By Kim Underwood

Austin Parks and Recreation

This Tuesday head on out to Wescott Athletic Complex for the Gene Roden Memorial Track meet sponsored by the Austin Noon Kiwanis.

Field events will begin promptly at 6 p.m. and running events at 6:30 p.m. This meet is free and open to anyone ages three and up.

Don’t forget to bring a water bottle. Our Park and Recreation T-ball and peewee baseball are not scheduled to have games so they can attend the track meet.

Youth baseball

All T-ball and park and rec pee wee baseball teams will play their final games on the big fields at Riverland Baseball Complex this Thursday as marked on your game schedule.  In turn Austin Youth Baseball Merchant Division ages 7 and 8 will play their Wednesday night games at the Todd Park North Complex on diamonds 5, 8 and 9 beginning at 6 p.m.

This coming weekend Austin Youth Baseball will host the MSF 14AA State Baseball Tournament at Riverland Baseball Complex beginning Saturday July 29 at 9 a.m.

Hockey

It is time to sign up for our youth hockey skills, drills and 3-on-3 program.

The program will begin Thursday, Aug. 10 through Sept. 14.  Mites, squirts and 10U will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with peewee, bantam, 12U and 14U from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. The cost per player is $45 and you must pre-register at the Park and Recreation Office, 500 4th Avenue NE.

National Night Out

Stop down to Bandshell Community Park for National Night Out from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

They will have free hot dogs, chips and a beverage with police, fire, state patrol and ambulance vehicles on display for you to check out.  Meet and greet many of our officers, firefighters and EMT’s.

Riverside Arena

Riverside Arena schedule: Rent the arena for a skating party. Call our office for details at 507-433-1881.

Make sure to like us on Facebook so you receive up to date information.

Riverside Figure Skate Club: Check their Facebook page for a summer schedule.

Adult Open Hockey:  6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday’s July 26 and Aug. 2.

Public skate: 4 to 6 p.m. Monday and 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The cost is $4 to skate plus $1 if you need to rent skates. Skate from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 10, 11 for $2 with $1 skate rental if needed.

Stick time: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 3.

Free goalie clinic: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 30 and 5 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 6. The last clinic date is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 13.

Nature Center

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center rents canoes and kayaks Monday through 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.

Spruce Up Austin

Spruce Up Austin is a great partner to the City of Austin Park and Recreation Department.

This organization began its journey in 1990 and became a 501(c) 3 in 1998.  They have beautified and planted many trees throughout the public green spaces within our Community.

Did you know the U.S. Forest Service calculated that over a 50-year lifetime one tree recycles $37,500 worth of water.  There are many opportunities to help this great organization out with maintenance projects which happen during the year. Check out the web site at www.spruceupaustin.org.