New report — 2026
Community Rec Trends 2026 | State of the Industry Report
What 60 of the nation’s top YMCA, JCC and rec center executives said — candidly — about capital, membership, technology and the future of the sector.
60
executive participants from across the U.S.
5
roundtable sessions, full transcripts synthesized
8
strategic priorities for the sector, synthesized from all five roundtables
What’s inside
The report synthesizes five roundtable discussions covering the challenges and opportunities that community recreation leaders are navigating right now. No polished PR — just what’s actually being said in the room.
01
Capital pressure and creative financing
New Market Tax Credits, healthcare partnerships, separate entity structures, endowments and USDA funding — what’s working and what’s being left on the table.
02
Innovation that’s actually generating revenue
In-house physical therapy, mental health services with Medicaid billing, boutique studios and programs built around underused space.
03
Membership retention — especially Gen Z
Why millennials and Gen Z are simultaneously the top joiners and top cancelers, and what’s required to change that pattern before it becomes irreversible.
04
AI and technology integration
How leading organizations are normalizing AI use, protecting youth, deploying chatbots and coaching tools, and building the AI literacy the sector needs.
05
Leadership development at every level
What succession gaps look like when they’re inherited, and how high-retention organizations create advancement pathways without open positions.
+
Eight strategic priorities
A synthesized action framework drawn from all five roundtables — practical starting points for boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams.
“We have too much momentum and inertia to go back to the way we were always doing things and then add a little bit of something. Everybody else did that — and they’re racing forward.”
Jorge Perez · President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati · Summit moderator
About the moderator
Jorge Perez
President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
Jorge Perez has led the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati — one of the largest and most innovative Y’s in North America — since 2017. He is a nationally recognized voice on AI integration, community health partnerships, and organizational transformation in the nonprofit sector.
Download the report
Get the full report
Free to download. You’ll receive a link to the PDF report, and you’ll receive future research and news from Community Rec Magazine. We don’t sell or share your information.
State of the Community Rec Industry Report
Who attends the summit
YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
First Coast YMCA
Jacksonville, FL
YMCA of Greater San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
YMCA of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
+ 55 additional organizations
From across the United States
Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.
