Last week was the end for most of our summer recreation programs.

The second free Austin Noon Kiwanis sponsored track meet was held on Thursday evening with 173 kids participating.  Thank you to all participants, the volunteers from the Austin Noon Kiwanis and the summer recreation staff for making this another successful event.

Swimming pool

Last Friday was the third year for the free Family Fun night at the Municipal Pool with 383 people participating on a chilly night.  Our thanks go out to the sponsors; The VFW, The Austin Eagles, APAC and Hy-Vee for the donation of watermelons for the watermelon push relay race.  Thank you to our DJ Dee Randall, our Summer Recreation Supervisor Molly for organizing the games and our summer pool and recreation staff for helping to offer a different kind of swim night at the pool!

The August schedule for the Municipal Pool has some changes in hours during the week of the Mower County Fair.

The evening sessions on Wednesday and Thursday will be closed to allow staff the opportunity to attend fair events.  The last day for the pool is 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16. The splash pad will remain open for public use, enter through the gate from the parking lot. Spray features are active until 8:30 p.m.

The annual Doggie Dip will take place at 6-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17.

Your dog will need to have current vaccinations and license, you will sign a waiver and pay as you enter the pool.  The cost is $3 for one dog and two humans and extra humans are $1. No pool tags accepted. Some house keeping rules:  proper disposal of doggie waste and control of your dog.  Any inappropriate or aggressive behavior from dogs or humans will result in being asked to leave.  Thank you for participating and have fun.

League

Fall is a great time to play softball. Men’s Fall Softball team deadline for registration is 5 p.m. on  Wednesday, Aug. 22 in the Parks, Recreation and Forestry office. You will need your roster to include 10 players with the $8 fee each and a team fee of $258.  This is a double-header league which will begin Aug. 29 and run through Oct. 3.

For more information give us a call.

Riverside Arena

There is ice in Riverside Arena.

Beat the heat and get in some cold skating laps over the lunch hour for a special $2 fee.

Public skate times:  noon-2 p.m. Monday, Aug 13 and 20; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14 and 21; noon-2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15 and 22; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 and 23.

We will offer Stick-Time on noon-2 p.m. on Tuesday and Aug. 14.  We add times as different opportunities arise so check our Facebook page as we will update this calendar as they happen.   How about renting Riverside Arena for your special event?  Call our office to check on availability.

Austin Youth Football

Austin Youth Football registration is taking place through Wednesday.  We have registration forms at our office and at South Central Athlete.  Football is offered for those entering fifth and sixth grade.

Nature center

The next Thursday Nature Play Afternoon will be held from 1-4 p.m.on Aug. 23, featuring Amber Dolphin & the Pecatonica String Quartet, who will deliver the soothing sounds of strings in a variety of styles, from Bach to classic rock.

So, plan to get outside and discover nature with your child! Enjoy free canoe or kayak rentals, pond scooping for aquatic critters, nature programs, archery, netting dragonflies and butterflies, crayfish hunting, survival games, and/or self-guided nature trail activities.

Canoe and kayak availability is first-come, first-served, for an adult (18 and over) with a child (adults must accompany children). Please call 507-437-7519 or email info@hormelnaturecenter.org for more information or visit the website: www.hormelnaturecenter.org.

Baseball

As the summer season of baseball ends tryouts for the 2019 season will happen on Sept. 8-9 at Todd Park.  All the information can be found on their web site at www.austinallstarsbaseball.com  or on our Park & Rec Facebook page.

Deer hunt

For those interested in the 2018 city deer hunt, you must pass your proficiency test and also complete the NBEF/Advanced Bowhunter Education program hosted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which you can find that online.

The proficiency test is taken at the Cedar River Archery Range, 54691 270th St, Austin MN 55912.  The fee will be $5 per shooter and will take place from an elevated platform at a distance of 20 yards.  You will only have one chance to qualify. The club added from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug.t 25, so stop out during this time frame to qualify.

The next date the club runs an event is on Sept 8 -9, and starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

This is the last chance to qualify. You can also shoot the event in September while you are there.

Our city application process will be sent out to those that qualify in late August and must be returned to us on Sept. 14.