LPRD to not hold winter programs in January

Kevin PowellCity, Parks & Recreation

Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department will not hold scheduled programs and activities this January and possibly the entire winter season, which goes to the end of March. This is intended to assist in stopping the potential spread of COVID-19 in the community. This includes all enrolled in activities.

All LPRD facilities will remain open for use of weight/cardio areas with limited hours of usage, as well as scheduled fall programming through the end of the year except for the remainder of all current youth indoor sports and group gymnastics this fall, which is being canceled based on the LDC Public Health’s Health Order and gating criteria.

LPRD will continue using the LDC Public Health guidance for Smart and Safe Parks/Recreation Services and its color coding for status updates to determine a current status.

The public health order limits building capacity to 50 percent of capacity or 100 people, whichever is less. It also limits sporting events to no more than 100 people. The importance of wearing a mask in all facilities at all times is essential to allow usage.  If patrons and/or participants do not follow requirements specified, programs and usage may be canceled or limited by the department. The continuation of youth and adult sports will be evaluated after January 1, 2021.

Conditions will be reviewed after the first of the year and may result in programming in some areas that would have shortened sessions beginning in early-February.

Status updates will continue to be updated every Thursday 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.

The current code is ORANGE.

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 or using the track area at Sports Pavilion Lawrence. 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.

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 will continue to be the modified hours for general public use and registration at each of the recreation facilities.

Community Building, 115 W. 11th St. (785) 832-7920
10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday–Friday
1-4 p.m. Sunday
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

Holcom Park Recreation Center (785) 832-7940
Noon – 7 p.m. Monday-Friday
1-4 p.m. Sunday

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
Limited visitors will be welcome at Prairie Park Nature Center. Animals will not be made available for touching. Visitors will be limited to 15 people in the building at a time and may be limited to a 30-minute time limit.  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
1-4 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

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.