External Website  www.accleisureservices.com  Administration  706-613-3800  706-613-3805 [Fax]  Administration Hours  Monday - Friday  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.   (Various for facilities) Director   John Dargle  Administration Location  Bishop Park  705 Sunset Drive Location Map  Mailing Address  P.O. Box 1868  Athens, GA 30603

New The Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center and the Oconee Greenway Commmision will present a program about the link between healthy lifestyles and the built enviornment on Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Dudley Park.

Citizens are invited to meet at the Dudley Park/Cook & Brother Plaza Waterwheel (East Broad St. across from the University of Georgia's Chicopee building) at 9:00 a.m. with their bicycle, helmet, and a water bottle, for a leisurely ride up the North Oconee River Greenway to Sandy Creek Nature Center.

At the Nature Center, Dr. Mark Ebell, Chair, Clarke County Board of Health and Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission and John Devine, Senior Planner, Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center, will present an informative talk on active living, land use, and transportation. Afterwards, participants will ride back to Dudley Park, enjoy refreshments and a presentation focusing on plans for future greenway improvements in Athens-Clarke County.

This program is free and open to the public and children must be accompanied by an adult. Participants must register by Thursday, May 29 by e-mailing jmoneyhun@negplanning.org. For more information, please call 706-369-5650.

New Memorial Park will host the annual Memorial Day at Memorial Park on Monday, May 26th from Noon to 3 p.m.

This year, the event is highlighted by the unveiling of the Purple Heart Monument located near the park's flagpole. This special monument lists the names of area servicemen who have been awarded the Purple Heart for their services to the United States.

Additionally, U.S. Congressman Paul Broun will provide the keynote address and will donate an American flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol.

Organizations scheduled to participate in the program include the American Legion, area boy scouts and girl scouts, Clarke Central ROTC and marching band, the University of Georgia ROTC, US Navy Supply Corps School, the US Army National Guard, and the VFW.

Other park activites for the day will include concessions, inflatables, face painting and much more. The public is reminded that the park pool is not open until June 3rd. This program is open to all ages and is free of charge.

Fore more information, please visit the Special Events page at www.accleisureservices.com or call 706-613-3580.

New The Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail in Memorial Park will host a Zoo Camp Preview Day on Friday, May 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Parents and children are invited to visit the Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail to learn more about Zoo Camp 2008, meet the Camp Staff, and preview the week's activities. Camp registration will also be available at this time.

For more information, please contact (706) 613-3616 ext. 22 or visit http://www.accleisureservices.com.

New Zoo Day 2008 will take place Sunday, May 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail in Memorial Park.

Zoo Day 2008 will feature several exciting programs throughout the afternoon:

• Join legendary Okefenokee Joe between 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to learn about snakes and the enviornment.
• Craig "Grizzly" Cylke will present  live Georgia critters between 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. 
• Bear Hollow wild prey volunteers will present a program about the zoo's owls at 1:30 p.m.
• Fun family displays and demonstrations all day long and Papa John's Pizza and drinks will be served.

A $3 donation per person is requested and will go towards funding the home of the zoo's newest alligator, Dill Pickle. For more information, please call (706) 613-3616 ext. 22 or visit http://www.accleisureservices.com/.

Memorial Park will host the 8th Annual Birchmore Trail Day, Sunday, May 4 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Participants will meet the famous Fred Birchmore, hike the park's Birchmore Trail for a prize, play games, and enjoy activities such as leaf rubbings and face painting.

This free program is for all ages and is scheduled, rain or shine. For more information, please call (706) 613-3616 ext. 22 or visit http://www.accleisureservices.com/.

The 33rd Annual Juried Competition will remain open until May 7. Over 250 artists entered the competition (many with multiple pieces) and only 184 pieces were chosen.

Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail's Bear Tracks Winter 2008 newsletter is now available online in the Documents area.

For the third consecutive year, ACC Leisure Services has been honored by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) with the prestigious State Agency of the Year Award.

The State Agency of the Year, for populations 80,001 and larger, is awarded based on facilities, programs, long range planning, staffing, marketing plan, and accomplishments over the past twelve months.  This is the fifth time in eight years that ACC Leisure Services has received this award.

The department was also honored with other awards including the Cultural Affairs Section’s Dorothy Mullins Arts and Humanities Award for the Athens/Xalapa Artists’ Exchange program and the Marketing and Visibility Committee Publicity Award for a multi-event for the Passport to Fun coupon booklet for July is National Recreation and Parks Month.

Whit Davis Elementary School was honored with the Outdoor and Parks Section Volunteer Award, District 7, as well as the state Volunteer Award, for its work at SE Clarke Park.  Ms. Stroup’s classes mapped and cleared the trail at SE Clarke Park, using the activity as a service learning project.

Athens-Clarke Gymnastics Academy cookbooks - Recipes to Flip Over - are now on sale. This is ACGA's first cookbook and features recipes collected from gymnasts, families, and friends. The 50-page cookbook includes casseroles, desserts, main dishes, and much more. Cookbooks are $9.00 and may be purchased at Bishop Park, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Leisure Services has its very own external Web site! Check it out at www.accleisureservices.com.

AWARDS

• District 7 Agency of the Year Award from the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) Services Department.
• National Award of Excellence for the WE CAN (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition) Program.
• Sandy Creek Nature Center founder and long-time volunteer Walter L. Cook, Jr. was honored by the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) for his more than 30 years of service to local environmental and conservation efforts on their Pathfinder program.
• The Georgia Recreation and Park Association awarded the State Agency of the Year Award, as well as seven Innovative Program Awards; the Athens Disc Golf Club received a state Volunteer Award; The Lyndon House Arts Center received three awards for its programs; Special events at Southeast Clarke Park was recognized as Innovative Programs in the Programmers and Athletics Sections.

FACILITIES & PROGRAMS
For a full list of Leisure Services facilities, visit the ACC Leisure Services Web site Facilities Page.

MISSION
To enrich the lives of our citizens through the stewardship of the county’s natural resources and the efficient and responsive provision of quality leisure opportunities, experiences, and partnerships.