6 Benefits of Implementing an Instructor Network Program for Your Parks & Rec Department

From bootcamp coaches to tennis pros, your city is full of potential.

Instructor-led programs are one of the easiest ways cities can increase revenue without adding staff. Residents want swim lessons, private coaching, and fitness classes — and many are already happening in your parks, whether you know it or not. But without a structured way to manage instructors, cities face challenges: payment headaches, compliance issues, unauthorized use of public space, and lots of lost revenue.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be this hard. Here are six ways a software-powered instructor management program can unlock new opportunities for your Parks & Rec department.

1. Turn Rogue Instructors Into Official Partners

Every city has them: coaches running private lessons on public courts without permits or oversight. And while these instructors are meeting community demand, they often operate outside of the city’s regulations — creating potential liability and missed revenue.

A formal instructor management program gives you a way to bring these instructors into a structured system. Instead of chasing them off, you can offer a path to legitimacy: background checks, insurance, scheduling tools, and a city-approved permit. You set the policies, and the right platform helps you enforce them with ease and consistency.

The benefit? Well-run parks and operations, vetted instructors, and steady revenue with every booking.

2. Safety & Transparency (So You Don’t Have to Worry)

Instructor-led programs raise legitimate compliance concerns: Who’s insured? Who has a background check? Is this public space being used properly?

Using a software system like Rec makes compliance automatic. From permits and insurance requirements to background checks and user reviews — it’s all built into the platform. Your team sets the rules once, and every instructor and lesson is governed by those settings.

That means fewer emails, fewer manual checks, and far less risk to your city.

3. No More Clipboards: Operations Made Easy

Many departments rely on paper forms, scattered emails, and multiple systems to manage their instructors. It’s frustrating for staff and intimidating for new instructors.

By partnering with Rec, the onboarding and management process is simple and consistent. Instructors can upload insurance, sign waivers, complete background checks, and get approved in one clean workflow. It works just as well for a brand-new fitness coach as it does for a legacy tennis instructor who’s been around for years–no tech expertise needed.

The result: your team saves hours on admin, instructors get up and running faster, and your city builds an approved, organized network of community partners.

4. Seamless Check-Ins with Digital Tools

Who showed up today? Who didn’t? And who still needs to fill out a form? Replace individual paper rosters with a streamlined and integrated check-in system when you implement a digital solution for instructors. They can use Rec’s front desk mode to check in participants on-site or scan mobile membership IDs from a phone. All attendance data is captured in real time, synced across Rec, and available for reporting.

This isn't just helpful for instructors. It reduces front desk call volume, creates better visibility for staff, and helps your department make smarter programming decisions based on actual attendance.

5. Transparent Payments Without the Paper Trail

Managing instructor pay shouldn’t require a shared spreadsheet, a folder of checks, and hours of reconciliation each week. The process should be, and can be, built-in and automatic. When a resident registers for a lesson, Rec collects payment, pays the instructor directly, and deposits your city’s share — all without staff intervention.

This means instructors know when and how they’ll be paid. Staff can see every transaction in real time. And finance teams get clear records with no manual uploads. Whether you’re managing five instructors or fifty, it scales seamlessly. Less time spent on paperwork = more time to make your instructors' and residents' experiences smooth and memorable.

6. A New, Scalable Revenue Stream

Let’s talk numbers. Instructor-led programs have the potential to generate serious revenue with minimal city involvement. Cities like San Francisco have leveraged Rec's instructor management program to monetize the growing pickleball craze: with 10,000+ pickleball players and over 140 courts, San Francisco used Rec's offering to enable instructor lessons across unstaffed court locations - bringing both structure and also a projected $1M in new revenue.

Instead of hiring more staff or expanding facilities, you can turn existing spaces into thriving program hubs and leverage your community’s demand for lessons into a long-term financial win. 

Let’s Make It Official

Managing instructors doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right system in place, your department can streamline payments, ensure compliance, serve more residents, and generate new revenue, all without adding full-time staff.

Rec Technologies was built for exactly this. From onboarding and check-ins to payment processing and background checks, Rec gives your department a single platform to manage every part of instructor-led programming. It’s how cities like San Francisco and Torrance are transforming ad hoc instruction into scalable, structured, and profitable community programs that expand access to recreation.

Everyone from your staff to your instructors benefit:

For City Staff

• Focus more on programs and less on paperwork, with automated admin tools that handle scheduling, check-ins, and payments.
• Launch new offerings quickly by pulling from a ready-to-go pool of compliant, background-checked coaches.
• Capture revenue from lessons already happening on your facilities by formalizing private instruction and expanding to unstaffed locations
• Boost community participation and trust with structured, visible, and accessible programs.

For Instructors

• Onboard once and access a pool of new students with built-in marketing.
• Get paid automatically and on time, with no confusion over rates or paperwork.
• Easily update your schedule, manage lessons, and track payouts from your phone.
• Access everything you need, like rosters and bookings, in one place.

For Residents

• Access high-quality, vetted instruction for everything from swim lessons to fitness classes.
• Book and manage lessons online from a wider pool of instructors..
• Enjoy a safe and professional experience in your community spaces.

Ready to see how Rec’s Instructor Network could work in your city? Let’s talk.