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Child Care

At Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, we provide engaging environments where children can learn and grow. To meet the diverse needs of our community, we offer two distinct pathways for care: Licensed Child Care Programs and Drop-In Child Care.

Licensed Child Care Programs
Our licensed programs, including preschool, before- and after-school care, and summer day camps, offer structured, enrichment-based environments for your child. These programs are held at select recreation centers — Kearns, Magna, Millcreek Activity, and Northwest Community. They are licensed by the State of Utah and undergo annual inspections to ensure we meet the highest standards for safety and quality.


Please Note: The licensed child care programs are scheduled to conclude on May 31, 2026. We are dedicated to providing consistent, high-quality care to our families through this transition period.


Drop-In Child Care
For parents and guardians looking for flexible, short-term care while utilizing our facilities, we offer drop-in child care. This service is not affected by the May 2026 closures and will continue to operate as usual at its current locations. 


Our Commitment to Safety
Regardless of the program or location, the safety of your children is our top priority. We maintain rigorous standards across all our facilities:

  • Thorough Vetting: We conduct comprehensive background checks on all group leaders and volunteers.
  • Professional Training: Our employees complete 20+ hours of annual training on essential topics, including positive guidance and injury prevention.

Licensed Child Care Program Closure FAQs

Licensed child care programs operated by Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation will continue through May 31, 2026. The closure will be in effect June 1, 2026.

There were 271 enrolled families at the time of the closure decision in October 2025. 17% of these families receive child care assistance/subsidy from the Department of Workforce Services.

Millcreek Activity Center is leased by the County from the Granite School District, and they are responsible for future use of the building. The other three buildings are owned by Salt Lake County and use of areas where childcare is currently being provided is to be determined.

Yes, starting January 1, 2026, licensed child care fees increased by 20%.

The best opportunity for public comment is to contact Salt Lake County Council members by phone, email, or in-person. There are also public comment sections at weekly County Council meetings.

The final vote on the 2026 budget took place on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

All 2026 budget documents can be found on the county website.

To find alternative licensed care, we recommend using Care About Child Care, a resource provided by the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Their website allows you to search for local providers, view quality ratings, and access licensing history.

We also recommend contacting Utah Community Action, which provides caseworker support to help families navigate financial assistance and alternative care options.

Families may be eligible for child care subsidies through the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Visit their website to review eligibility requirements.

Licensed Child Care Programs

Licensed child care programs are available at the following locations and are scheduled to conclude on May 31, 2026. Please note that current programming and availability may vary by center.

Drop-in Child Care

Drop-in child care is a flexible, short-term service designed to support parents and guardians while they utilize the below recreation centers. This service is not affected by the May 2026 licensed program closures and will continue to operate as usual. Note: To utilize this service, parents or guardians must remain on-site and within the facility at all times.