May in Minnesota is Arbor Month and the last Friday in April is Arbor Day.

This year our weather did not allow us to plant a tree on Arbor Day but with the help of Spruce Up Austin, May 2 will be Arbor Day in Austin this year.

All of the Austin grade schools were contacted to see if they wanted to participate in the tree planting at each of their sites. The planting will take place at the following sites: Neveln, Woodson, Southgate and Banfield at 10:30 a.m. Spruce Up Austin will also have handouts for the students explaining the proper planting techniques.

The 2013 Arbor Month theme is “Plant Trees for a Brighter Minnesota.” You can visit www.mndnr.gov/arbormonth to check out the benefits trees bring to us as well as how to plant and care for your trees.

Remember that deadlines are Monday and Tuesday for co-ed and men’s adult softball and adult kickball leagues at the Park and Recreation office.

If you would like to start a team you may call the office for more information.

Softball managers must bring the team entry fee, a roster with at least 10 players and the $8 per player fee when registering a team.

Adult kickball registration requires the team entry fee, a roster with at least eight players and the $8 per player fee when registering.

This Monday, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. or Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. is your last chance to pull on those ice skates until next September.

Public skate is $4 and you can rent skates if need be for $1 at Riverside Arena.

The square bag/round hole registration deadline is May 1. Two adult players per team will play 10 weeks beginning May 13. We provide bags and boards; entry fee per player is $40. Each match will consist of three games to 21 with $2 for each team win at the end of the season.

With the weather finally looking like spring Austin Youth Baseball will still take players for this season. You may stop in to South Central Athlete to sign up. Participants are eligible to play between the ages of 7 and 15 by May 1, 2013.

We will not use a pool pass this summer. Instead it will be a membership registered with your name and address. This means you will have to check in before entering the pool, so please bear with us as we perfect the new system.

This will alleviate lost pool passes and having to purchase another one.

Stop in to the Park and Recreation office or the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to register for our summer recreation programs.

There will be spring bird watching at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 9, 14, 16, and 23 at the Nature Center, meet in the parking lot.

Sand volleyball anyone? Players must be at least 16-years-old by June 1. This co-ed league will begin on Thursday, May 23 at 6:45 and 7:45 p.m. at the Todd Park courts. You can have up to 12 players on your roster, but you can play with four.

There can never be more men on the court than women. Team entry fee is $20 plus your $8-per-player fee. The deadline to sign your team up is Thursday, May 9 before 5 p.m. in the Park and Recreation office.

Are you thinking about summer and using our great trail system with your children? There will be a Bike Safety Bash from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the YMCA parking lot.

This event is free, however, if you would like your child to receive a bike helmet there is a $5 fee. Children are encouraged to bring their own bikes so that they can navigate the bike course.

They are encouraging participants to pre-register for this event online at www.ymca-austin.org or at the Y front desk.

We are also taking reservations for pavilions. It is not too early to consider a location for the 2014 graduation celebrations. Contact our office at 507-433-1881 or the Nature Center at 507-437-7519.