In June, the Salt Lake County Council launched the My County Rec Pass, a program offering school-age children free entry to participating Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation amenities, including pools, public skate sessions at four skate centers, supervised climbing walls, open gym time, and fitness area access for older teens. The program has been an enormous success. As of mid-August, over 60,000 people had registered.

The council recently expanded the program to include children ages 3-4 and has offered to reimburse families that might have purchased an annual pass after June 1, 2024, for their 3-4-year-old children. Children under 3 are already able to enter these facilities at no cost.

The My County Rec Pass program is funded by TRCC (Tourism, Recreation, Culture & Convention), a tourist tax from the county's tourism, recreation, culture and convention tax revenue from restaurants and rental cars. A little more than $2 million went toward the program, and we hope it will end up paying for itself as more and more parents purchase rec center passes so they can play with their kids.

I believe we must also look to expand the program to include all non-participating rec centers, including Murray, Alta Canyon Sports Center, Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, West Valley Recreation Center and Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center. These facilities are not county-owned. Some are city owned or in a special service district, but it would be great to allocate TRCC funds for them to participate.

Given the popularity and positive impact of the My County Rec Pass program, I plan to advocate for TRCC funding for the city-owned rec centers to adopt this same program. My goal is to help expand accessibility to these facilities and ensure all of our county's school-age children can enjoy the benefits of recreation and community engagement.

The county wants to be an excellent partner to cities and towns. Helping our cities and towns access funding and expanding the My County Rec Pass program will benefit all county residents.

We are proud of the My County Rec Pass program. It not only encourages physical activity and social interaction among children, but also improves mental health by getting kids off devices and connecting with others. By promoting healthy, active lifestyles and fostering a sense of community, this program is making a significant difference in the lives of our children and families.

Have you taken advantage of this amazing program? Just go to your local Salt Lake County Parks and Rec location with proof of ID and an adult (who must show proof of residency), get a photo, and begin enjoying this free resource for Salt Lake County youth. We also encourage parents to purchase an annual pass so they can enjoy these activities with their kids.