaptive Programs Clubs and classes designed for individuals with special needs, providing inclusive recreational opportunities.
• Team Sports Adult and youth team sports programs including various athletic activities and leagues.
• Wellness and Fitness Classes Fitness classes and wellness programs available for all ages at recreation centers.
• Party-in-the-Parks Free events and classes for all ages offered throughout the community.
• Canopy Yard Skatepark The largest skatepark between Denver and Des Moines, located southwest of 7th and "N" streets, open for all wheels including skateboards and bikes.
• Online Reservation System (CivicRec) Online platform for reserving park areas, ballfields, courts, and other facilities managed through CivicRec.
• Online Registration and Payments (rec1) Secure online system for registering for classes and programs, purchasing pool passes, and making payments through the rec1 platform.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Park District: One of the largest U.S. municipal park systems, operating 600+ parks, rec centers, pools, and beaches. Same municipal recreation service model at much larger scale, useful as a long-term upper-bound benchmark.
• Denver Parks and Recreation: Municipal parks department for Denver, Colorado, providing the geographic anchor for Lincoln's "largest skatepark between Denver and Des Moines" claim. Larger in scale but same municipal governance and service-mix model.
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board: One of the most recognized U.S. municipal park systems, operating an extensive trail and park network, rec centers, and public programming. Comparable municipal recreation service model at meaningfully larger scale, useful as an upper-bound benchmark.

Regional players

• Kansas City Parks and Recreation: Parks department for Kansas City, Missouri, operating an extensive park and boulevard system, pools, golf, and recreation centers. Comparable municipal service model with a larger geographic footprint, useful as a benchmark for portfolio scale.
• Austin Parks and Recreation Department: Municipal parks department for Austin, Texas, operating pools, trails, golf, nature centers, and adaptive recreation programs. Comparable service mix and municipal model in a different region, useful for cross-market benchmarking.
• Fort Collins Parks and Recreation: City of Fort Collins parks department operating trails, natural areas, rec centers, and adaptive programs. Comparable in scale and service mix to Lincoln, with a similar outdoor-recreation emphasis; does not directly compete for residents.

Emerging players

• Trust for Public Land (TPL): National nonprofit that partners with cities on park planning, conservation, and equitable access initiatives. Provides benchmarking, policy research, and grant funding inputs that directly influence municipal park expansion decisions like Lincoln's.

Direct peers

• Des Moines Parks and Recreation: Regional Midwestern municipal parks department operating parks, trails, pools, and recreation centers in Iowa's capital. Comparable in scale, governance model, and service mix to Lincoln, and geographically adjacent per the Canopy Yard Skatepark's "largest between Denver and Des Moines" positioning.
• Omaha Parks and Recreation: Municipal parks and recreation department for Omaha, Nebraska—the largest in-state peer. Operates a comparable portfolio of parks, pools, recreation centers, and trails for a similarly sized Midwestern city, making it the closest direct comparator for Lincoln.

Others

• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): Industry association and certification body for U.S. park and recreation agencies. Provides benchmarking data, accreditation, and policy advocacy that shape operations at municipal departments like Lincoln Parks and Recreation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityoflincoln
• YouTubeyoutube.com/lnktvcity
• Facebookfacebook.com/lincolnnebraska
• Instagraminstagram.com/city_of_lincoln
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lnkparksrec

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 Lincoln Parks and Recreation