City parks move to next phase of re-opening

The City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department will continue implementing its phased reopening plan, which will extend hours for certain specialty parks and open new public spaces. The first limited reopening under phase was designed to align with state public health orders. The Las Cruces community is encouraged to continue social distancing practices, good hygiene, keeping groups to five or less and avoiding large gatherings. 

Phase One (Green Phase) 

• Parks and Rec expanded phase one beginning June 8, with the addition of Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon and 5–9 p.m., to tennis and pickleball courts sessions. Metro Verde Tennis Court, 6013 Atlas St., will be added to the open courts list, joining Lions Park tennis courts, 701 W. Picacho Ave., and Apodaca Park pickleball courts, 801 E. Madrid Ave., that were re-opened in May. The Saturday hours are added to the hours begun in May: 8 a.m.-noon and 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
• The Remote-Control Track, 1453 E. Hadley Ave., changed to regular hours, dawn to dusk daily, on June 8. The Remote-Control Airport, 555 S. Sonoma Ranch Blvd., in the Las Cruces Foothills Landfill, changed to regular hours: dawn-dusk, Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday.

Phase Two (Yellow Phase) 

• The yellow phase began June 15 with the opening of one city park in each city council district. Playgrounds will remain closed. As parks open, park service will be increased accordingly. The parks that are re-opening are

▪ District One: Klein Park, 155 N. Mesquite St.

▪ District Two: Tony Gomez Park/Frenger Park, 2283 S. Espina St. 

▪ District Three: Las Cruces Dog Park, 430 N. Hermosa St. 

▪ District Four: La Llorona Park, 3440 W. Picacho Ave. 

▪ District Five: Twin Parks, located on the wide median on Engler Road between McGuffey Street and Mesa Grande Avenue 

▪ District Six: Desert Trails Community Park, 3492 Sonora Springs. 

Reservation information will be available before Friday, June 12, at www.las-cruces.org/Covid19ParkSchedules. 

• Butterfield Shooting Range, 13500 Frontage Road, west of Las Cruces, reverted to regular hours, dawn-dusk, on June 15, while maintaining city COVID-19 guidelines.

Parks and Rec will continue to assess the opening of more public spaces in alignment with state health orders.

Pools reopening

Frenger Pool and the Regional Aquatic Center (RAC) re-opened with limited access Monday, June 15, as part of the City Parks and Recreation Department’s COVID-19 phased plan, which is aligned with state public health orders. Frenger Pool will open for lap swimming; RAC will open for lap swimming, channel use and upstairs gym use. Use at both facilities is by reservation only, which allows employees to decontaminate.

Reservations will be taken by phone only. Call 575-541-2782 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to reserve a lane at Frenger pool or a lane or gym time at RAC. A 24-hour advance window will be provided prior to each day for reservations. For example, June 16 reservations can be made 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on June 15. Lap and channel lanes and gym facilities will be available in 45-minute sessions beginning at 7:30 a.m. and each hour after that until the last reservation at 6:30 p.m. 

Swimmers younger than 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult, 18 years or older, swimming in the adjacent lane; only one reservation per day; one person per lane; gym limit is 12 users per session, and sessions are limited to 45 minutes; cancellation of reservation is requested at least one hour before scheduled session.

RAC hours: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 pm. Saturday; Frenger Pool hours: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, closed Wednesday.

Outdoor city pools will open with restrictions after required annual inspections are completed. 

For park schedules and information, visit http://www.las-cruces.org/2158/COVID-19-Park-Schedules-and-Rules. Call 575-541-2550 and email at CLCEngage@las-cruces.org.