The health and safety of the Lawrence community is our top priority. Conditions are changing rapidly, and we want to assure you that city officials are closely monitoring the latest information about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Below is an update to information released Friday, March 13, related to the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department.
Parks and Recreation is extending the closure of its facilities through Sunday, May 17. Affected facilities include:
- Community Building, 115 W. 11th St.
- East Lawrence Center, 1245 E. 15th St.
- Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St.
- Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive
- Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St.
- Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane
The facilities were closed previously following guidance of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.
Eagle Bend Golf Course, 1250 E. 902 Road, had remained open until yesterday (March 18) when Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health prohibited public gatherings of more than 10 people. Eagle Bend will be closed through Sunday, May 17, to assist with the social distancing measure.
The Carnegie Building, 200 W. Ninth St., and the Union Pacific Depot, 402 N. Second St., will be closed to the public for rentals and programming. The Santa Fe Train Station, 413 E. Seventh St., will also be closed for rentals; however, at the present time Amtrak is keeping the facility open for arrivals and departures of daily rail travel.
In addition to the extension of indoor facility closures, Parks and Recreation is cancelling all spring session programs, including programming in: aquatics, special populations, lifelong recreation, nature and recreation classes, which include dance, fitness, martial arts and gymnastics. Adult and youth sports leagues are also cancelled; however, youth baseball leagues have been postponed until recreation facilities have reopened to the public. Details on league play will be sent to participants at a later date.
The department is also cancelling all public reservations in facilities, gazebos and shelters, as well as permitted right-of-way street events and special use park events through Sunday, May 17.
Refunds will automatically be issued for any reservation, permitted special use and right-of-way street events, and program enrollments for spring, except for adult sports, which will be issued as refunds or credits. Team captains will be contacted to confirm method. Winter programs that were still ongoing as of Friday, March 13, will either be issued pro-rated credits to household accounts for the remaining days of programs or will be issued a refund if requested, as previously emailed to participants. Please allow a minimum of four to six weeks for processing refunds and credits.
Program enrollments, event permits, and facility rentals, including rescheduling those impacted by the shutdown, as well as scheduling practice fields, has been suspended at facilities and online. New program registrations, facility/shelter/gazebo rentals and event permits are anticipated to resume Friday, May 1.
For more information or questions, please email the department at parksrec@lawrenceks.org.
For additional information on COVID-19 and the latest guidelines from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, visit their website: LDCHealth.org/Coronavirus. The City of Lawrence is sharing coronavirus-related City news on the City website: lawrenceks.org/coronavirus.