EAST LANSING, Mich. — In light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation & Arts (ELPRA) is announcing several upcoming virtual and continued offerings for community members as well as extended closures and suspensions of certain programming. ELPRA’s virtual and continued offerings will include the following:
- A virtual East Lansing Art Festival (ELAF) will be offered on May 16, featuring video content throughout the day at https://www.facebook.com/ELArtFest/. Learn more about the virtual ELAF, including opportunities to support this year’s artists before and during the festival, at http://www.elartfest.com/virtual-festival.
- A virtual Summer Solstice Jazz Festival (SSJF) will be offered June 19-20, featuring streaming video of past SSJF performances. More details will be announced soon.
- The East Lansing Farmers Market will be open June 7-Oct. 25 on Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Valley Court Park, 280 Valley Court. Operational changes will be in place. Visit www.cityofeastlansing.com/farmersmarket for the latest updates.
- A #StayFitEL Go the Social Distance Fitness Challenge will begin on May 11 and feature daily fitness challenges to encourage community members to stay active. More information here: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=d99498ce3806962a5ede26662&id=3c77e8f160.
- ELPRA staff are also busy planning for other virtual and continued offerings, including an online menu of recreation/arts programming for the summer, including All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre virtual offerings in June and July, and outdoor group fitness/yoga in July. Additional details will be announced soon.
In the best interest of public health, City of East Lansing officials have decided to extend certain ELPRA closures and program suspensions/cancellations beyond the end of May:
- The East Lansing Hannah Community Center (ELHCC) and East Lansing Prime Time Seniors’ Program will remain temporarily closed to the public through at least July 12 and all ELHCC operations during this extended closure will continue to be suspended, including events, classes, programs, services and rentals/reservations. Upon re-opening there will be a phased start-up of activities:
- Kids Camp, ELPRA’s summer camp program, is tentatively scheduled to begin July 13 with limited registration available. This program is licensed by the State of Michigan and will be offered with adherence to the state’s established requirements.
- Adult use of ELHCC’s fitness center and swimming pool is tentatively scheduled to resume July 13 on a reservation basis, with attendance restrictions and adherence to social distancing guidelines. The date is TBD for children’s use of the pool.
- All summer Learn to Swim classes held at ELHCC will be canceled through at least Aug. 3.
- All ELPRA class/program offerings (fitness, arts, theater, etc.) will tentatively resume Aug. 3 on a registration basis, with attendance restrictions and adherence to social distancing guidelines.
- Gatherings with more than 50 individuals will not be scheduled at the ELHCC until social distancing guidelines are further relaxed by local public health officials or the state.
- Suspended use of all outdoor playgrounds, sports courts, pavilions/picnic shelters and park restrooms will remain in place until at least July 13.
- Organized and drop-in activities at the City’s sports complexes and Northern Tail Dog Park will remain suspended until at least Aug. 3. All City-sponsored and club-sponsored athletic leagues for the summer are canceled.
- The City’s summer community events program (Summer Concert Series, Moonlight Film Festival and Play in the Park) is currently scheduled to begin in July. The events are being evaluated to determine if social distancing can be achieved before a decision is made regarding whether to continue with the events as planned.
- The East Lansing Family Aquatic Center will be closed for the 2020 summer season.