Mark your calendar for a skate park event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 14.

Join skaters for the first Enki’s Early Grab Round-Up. There will be skating contests and prize giveaways. Safety helmet is required. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards restoration and improvements for the park and addiction recovery resources.

They will be promoting a sober and safe environment for our youth.

 Swimming pool

The Austin Municipal Pool open swim hours are from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening; 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday. The adult lap swim will be held 12 to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Our season membership is $30 per person, ages 2 and under are free. The daily admission is $3 in the afternoon and $2 for the three evening swims.

A reminder to following the signage regarding the lockers that are now available on the pool deck for your convenience. We no longer staff the locker room with an attendant. There are lockers with locks, free of charge. We also have lockers that you can use with your own lock, free of charge.

 Fall softball league

We will be offering a fall softball league for men and co-ed. Team registration deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 17. That evening, beginning at 5:30 p.m., there will be a mandatory managers meeting for both leagues in the Park, Recreation and Forestry office. League play will start the next week: Aug. 23 for co-ed and Aug. 24 for men’s.

Team entry fee for co-ed is $151 plus the $8 player fee per person and will play six weeks. Men’s league will be a double-header league. Team entry fee is $252.00 and will also play for six weeks.

 Viewing the stars

The next viewing at the Sola Fide Observatory will be held at 9 p.m. on Aug. 13 and again on Aug. 27.

The Sola Fide Observatory is open to the public on specified Saturdays throughout the year. On these select evenings, Keith Snyder and other volunteers staff the observatory to assist the public in viewing the heavenly bodies. Are the stars your passion and interested in being a volunteer? Contact Keith Snyder at 507-440-1244 or the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center at 507-437-7519.

 The nature center

The nature center rents canoes and kayaks Monday though Saturday for use on Dobbins Creek to East Side Lake or on the pond at the center.

Rentals will run through Sept. 24 on a first-come, first served basis – no reservations. You must be 16 and older to rent the canoes and kayaks. The cost is $10 for up to three hours or purchase a punch card for $25 and receive five rentals for half the cost.

Are you looking for a place to rent this fall for a special occasion? Check availability of the Ruby Rupner Auditorium by calling the nature center at 507-437-7519.

The rental fee is $41 per hour between 7 .m. and 10 a.m. with a $100 deposit. There is a sound system available for an additional $25 fee.

There is no smoking or alcohol permitted in the nature center. The log cabin is also available for your use with the auditorium rental.