The March rain and snow has left standing water on park roadways and grass areas.

Our city ordinance — 10.18 Use of Public Parks — operating hours states parks are not officially open until April 15. It has not been the policy of the city to restrict use during the closed season; however, we do see the need to protect property when deemed necessary.

For public safety please abide by any road blocks at park entrances, these are there for your safety and to ensure undue damage is not done to the park.

We are still looking for youth hockey peewees and bantams to play open hockey on Monday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. The cost is $40 through April 29 if enough kids sign up.

Join adult open hockey from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday. If you are interested in continuing in April, please call our office at 433-188.

Full equipment is needed to play. Goalies are free. Please call our office for more information or stop down to sign up.

The cost to participate is $6. Goalies are free but must have all the proper gear. You must be a high school player or older to play in the adult open hockey league.

Open skate will move to Riverside Arena from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. on Mondays in March, 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, 1 to 2:30 p.m. today, 2:45 to 4 p.m. March 24 and 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The cost to public skate is $4 if you have your own skates or you may rent skates for $1. Check the city website for the full public skate calendar at www.ci.austin.mn.us.

There will be a free program titled “A Watershed Approach to Fewer Floods, More Productive Farms, Cleaner Water and More Wildlife,” at 7 p.m. on April 1 in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium at The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.

Please join us for a special presentation with Larry Stone, Iowa author and nature photographer, and Bob Watson, an environmentalist who works in the Iowa wastewater industry.

This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and the Austin Izaak Walton League Chapter.

Please RSVP by March 31 by calling 507-437-7519 or emailing jchnatur@smig.net.

Are you looking to earn some extra dollars this summer? Have you ever thought about being an umpire?

There will be an umpire clinic on April 4 in Austin at the Izaak Walton Cabin in Todd Park, 21st Avenue NE. The clinic will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The next Bruins home game is on March 29 at Riverside Arena. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

We are sorry to say we could not get the three-on-three tournament off the ground this year. We are planning on running this in the fall so please stay tuned.

Austin Youth Fastpitch Softball is currently accepting summer registration for girls age 10 and under through 18 and under. Check their website at www.austinyouthsoftball.com.

Upcoming Events

•Austin All Stars free spring clinic, April 6 at 10 a.m. and April 14 at 11 a.m.

You may call our office at 507-433-1881 for more information.

Check us out on Facebook. Search “Austin Park & Recreation Department”

Buy Mower, Grow Mower and please recycle.