The top five planned additions for park respondents to the 2024 Industry Report survey were splash play areas, dog parks, fitness trails and outdoor fitness equipment, park restroom structures, and walking/hiking trails.

A majority of aquatic respondents to the Industry Report survey (79.9%) said they currently offer learn-to-swim programs for children. And nearly six in 10 (58.2%) said they offer swim lessons for adults.

After a major impact on attendance and usage of park facilities in the early phase of the pandemic in 2020, park respondents have seen growing usage since.

Respondents to the Industry Report survey from park districts and departments were slightly more likely than other respondents to indicate that they were planning to add staff in 2024. 

Respondents to the Industry Report survey from health and fitness clubs were more likely than others to report that the number of people using their facilities increased in 2022 and in 2023. 

Park shelters, playgrounds and restroom structures were the most common amenities found among park respondents’ facilities, according to the 2024 Industry Report survey results. 

Respondents to the 2024 Industry Report survey from Ys and parks were the most likely to report that they currently host youth sports programs at their facilities. 

More than nine out of 10 (92.3%) school respondents said they currently offer programming of some kind at their facilities, down from 97% in 2023 and 93.7% in 2022. 

According to the Industry Report Survey, more than half of camp respondents saw an increase in the number of people using their facilities from 2022 to 2023, and even higher numbers are expecting increases over the next two years.

More than three-quarters of respondents from health clubs, colleges and universities, Ys, and rec centers said they currently host fitness programs at their facilities.