Something for Teens!

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department announces the Grand Slam summer program for teens.

Grand Slam is a special summertime program for individuals aged 11-17 who reside in Athens-Clarke County. This program takes place Friday evenings in June and July from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. at Lay Park located at 297 Hoyt Street.

Evenings include games, giveaways, guest speakers, life enrichment activities, music, refreshments, sports, and more.

Free transportation will be provided to and from Grand Slam from East Athens Community Center at 400 McKinley Drive and Rocksprings Park at 291 Henderson Extension.

The program is free of charge, however online registration is required at www.accgov.com/grandslam

For more information, please call 706-613-3589 or visit www.accgov.com/grandslam.

The Winner Is...

The Lyndon House Arts Center received an award at the Georgia Association of Museums Conference.

The exhibition "Cut and Paste: Works of Paper," developed by the Georgia Museum of Art and the Lyndon House Arts Center, received the 2021 award for Exhibitions between $1,000 and $25,000.

The committee wrote that it wanted “to recognize the wide range of Georgia artists represented, as well as the traveling aspect of the exhibit that reaches into many parts of the state.” As part of the triennial series of traveling exhibitions Highlighting Contemporary Art in Georgia, the exhibition opened at the Lyndon House and traveled to the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking; the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Macon, Georgia; the Albany Museum of Art; and Telfair Museum of Art’s Jepson Center for the Arts, Savannah, Georgia. It featured 11 Georgia artists working in paper and was available to the borrowing institutions at minimal cost. Curator Didi Dunphy, who is the program supervisor at the Lyndon House, assembled the exhibition with assistance from museum staff.

The Georgia Association of Museums is a private, nonprofit museum and gallery association dedicated to serving and maintaining a diverse membership of museums across the state. It establishes a responsive network, serves as a resource base and promotes professionalism to uplift the Georgia museum community.

For more information, please call 706-613-3623.

Save the Date!

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government welcomes the community to celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks display at the Star Spangled Classic on Saturday, July 3! Fireworks will be launched at approximately 9:30 p.m. from Athens Ben Epps Airport. The display will be viewable from many locations around the Lexington Road, Cherokee Road, & Gaines School Road intersection as well as two locations provided by Athens-Clarke County.

Limited, first-come, field parking will be available near the airport and at Satterfield Park. These locations will open at 7:00 p.m. and all ACCGov park rules will be enforced including no alcohol, fireworks, grills, or smoking. The community is encouraged to leave pets at home. In these parking areas, vehicles will not be allowed to move during the show for the safety of fellow spectators. Guests are encouraged to enjoy a socially distant view of the celebratory display safely from a parking space of their choosing. All spectators are reminded to respect private property when choosing a viewing location and not to park on the side of roads to view the fireworks. Traffic updates will be available on Bulldog 93.3. Traffic patterns in the area will shift at the conclusion of the show.

Everyone is reminded to follow CDC guidelines to enjoy this community celebration from a socially distant area between groups. Spectators are encouraged to stay arm’s length from their vehicles.

The event is sponsored by The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and Bulldog 93.3.

For more information, please call 706-613-3800 or visit www.accgov.com/fireworks .

Brainstorm with Us!

The Department will host public input sessions regarding the new playground at Sandy Creek Park on Thursday, June 24 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 26 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Both sessions will take place at Sandy Creek Park located at 400 Bob Holman Road

A virtual meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 28 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The WebEx meeting link will be posted on www.accgov.com/leisureserviceslistens Additionally, an online survey will be available soon at www.accgov.com/leisureserviceslistens.

The Department is seeking public input on the design for the SPLOST-funded playground planned for Sandy Creek Park. Citizens are encouraged to attend and provide input on the vision for this project. Children are encouraged to attend and will be participating in a concurrent visioning process.

For more information, call 706-613-3801or visit www.accgov.com/leisureserviceslistens

Pools and Splash Pads are Open!

All ACCGov Leisure Services pools open Saturday, May 29 for the season. Memorial Day pool hours are 1:00 – 5:30 p.m. Pools close for the season Sunday, August 1.

The Department operates five public pools including Bishop Park, 705 Sunset Drive; East Athens Community Center, 400 McKinley Drive; Lay Park, 297 Hoyt Street; Memorial Park, 293 Gran Ellen Drive; and Rocksprings Park, 291 Henderson Extension.

During the aquatics season, pools are open Tuesday-Friday and Sundays, 1:00 – 5:30 p.m. Pool hours are noon – 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The Bishop Park pool is open to the public on weekends, only. All pools are closed on Mondays for maintenance.

The Walker Park Splash Pad, located at 200 Trail Creek St, is open weekends only, through May 23 and will then operate under regular seasonal hours (Tuesdays-Sundays) from Saturday, May 29 -August 1. The splash pad will be open weekends only, August 7-September 6. Splash pad hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The splash pad is closed on Mondays for maintenance.

The Rocksprings Park Splash Pad, located at 291 Henderson Ext, will open for the season May 29.

Pool and splash pad admission is $1 per person, cash only. Pool passes are available for purchase and may be used at both splash pads and at all of the Department’s five public pools. Individual pool passes are $20 and Family of Four pool passes are $40. Passes may be purchased onsite with cash and check, only.

Because of COVID-19, a series of requirements are in place to ensure a safe experience for all visitors. Access will be limited at each pool and splash pad.

For complete safety information and requirements, please call 706-613-3589 or visit www.accgov.com/pools .

$200 Hiring Incentive for
Summer Camp Counselors and Summer Camp Directors

The Leisure Services Department is offering a $200 hiring incentive for summer day camp counselors and summer camp directors in 2021. Employees will receive the bonus after the completion of the summer season.

Camp counselor and camp director opportunities are available throughout the Department including East Athens Community Center, Lay Park, Memorial Park, Rocksprings Park, and Sandy Creek Nature Center.

Typical work hours are Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The Leisure Services Department is also hiring for a Dance Center Program Specialist and Maintenance Worker. Both positions are full time and offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Applicants are encouraged to apply now online at www.accgov.com/jobs.

For more information, please call 706-613-3090.

Get in Step with Dance Camp!

There is still room! Looking for a unique summer camp experience this summer? Dance Camp!

A diverse selection is available including Ballet and Tap, Modern Dance, West African Dance, and more. Additionally, there are limited teen camp opportunities. Camp listings and online registration are available at www.accgov.com/myrec.

In November 2020, Leisure Services switched to a new online registration system. Parents who have not already established a free online account since November must do so at www.accgov.com/myrec .

Scholarships are available for qualifying ACC residents. Parents who wish to apply for a scholarship must do so in person at a Leisure Services Department facility office. Applicants must apply for a scholarship at least five business days prior to registering for a program or camp. Applicants must have a valid email address. More information, including required documentation, is available at www.accgov.com/scholarship.

Leisure Services has established COVID-19 camp protocols and policies that are available at www.accgov.com/camp, in accordance with CDC and American Camp Association guidelines and recommendations. Camp numbers are reduced and face masks are required by all campers and staff.

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

ACCGov Leisure Services has transitioned to a new online registration system.

If you haven't created your new online account,
do so today at www.accgov.com/leisure!