Prior to Monday when Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department moves into the ORANGE category of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Recommendations for City Parks/Recreation Services, department administration worked with LDC Public Health and local health professionals to modify its gating criteria to adjust the guidelines within some of the categories.
It is clear that recreation centers can operate with reduced risks when certain mitigation practices are in place. This includes masks being used properly, proper social distancing, the following of cleaning guidelines, along with compliance with isolation and quarantine orders after contract tracing.
The criteria will now allow for some operations within the phase ORANGE. These include:
- No high-risk sports (basketball, soccer – includes futsal)
- No adult or youth sports games, or drop-in pickleball
- Court rentals for volleyball practices (considered low risk while wearing masks) and pickleball will be accepted
- No gymnastics and tumbling classes
- Facilities will continue to be available for drop-in fitness ( with limited weights/cardio equipment available) track (at Sports Pavilion Lawrence) and sign in for potential contact tracing
- Programs and activities will continue with proper social distancing and masks being worn at all times
- Aquatics will continue to have available hours for lap swimming and team practices; however there will be no swim meets held or open drop-in swim.
- Eagle Bend will continue to allow golfers; however all buildings will be closed except for the clubhouse for restroom facilities. No food or beverage services will be available.
- Facility reservations and right-of-way street events will be accepted for dates after Thursday, April 1, 2021
Continuing every Thursday afternoon, the status will be updated around 3:30 p.m. to indicate the current risk level using green, yellow, orange or red based on the number of new cases and percentage of positive COVID-19 tests to mirror Lawrence Douglas County Public Health’s recommendations being used for the Smart and Safe School Reopening Guidelines and Status for county schools.
An updated listing of each category color lists specific guidelines for the type of activity that can be held at a location and any limitations that will be required during participation. These recommendations may also change as more information about the pandemic is learned and how it affects the community.
Masks will continue to be required for everyone at all times in any parks and recreation facility. This will include when working out with weights and cardio equipment, as well as any class or activity, including fitness classes. Touchless temperature checks will be available for all entering a facility. Sports Pavilion Lawrence will use keycards for entry. All other facilities will have sign-in sheets, requiring name and phone number for any contact tracing that may need to occur.
As stated above, recreation facilities will continue with limited hours for drop-in weight room/cardio area use. No drop-in basketball will be available at any recreation center. The turf area will continue to not be available for drop-in use at Sports Pavilion Lawrence. Also, game areas at Holcom Park Recreation Center and East Lawrence Recreation Center will only be available when the status is green category.
Drop-in Pickleball will only be available when the Smart and Safe Guidelines and Status is in the green category. Pickleball will be available at Sports Pavilion Lawrence 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. – noon Monday and Wednesday at East Lawrence Recreation Center when the status is in the green category.
The following are the modified hours for general public use and registration at each of the recreation facilities. Hours for registration will mirror hours open for use unless specified.
Community Building, 115 W. 11th St. (785) 832-7920
10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday–Friday
1-4 p.m. Sunday
Registration -10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Due to construction, entry at the Community Building will only be allowed on the southwest side of the building, using the elevator.
East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St. (785) 832-7950
9 a.m. – Noon / 5-8 p.m. Monday-Friday
1-4 p.m. Sunday
Noon – 3 p.m. – Tuesday and Friday for Public Showers
Registration -9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday
Holcom Park Recreation Center (785) 832-7940
Noon – 7 p.m. Monday-Friday
1-4 p.m. Sunday
Registration – Noon.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane (785) 330-7355
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. / 4-8 p.m. Monday-Friday
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday
Registration – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Limited visitors will continue to be welcomed at Prairie Park Nature Center. Animals will not be made available for touching. Visitors will be limited in the building at a time and may be limited to a 30-minute time limit. Please call ahead to see what the current number count is at the time of visit. The nature center will have the following hours for public visitation:
Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St. (785) 832-7980
9 a.m. – Noon Tuesday- Friday
1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
The Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive, will continue to be open for only lap swimming and warm water workouts. The zero-depth and children’s area will continue to be closed for open swim until a date that is yet to be determined.
The hours are:
Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive (785) 832-7946 (SWIM)
Lap Swimming
6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday
1-6 p.m. Sunday
Warm Water Workout
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday-Friday
Registration 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Parks and Recreation Administrative Office, 1141 Massachusetts St. (785) 832-3450
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
As the conditions surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to change, the City wants to assure everyone that it is closely monitoring the latest information and will make necessary changes as warranted. The health and safety of our community and employees will continue to be our top priority.
To view the guidelines and status levels, please visit: https://assets.lawrenceks.org/lprd/covid/smartsafe20.pdf. The current status will be pinned to the top of the department’s Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/lprdks, and Twitter, https://twitter.com/lprdks.
For more information, please contact the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Administration, parksrec@lawrenceks.org or (785) 832-3450.