The Athens-Clarke County
Leisure Services Department

E-Newsletter

Make a Splash... One Last Time!

All Department pools will close for the season on Sunday, July 31. The Rocksprings Park Splash Pad will close for the season, as well.

The Walker Park Splash Pad, located at 200 Trail Creek St, will remain open, weekends only, through August from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Admission is $1 per person.

For more information, please call 706- 613-3589.

Arts Summit 2022

It's all about the arts! The Arts Summit 2022 will take place at the Morton Theatre in downtown Athens.

The Arts Summit advocates, educates and elevates local artists and creatives through career development and professional practices.

Keynote speaker, Charmaine MInniefield, who will give a presentation Friday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m, kicks off this event. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. This is a free event open to the public.

Arts Summit 2022 continues on Saturday, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the Morton Theatre with a day of panels, lectures, and sessions designed to educate and encourage professional advancement in the creative arts field. Highlights will include a panel Finding Funding with speakers from local, statewide, and regional grant agencies, sessions on Licensing Your Art for Film and TV in the entertainment environment, a workshop on the how to’s of ACC Public Art Proposals and networking opportunities. The Arts Summit is perfect for the working artist, from visual to performing and any other creative activities, in any stage of their career.

The Arts Summit 2022 is made possible through support from the Classic Center Cultural Foundation, Athens Downtown Development Authority, Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, and Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department.

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

Coming Soon!
Online Fall Registration

The Leisure Services Department announces its fall activity opportunities for 2022 featuring a diverse selection of activities highlighting the arts, environmental science, recreation, sports, and holiday events for adults and children. Programs include art classes, baton, youth cooking classes, dance, gymnastics, homeschool activities, nature programs, preschool activities, soccer, softball, teen programs, tennis, theatre, therapeutic recreation, and special holiday events. Online activity registration for Athens-Clarke County residents will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 6. Non-residents may register online starting Monday, August 8 at noon.

Registration will continue until activities are at full enrollment or they begin.

Before registering, individuals who have not already done so must establish a free online account at www.accgov.com/myrec. Payment may be rendered using a debit card, American Express, Discover Card, MasterCard, Visa, or a MasterCard or Visa gift card.

Individuals with expired scholarships and new scholarship applicants must visit a Leisure Services Department facility office at least five business days prior to registering for a program. Scholarships must be applied for in person. Information regarding the scholarship activity, including required documentation, is available at www .accgov .com /scholarship.

Individuals who do not have access to a computer or smart phone may register online using a public computer at Heard Park Community Center at 400 McKinley Dr., Lay Park at 297 Hoyt St., or Rocksprings Park at 291 Henderson Ext. during regular hours of operation.

For more information, call 706-613-3800, Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Firefly Discovery Ride

If you have been hearing about the Firefly Trail and how much fun it is to bike on, it's time to discover what it is all about!

Pump up the tires on those family bikes and join Trails and Open Space staff on the Firefly Discovery Ride on Friday, August 12 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Learn about the history of the trail and future plans. See Athens from a new direction and discover what a wonderful paved trail system you have here in the Classic City.

Bring your own bikes and gear for this six-mile round trip tour. Online registration is underway.

For more information, please call 706-613-3620.

Movies by Moonlight at Dudley Park

The Leisure Services Department will host a free “Movies by Moonlight” outdoor movie on Saturday, August 13 at 8:30 p.m. at Dudley Park.

The event features the 1997 Science Fiction film “The Fifth Element” and will be presented in the earthen amphitheater adjacent to the restroom building near the Firefly Trail.

Registration is not required. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and will sit on the ground to watch the film on the large inflatable screen. Food and beverages will not be sold or provided at the park. Restrooms and water fountains will be available until the end of the screening.

Patrons can ride bikes or walk to the viewing area which is accessible from the Firefly Trail and Greenway Trail. Parking can also be utilized at both Dudley Park parking lots; 286 South Poplar Street and 1170 East Broad Street.

All park rules will be enforced, including; dogs always on leash, no alcohol, no smoking, and no grills/cooking.

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

Ceramics on Display

The Lyndon House Arts Center presents "Ceramics by Mark Johnson and Zuzka Vaclavik" on view through October 7.

A special Artist Talk: Wood Fire Process is scheduled for Saturday August 13 at 2:00 p.m.

Pottery is one of the oldest art forms. Over millennia, humans have developed techniques for using heat to harden vessels formed from clay. Most modern ceramicists use electric kilns, which are predictable and relatively easy to operate. Mark Johnson and Zuzka Vaclavik use a laborious wood fire process to create most of the ceramic pieces on view in the Lobby Case. The process, which requires round-the-clock attention and care, allows for surprising results.

All exhibitions are free of charge and open to the public. Exhibitions are on view during regular gallery hours Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The center is closed on Saturdays when there is a University of Georgia home football game. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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

ACCGov Leisure Services Online Registration

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department offers a diverse selection of activities highlighting the arts, environmental science, recreation, sports,
and holiday events for adults and children.

All registration takes place online at www.accgov.com/myrec .

ACCGov Leisure Services Scholarships

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department offers scholarship to qualifying Athens-Clarke County children.

Scholarships allow participants to pay less than the program fee.

For more information, including required documentation,
please visit www.accgov.com/scholarships

Georgia Recreation and Park Association

Agency of the Year

Populations: 80,000 - 150,000

2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2019, 2021

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department

205 Old Commerce Road, Athens, GA 30607

www.accgov.com/leisure

706-613-3800