The Athens-Clarke County
Leisure Services Department's

E-Newsletter

Fireworks! Save the Date!

Celebrate Independence Day at the Star Spangled Classic on Saturday, June 29 at Southeast Clarke Park at 4440 Lexington Road! Complete details and map are available at www.accgov.com/fireworks

Free activities, including carnival rides, inflatables, a photo both, and more, begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be set up on the Lexington Road fields.

A special concert by the Original Splitz band will take place from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

A food truck court will be onsite with items for purchase.

Fireworks will be launched at approximately 9:30 p.m. from the east side of the park.

Onsite limited parking is first come, first served and is available through the Lexington Road park entrance.

Additional parking is located at the Lexington Road Wal-Mart with complimentary shuttle service to the park by Athens Transit. Parking locations will open at 5:30 p.m. Once parking is full at Southeast Clarke Park, no more cars will be permitted. All ACCGov park rules will be enforced including no alcohol, personal fireworks, grills, or smoking. Pets are not allowed at this event.
Event attendees should respect private property when choosing a viewing location and not park on the side of roads to view the fireworks. The park will close at the end of the show. No overnight parking allowed. Traffic patterns in the area will shift at the conclusion of the event.

The ACCGov Animal Services Department will offer their annual "Foster for the Fourth" program, again, this year. Apply to foster at www.accgov.com/animalservices

If postponed by weather, the Star Spangled Classic will take place Sunday, June 30.

This event is sponsored by the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and presented by the Leisure Services Department.

Bear Hollow Zoo

Temporarily Closed

Bear Hollow Zoo will temporarily close Tuesday, May 28 through Thursday, May 30 in order for necessary maintenance.

The Zoo will re-open Friday, May 31 at 8:00 a.m. Memorial Park will remain open during this time.

For more information, please call 706-613-3580.

Cool off at the Pool!

The Leisure Services Department pools and splash pads are open for the season! Pools and splash pads close for the season Sunday, July 28.

The Department operates four public pools this summer including Heard Park, 400 McKinley Drive; Lay Park, 297 Hoyt Street; Memorial Park, 293 Gran Ellen Drive; and Rocksprings Park, 291 Henderson Extension. The Bishop Park pool is closed for renovations.

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. All pools and splash pads are closed on Mondays for maintenance.

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 public pools. Individual pool passes are $20 and Family of Four pool passes are $40. Passes may be purchased on-site with forms of payment accepted including cash and check.

Mud!

Celebrate Mud Day at Sandy Creek Nature Center!

There is nothing more fun than making mud pies and playing mud tag. Come play in the mud with us and appreciate all the benefits of mud. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty and shoes that will stay on your feet in the sticky mud.

Drop in for a few minutes or play the entire time.

There will be a wash station to use before getting in your car.

This free program, for all ages, is scheduled for Saturday, June 15 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Registration is not required.

For more information, please call 706-613-3615.

New Exhibition

at Lyndon House Arts Center

The Lyndon House Arts Center announces the Summer Series featuring Entropy Plan for the Western Fam: Steven L. Anderson, opening on Thursday, June 13 and on view through August 31, 2024.

Entropy Plan for the Western Fam is an exhibition of recent video, painting, and works on paper by Steven L. Anderson. The show’s title plays on artist Joseph Beuys’ 1974 tour of lectures and performances in the United States, “Energy Plan for the Western Man.” Beuys’ interactions with his audience were meant to serve as a continual energy source to solve the ecological and spiritual problems of the time. Yet half a century later, these crises still confront us—as we are confronted by Anderson’s large-scale artwork on paper that sprawls across the gallery’s floor, a crumpled cross-section of a hewn tree.

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. Children must be accompanied by an adult

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

Good Grades =

Free Pool Passes

Making the grade at the swimming pool.

The Leisure Services Department continues a special summer program celebrating students with good grades.

In order to be eligible, any student, Kindergarten through 12th grade, who resides in Athens-Clarke County must take a copy of the student’s final report card or equivalent to a Leisure Services facility office where a pool or splash pad is located. Those sites include Heard Park, Lay Park, Memorial Park, Rocksprings Park, and Walker Park. The Bishop Park pool remains closed for the 2024 aquatics season.

A report card with all A's or all E's guarantees a free summer pool pass. A report card with all A's and B's, or all E's and M's, is good for 10 free swims.

For more information, please call the ACCGov Leisure Services Aquatics Office at 706-613-3589 or visit the Aquatics page at www.accgov.com/aquatics

Family Fun Ride

Curious about the Greenway and Firefly Trail? Want to get the family out on bikes for a ride?

Enjoy this 6-mile tour of our multi-use trail system. We will stop to enjoy the sites and discuss points of interest along the route. Bring your own bike and helmet.

Family Fun Ride is for ages 8 and older and is scheduled for Saturday, June 8 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Online registration is underway.

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

Summer Camp Online Registration Continues

The Leisure Services Department summer camp registration continues online at www.accgov.com/myrec.

Take a moment and review the diverse selection of mini camps and day camps planned for the summer. Space is extremely limited.

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

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, 2023

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department

205 Old Commerce Road, Athens, GA 30607

www.accgov.com/leisure

706-613-3800