Star Spangled Classic

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 Lexington Road 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.

Independence Day

Holiday Hours

The Leisure Services Department will observe the Independence Day holiday on Thursday, July 4.

Parks will operate under regular hours of operation, facilities will be closed.

Pools and splash pads will be open from 1:00 – 5:30 p.m. Admission is $1 per person.

All facilities and parks will re-open Friday, July 5 under regular hours of operation.

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

New Playground

at Sandy Creek Park

The Leisure Services Department will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and open the newly completed playground at Sandy Creek Park located at 400 Bob Holman Road.

This special occasion is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m. Families are encouraged to attend. Sandy Creek Park admission will be free for all children 12 and younger on the day of the dedication.

The new playground near the park’s beach is designed to remove barriers allowing opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. The playground has a turf carpet mat throughout, misting station for cooling off at the entrance of the playground, and a perimeter fence with benches to help guardians keep an eye on their child.

Several highlights of the playground include:

• A roller slide that does not create static that can damage cochlear implants.
• Augmentative and alternative communication adjacent boards for non-verbal communication.
• Ramps parallel to balance beams for parallel play throughout the playground.
• A hill with an embedded slide for optional play and a ground level spinner adjacent to the swings to allow play without requiring a transfer from a mobility device. .
• Signage in Braille and communication boards featuring American Sign Language.
• A “quiet corner” sensory space for winding down away from the playground but within the playground perimeter fence.
• Rocking boat feature designed to accommodate people who utilize a mobility device.

This project is part of a SPLOST 2011 Project 14 Sandy Creek Park Renovation for Leisure Services. The project’s User Group worked closely with citizens and SPLOST staff to bring this project to fruition.

For more information, please call 706-613-3631.

Grab Your Bike!

The Department will host the Firefly Discovery Ride on Saturday, July 13 from 10:00 a.m. - noon.

If you have been hearing about the Firefly Trail and how much fun it is to ride a 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 this fun ride. 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.

This free program is for ages 8 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Online registration is required.

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

We Want to Hear from You!

The Leisure Services Department has begun the process of developing a new comprehensive master plan! A huge part of the process is knowing what the community values and discovering where we need to focus our efforts in the future.

You can help us by sharing your thoughts at www.accgov.com/activateathens or you can do so in person at one of the many scheduled sessions.

Our partners from BerryDunn will be out in community at your favorite parks, festivals, and events all summer! There's an ever growing list on the Activate Athens website, as well.

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

Beat the Heat at the Pool!

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.

For more information, please call the Aquatics Office at 706-613-3589.

In the Dark...

Explore Sandy Creek Nature Center at night to learn more about the insects that appear after the sun sets.

Participants will go on a night hike, learn about their night senses, and examine a few insects up close that we attract with special lights.

"Insects of the Night" is set for Thursday, July 25 from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. at Sandy Creek Nature Center. The fee is $5 for residents and $7.50 for non-residents.

This program is for ages six and older, only. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Online registration is required.

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

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