photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World File Photo

Sports Pavilion Lawrence is pictured in this file photo from December 2014.

Updated at 3 p.m. Friday

The City of Lawrence plans to reopen its parks and recreation centers for some drop-in exercise after suspending those activities for about two weeks.

Beginning on Jan. 3, the city suspended general exercise and free-play hours at its four recreation facilities across the city as result of rising COVID cases in the community. Tournaments and scheduled programs and classes were allowed to continue, which led some residents to question the city’s approach.

Following additional review, the city is preparing to allow for some drop-in activities. Assistant Director of Recreation Lindsay Hart said that beginning Tuesday, the city will reopen the cardio and weight areas, and that the gyms and the indoor track at Sports Pavilion Lawrence would be open for walkers and joggers. Hart said pickup games for basketball and indoor soccer are not going to be allowed, and drop-in exercise will not be allowed at SPL on the weekends, when the facility will only be opened for scheduled tournaments.

Some residents took issue with the recreation centers suspending drop-in exercise. In a letter to the City Commission, Lawrence resident Lynda Nickel, who said she was a nurse and understood the concerns with COVID, wrote that it was possible to physically distance at SPL and that keeping that exercise option open during the winter for those who wanted to use the facility was important.

“It seems to me that since the taxpayer’s dollar is what has funded this facility and staff, that it should continue to be available,” Nickel wrote. “It is a wonderful facility, and I hate to see it sit unused. This decision does not need to be made for us.”

Lawrence resident Steve Menaugh also voiced concern, taking specific issue with the fact that drop-in exercise was suspended but other activities were allowed to go on. Menaugh, who said he’s vaccinated, wears a mask and feels comfortable using the walking track at SPL, said the decision was devastating for those who rely on the rec centers for regular exercise during the cold-weather months. He also said the optics of eliminating drop-in recreation at public facilities while continuing revenue-generating classes and tournaments was concerning.

SPL is scheduled to host the Heart of America Volleyball Tournament every weekend in January, and Parks and Recreation Director Derek Rogers said the tournament is still taking place this weekend and on the calendar for the rest of January. Rogers said tournaments were allowed to continue because they operate under the rules of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, which allows such activities.

Rogers said Parks and Rec also heard from residents about the decision to suspend drop-in exercise, and that part of the decision also had to do with a desire to see what the new public health order — which was approved by the Douglas County Commission Wednesday — would call for.

“We take a measured approach,” Rogers said. “We’re trying to be proactive the best we can.”

For his part, Menaugh said he was glad to hear that the city would be taking steps to allow some drop-in exercise, adding that he’d even be happy to show his vaccination card to use the facilities.

As far as other precautions go, Rogers and Hart said cleaning at the recreation centers would be enhanced and since cardio and weight areas require key card entry, the department would be able to contact users if the department is notified of a positive case. Masks continue to be required to enter rec centers, though users can remove them when they are actively participating in a class or exercising.

Drop-in play for certain activities, namely pickleball and racquetball, will also be allowed under certain conditions, according to a city news release. Pickleball will be available at SPL between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday under the condition that participants wear a mask at all times. Racquetball courts will be available at Holcom Park Recreation Center but must be reserved one day in advance. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis online beginning Monday at lawks.us/3FtFZtm.