The City of Lawrence’s Community Building will no longer be available for free play and exercise starting in January, and rec centers will not be open for warming and cooling during extreme weather.
Lawrence city commissioners voted this year to approve a budget that adds fees for residents to use Sports Pavilion Lawrence and the Holcom Park and East Lawrence recreation centers beginning Jan. 5.
Under the plan presented to the commission in September, monthly and annual fees to use those three centers will cost $12 and $120 for adults; $20 and $200 for households; or $8 and $80 for seniors. All Douglas County youths will be admitted to rec centers free, as will people who qualify under income guidelines. Memberships for adults and seniors who live outside of city limits will cost 25% more ($12 and $10 per month, respectively) and households would cost 20% more ($24 per month). The plan also includes charging tournament spectators $5 for admission.
Beginning Jan. 1, the Community Building “will be open only for enrollment-based programming and reservations — meaning community members will only be able to enter the Community Building when they are enrolled in a program taking place there or have a rental reservation for the facility,” according to a news release from the city Wednesday morning.
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A lingering question since the commission approved the plan to charge membership fees has been whether the facilities would still be open to those needing a place to cool off in extreme heat of the summer or warm up on dangerously cold winter days.
“Emergency shelter during severe weather will be directed through the community’s established sheltering system, which is designed for this purpose,” according to the release.
The city’s homeless response team will help people connect with the Lawrence Community Shelter instead, or folks can call 785-832-8864 for help.
Read more about the fees in the articles linked below.
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