Program Guide | Parks & Facilities | Website | Rentals

Get Ready to Flip!

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department continues online registration for its fall “in person” gymnastics program.

Gymnastics classes take place September 28 – November 20. Programs are offered for children ages 3 to 14 years.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, class sizes are limited. Masks are required when entering the gymnastics facility. Students and anyone observing the classes will have their temperatures taken. Only one family member per student is allowed and the observation area is limited to a 12-seat maximum.

For fees and dates, please visit www.accgov.com/gymnastics or call 706-613-3589.

Feed the Birds

The Annual Birdseed Sale is underway at Sandy Creek Nature Center!

Help support the Nature Center by ordering bird seed through this annual sale - no order is too large or too small! A variety of bird seed is available in multiple sizes.

This year, in addition to traditional seed blends, there are a selection of Wild Birds Unlimited products, including cylinders and gourmet seed blends. Be sure to try out something new!

Order may be placed online. Early orders are due by October 3.

Whether ordering one bag of thistle seed or 20 large bags of birdseed, staff will fulfill your order and load it into your car. Drive thru pick up is at the Nature Center on Friday, October 23 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 24 from 10:00 a.m. – noon. Seed delivery is available for senior citizens or those with special needs in the Athens area only. All orders must be paid at the time the order is placed.

Proceeds from this sale support Sandy Creek Nature Center, Inc., the non-profit support organization which founded the Nature Center more than 40 years ago and now works in partnership with Athens-Clarke County to support the environmental education and preservation mission of the Nature Center, a facility of the Athens-Clarke County Department of Leisure Services.

For more information, call 760-400-7734 or email scncinc@gmail.com.

Virtual Leisure Services

Life may look different these days, but the Leisure Services Department staff is dedicated to serving the Athens community by bringing engaging and educational programming to the public.

Now that schools are back in session, add to the school day by incorporating a Virtual Leisure Services program.

Art, dance, music, nature, sports, theatre, trails, zoo animals and much more are just a couple of clicks away!

There are a variety of free programs presented by staff from across the department! Stay active and engaged at home!

Park and Facility Update

All Leisure Services parks and facilities continue to operate under restricted use and limited public access. Operational hours have been adjusted at some facilities to allow for staff to work in alternate schedules in order to limit potential exposure and spread.

All facility operations will remain as currently scheduled with the following exceptions:

East Athens Community Center and Lay Park are open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday hours are 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday hours are 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Rocksprings Park will operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Bear Hollow Zoo is closed.

The following restrictions are in effect for the immediate future:

• Facilities will operate with limited public access which is dependent upon occupancy, based on recommendations from the CDC.

• Athletic fields and gymnasiums are open, but no competitive play is allowed due to social distancing concerns.

• Pickleball and tennis courts are open.

• Dog park access is limited.

• Virtual programs continue at www.accgov.com/leisure.

• Morton Theatre remains closed as well as unsupervised amenities including playgrounds, outdoor basketball and volleyball courts.

Face covers must be worn at all parks and facilities. People are reminded to continue to limit close contact, practice physical distancing measures, wash or sanitize hands frequently, and follow group gathering and other guidelines per the governor's statewide executive orders.

For more information, please call 706-613-3800.