How Torrance Delivered More Recreation, Faster With The Rec Instructor Network

_{written by Courtney Sung, Head of GTM at Rec Technologies}

Parks and recreation departments across California are facing the same reality: resident demand is growing faster than traditional staffing models can support. More classes, more variety, and more flexibility are expected, but departments are typically hindered by limited city staffing and shrinking budgets. The City of Torrance chose a non-traditional path to increase access to recreation. In just the past year, the City of Torrance expanded access to recreation in meaningful ways:

• 26,000+ resident hours of net new programming
• $125,000+ in new program revenue
• 30+ newly activated local instructors teaching in their own community
• ~1,000 residents participating in brand new offerings

These results came from better activating public facilities and local talent through Rec’s tech platform.

The Challenge: Demand Was Growing, Access Was Limited

Torrance residents were asking for more variety, more class times, and more specialized programs, especially in wellness, racquet sports, and enrichment. While the City had great facilities, long instructor hiring timelines, tight budgets, and limited staffing capacity made it difficult to meet that demand quickly. This meant waitlists grew, residents missed opportunities to learn, and some facilities sat underutilized.

The Solution: A Community Powered Programming Model

Torrance partnered with Rec Technologies to launch The Rec Instructor Network, a service delivery model that connects public facilities with a vetted network of local instructors to expand recreational offerings. Rec recruits and onboards qualified instructors from the community, handling background checks, insurance, and training. Torrance can then match instructor availability to open facility time through the Rec tech platform, enabling residents to book lessons directly.

Why It Works for Communities

The Rec Instructor Network is built around how residents actually live. It expands class variety, makes participation easier and more accessible, and activates local instructors to strengthen community connections.

‍What Makes It Unique:

Expanded & Flexible Programming

• Expanded class variety for different interests and skill levels
• Flexible scheduling that fits residents’ routines
• Multiple coaching formats to support different learning styles

‍An Easy, Accessible Experience

• Mobile friendly registration
• Clear, transparent program information
• Consistent communication with participants

‍Local Economic & Community Impact

• Paid opportunities for local instructors
• Stronger neighborhood connections
• Recreation dollars staying within the local community

A Model Worth Repeating

For Torrance, The Rec Instructor Network showed that recreation can grow by working with the community, not around it. A demand responsive, instructor powered model can expand access, improve facility use, and generate sustainable revenue, while supporting local talent.

Ready to Bring This to Your Community?

The Rec Instructor Network helps parks and recreation departments activate your local instructors, respond faster to resident demand, and unlock more value from your existing facilities. When communities are ready to participate, recreation should be ready to meet them.

👉 Learn how Rec’s Instructor Network can work for your department.