Coronavirus COVID-19 Update - Leisure Services

ACCGov Leisure Services to Re-Open Select Parks May 18 & 19

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department announces the reopening of select locations including Ben Burton, Memorial, and Walker Parks (formerly Trail Creek Park) on Monday, May 18.

Sandy Creek Park will open Tuesday, May 19. Dudley Park, the Firefly, Greenway, and Sandy Creek Nature Center trails will remain open. All other parks and facilities remain closed at this time.

Ben Burton Park will open to permit access to fishing, open space, boat launch, and trails for public use. There is no restroom access.

Memorial Park will permit access to fishing, open space, picnic shelters (small gatherings only), and trails for public use. The playground, basketball court, dog park, and Bear Hollow Zoo will remain closed. Restroom access will be limited.

Sandy Creek Park will permit access to disc golf, fishing, open space, private dog parks (by reservation), picnic areas (small gatherings only), and trails for public use. The beach, large pavilions, playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts, and public dog park will remain closed. Restroom access will be limited. Park entrance is $2 per person for ages 4-64, all others are admitted free of charge. Payment options include annual passes, punch cards, and credit/debit cards. Cash will not be accepted.

Walker Park, formerly Trail Creek Park, will permit access to open space, picnic shelter (small gatherings only), bike trails, and walking paths. Athletic fields are available for self-directed play, but closed for competitive and team use. The outdoor fitness zone, playground, and splash pad remain closed. Restroom access will be limited.

The public is reminded to continue to practice social distancing and gatherings must be limited to 10 people or fewer. Cloth face covers are recommended.

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

Athens Cultural Affairs Commission Arts in Community Grants Due by May 20

To promote creative place-making in our community, the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission offers local organizations, groups, and artists a chance to compete for an Arts in Community Grant (AICG), which support public art projects, events, or art activities in Athens-Clarke County.

Proposed activities should contribute to the livability of our communities through arts and culture. Grants are awarded based on criteria including:

level of community enrichment through the arts,
contribution to the local identity,
accessibility, and
quality or artistic merit.

Projects may involve any art form, including performance, visual arts, events, and technology.

AICG funds may be used as matching funds for a larger project. A report documenting of the activities funded is required of grantees. Grants are offered annually, with the numbers of grantees varying from year-to-year. This year's grants are for $1,500.

The deadline for grants is May 20, 2020.

To apply, visit www.athensculturalaffairs.org.

193 Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County, 13 Deaths

The state Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) case tracker (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) confirms 193 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County with 13 deaths as of 1:00 p.m. on May 15.

Beginning May 11, the Daily Status Report is updated three times a day at 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. This change will enable more consistent reporting while still providing timely and actionable data.

The case tracker has recently been updated to a new format and provides additional county-level information, including the number of cases per 100,000 people (147.9 for Athens-Clarke County).

If you view the data, however, please be sure to check the area showing the definitions of the information presented. Some have different meanings than what you may expect.

The 13 deaths range in age from 60-98. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should always consult their healthcare provider if they are sick.

Information Sources

The response to COVID-19 involves both rapid and extensive changes and also deliberate measures that take some time to consider.

Once official information is released from the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Northeast Georgia Health District, the State of Georgia government, or other local partners, we will report it on www.accgov.com/coronavirus and social media.

Additionally, this COVID-19 update newsletter will go out most days with new information primarily about the ACCGov response and plans. It may also include some local area information of note as space allows.