On Thursday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham announced the cancellation of all Fall sports due to COVID-19.
While this is unfortunate for some, Las Cruces city leaders are trying to find ways to keep the community active, one of those being, re-opening recreational centers, like Meerscheidt.
“We’re really excited about it, but we’re also very cautious,” Sonya Delgado, the Parks and Recreation Director for the city of Las Cruces said.
If you’re from Las Cruces, either you, your kids, a family member or friend, have probably played in a tournament at Meerscheidt.
Normally, you see the parking lot full, but for the past several months, it’s been a ghost town.
“Meerscheidt is a major focal point for the community and of course for parks and recreation,” Delgado said.
This week, the doors to this longtime recreation center, opened up to the public again.
Their weight room is now usable and parents can register their kids for youth sports camps, like soccer, baseball, basketball and volleyball.
“We do have all the COVID safe practices in place,” Delgado said.
All staff and participants will be required to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and keep group gatherings to 10 participants or fewer. Delgado said youth camp participants will have their temperatures checked by staff prior to the start of each session, no spectators will be allowed during camps, and participants must bring their own water.
“I’m glad the city and Meerscheidt is actually going to step up and do something since the governor is shutting everything down, so to me it’s a blessing in disguise,” Kirk Zivkovich, a parent said.
Zivkovich didn’t think twice about registering his daughter Ava to participate.
“She’s looking forward to doing the volleyball camps, so any opportunity we have to get back into physical activity, we’re looking forward to,” Zivkovich said.
He said the decision to re-open the city’s recreation centers, is a step in the right direction.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the students here in Las Cruces to get back into some kind of normalcy,” he said.
Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center will also now offer table tennis by reservation from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.
The use of the recreation centers is all by reservation only, so if you’d like to play tennis, use the weight room, or register your kiddo to participate in a camp, you must call ahead of time.
You can call Meerscheidt at 575-541-2563 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Youth camps will begin on Oct. 12.
To make reservations at Frank O’Brien, call 575-541-2455 between 8 a.m. to noon.