Government offices and public services in Lawrence and Douglas County will be closed today in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

All city, county and state offices will be closed, as will federal offices in the General Services Administration and the federal courts.

The Lawrence Transit System will operate today.

There will be no grass and leaf collection today. Grass and leaves will be collected with the regular trash this week if they are set out. Commercial collection will be completed as scheduled.

To report a water or sewer emergency after business hours or during weekends and holidays, contact the Utilities Department at (785) 843-2685.

Parking at meters in downtown Lawrence will be free today.

Franklin, Jefferson and Leavenworth county offices will be closed today.

Ottawa, Tonganoxie, Baldwin, McLouth, Oskaloosa, De Soto and Eudora city offices will be closed today.

Douglas County Senior Services will be closed today. Lawrence Meals on Wheels will be delivered today.

The Lawrence Public Library will be closed today.

There will be no mail delivery today. UPS and FedEx deliveries also will not be made.

Liquor stores in Lawrence are allowed to be open today.

The Journal-World will be published today; USA Today will not.

The business office of the Journal-World will be open for walk-ins and phone inquiries from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. today.

Photo gallery: Fourth of July 2004 Lawrence residents show their true colors

Parks, recreation

Today, hours for Holcom Park Recreation Center, the Community Building and East Lawrence Center will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

South Park Recreation Center will also be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those wishing to register in a program or activity.

Prairie Park Nature Center will be closed today.

Eagle Bend Golf Course and Learning Center, 1250 E. 902 Road, will be open today.

The Outdoor Aquatic Center, 727 Ky., will be open on its regular schedule, 1 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., today.

The Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive, will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. today.

South Park Wading Pool, 1131 Mass., will be open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

There will be no Summer Playground today, but the Mini Munchkin Camp and the Nature Summer Camps will run as scheduled. Summer Playground will resume on Tuesday.

For more information on Parks and Recreation programs and activities, call 832-3450.