NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Wellness, Recreation and Activities Center and the NSU Recreation Complex will reopen next week. Health and safety protocols will be observed, including social distancing and other measures to provide a safe and healthy environment for patrons and staff. Guidelines may be revised in conjunction with state mandates.
WRAC hours for the week of May 18-22 will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Patric DuBois, WRAC manager, said he hopes the hours will expand to 6 a.m.-6 p.m. the following week. Weekend hours will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. The WRAC will be closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
“No more than 200 patrons will be allowed in the facility at the same time and some areas will have separate guidelines per space and equipment. Masks will be required by all employees and patrons. Social distancing between patrons and employees will be promoted, expected and enforced,” DuBois said.
All equipment users will be expected to wipe down equipment after use. Sanitizing wipes will be provided in all workout areas. Only two people will be allowed in the elevator at a time. The gymnasium will be available for shoot-arounds only with no pick-up games allowed. No day passes will be sold this summer.
Hours for the NSU Rec Complex will be 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Plexiglass has been installed at the counter and staff will be required to wear masks at all times inside the facility. Patrons are encouraged to wear masks but are not required to do so and are asked to use debit and credit cards if at all possible.
“We will not allow people to use the ice machine or the vending machine. This will help keep the traffic down inside the building. Hand sanitizer will be available at the counter for the patrons as well as the employees. Red River Sanitors will be sanitizing when they are here. The golf course staff will periodically sanitize when Red River is not available,” said Jarrod Cox, Rec Complex assistant manager.
Cox said tee times will be staggered 10 minutes apart. Golf carts will be limited to one cart per person and groups will be limited to four people maximum.
“We will invert the cups so the golf ball will not go in the hole. The flags will be inserted in the cup but the patrons will be instructed not to touch the flag. When the carts are brought back, they will be sanitized for turnaround play,” Cox said.
The swimming pool and driving range will remain closed.
For more information on the WRAC, call (318) 357-5269. For information on the NSU Rec Complex, call (318) 357-6300.
