Lee Beran Recreation Center patrons will be permitted to return to the facility beginning next week.
The Emporia Recreation Commission officially approved the facility’s reopening plan during their monthly meeting Monday evening. Per the plan’s timeline, the reopening will begin next Tuesday at 7 am with the facility’s fitness center.
The plan’s second phase would tentatively start June 8 with open indoor pool for lap swim — with restrictions — and the prospect for expanded hours. In the third phase, tentatively set for June 15, racquetball courts, the walking track and gymnasium would open with restrictions.
The fourth phase, set for June 29, would see new memberships accepted for the first time, as well as adjustments to the Lee Beran Recreation Center schedule and the resumption of swim classes, fitness classes and table tennis. Gutierrez says they developed the plan to be flexible and allow for adjustments depending on the state of local health trends during transitions between phases.
While the recreation center is set to begin its reopening a decision on the Jone’s Aquatic Center’s opening for the 2020 season is still up in the air. Following lengthy discussions during Monday’s meeting, the Recreation Commission decided to table making a formal decision until after the Emporia City Commission’s upcoming study session next Wednesday to gauge where the city stands on the matter.
In other business, ERC Director Tom McEvoy presented a 2020/21 budget update in which he stated there will be a 50 percent reduction to “self-sustaining funds.” This includes fees and charges, reimbursements and donations.
McEvoy says the reason for the reduction is due to the inability to discern when operations will be back at 100 percent.
McEvoy says there is a possibility revenues could rapidly increase in the coming year, however, on the opposite end, there is a possibility they could come in lower than expected. Because of this uncertainty, McEvoy says he is taking a cautious approach with the budget to ensure the ERC is “living within its means.”
The ERC will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday, Jun. 15 at 5:30 pm.
