Location: 2700 W 27th St.
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Total votes: 162
Best known for: Basketball court, sand volleyball pits, game room
Year established in Lawrence: 1976

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Stepping on the court after a long day at school, Free State sophomore Tyler Winsor enjoys a game of basketball.

Holcom Park Recreation Center is one of several recreational facilities in Lawrence. Visitors are able to do everything from lifting weights to playing foosball. Yet Winsor, Free State sophomore Alex Pettit and Recreation Center Programmer Alison Dudley agree that basketball is the most popular activity.

“It’s just a place for guys to come after school or after work,” Dudley said. “They can borrow some of our equipment, and they can get a pickup game going with whoever is here … It’s kind of like a safe haven for them to go to instead of being out doing something they shouldn’t be doing.”

Dudley sees high school students daily. Lawrence High senior Oliver Woods is one of them.

“I go to Holcom everyday after school to play basketball,” Woods said.

Holcom features a full-size gym, a game room, a weight room with cardio equipment and a racquetball/handball court. While Lawrence has other recreational facilities available, Dudley believes Holcom is unique because of the diversity of the people who attend.

“The variety of different kids we get to come through our doors and that attend the rec center, just the variety of people (is unique),” Dudley said.

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2nd Place: South Park – 12th and Massachusetts

3rd place: Clinton Lake – K-10 and Clinton Pkwy

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