Who loves to play hockey —outside?

Try our new street hockey. Ages 3 to 5 will play in tennis shoes only and those 6 to 14 can play in tennis shoes or rollerblades from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday nights in the Packer Arena parking lot starting May 16.  The cost is $30 and you sign up online through the link on our City web page at www.ci.austin.mn.us. Click on “City Departments” then click on online registration.   

You will need a helmet, shin and elbow pads, gloves and a stick.  The program will run seven weeks and we must have 40 participants to run this program.

Roller derby

Have you ever been to a roller derby bout?  You have a chance to check one out on Saturday, May 19 in Packer Arena.

Our Minnesota Southbound Rollers will host the Midwest Maidens of Brookings, SD with a portion of the proceeds going towards the Stepping Out for Autism summer camps.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first whistle is at 7 p.m.  Tickets can also be purchased online at mnsbr.bpt.me.

Swimming pool

Do you have your pool membership yet?  You can get that online at the city site. The fee is $40 per person.  The first session of swim lessons begins on June 18, sign up online. We also have aqua Zumba and deep-water fitness classes available beginning June 11, check out the classes in our summer brochure and sign up online. You do not need a pool membership to join a fitness class. Your pool membership will allow you to swim during adult lap swim from noon to 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Summer brochure

Our Summer Program Brochure is out so you can start planning your summer activities.  Online registration is open for you to register for Park and Rec programs and Nature Center Programs.  If you have not created your account when you click on the register tab it will ask you to log in or create an account.  If you have questions, please call.

Camps

There will be a tennis camp June 11-22 at the Paulson Tennis Courts located at Wescott Field. Camp will be held Monday to Thursday with Fridays as rain days. Grades 5-6 are from 9-10:30 a.m. and grades 7 -12 are from 10:30 a.m. to noon.  The cost is 25 per person, sign up on-line at our site on the city web page.

Archery

to take the proficiency test for the city fall deer hunt at the Cedar River Archery Club located at 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 during the following dates from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: June 9-10; July 14-15  Sept 8-9. The Club will be running events on these dates during this this time.

Not a member? You can pay a non-member fee and participate or better yet join the club.  For those of you that did not apply last year and would like more information give our office a call.

The city has submitted an application to the DNR to hold a hunt again this fall.  Our application will not be available until we have been accepted.

Captain of the Belle

Ever thought about being a boat captain?

The captains of the SpamTown Belle are looking for some new recruits to help take a couple of weekends out of the summer.  No experience needed as you will be trained by one of the seasoned captains.

You will learn how the boat runs, docking and some history about the boat and East Side Lake.  The schedule usually runs June through August on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. weather permitting.  Captain’s will be paid $15 per hour this year.  Seasonal applications can be printed off our website. If you are interested please fill one out and turn it in to our office.

Power plant construction

Construction will continue on the redevelopment of the downtown power plant site throughout the summer of 2018 and into the 2019 construction season.

Upcoming work on the site will include completion of the building demolition, flood levee construction and rec center construction. In order to secure the construction site for safety of the public, workers and equipment a portion of the pedestrian trail will be closed during the summer of 2018 from the library to the pedestrian bridge.

To take the alternate route on the sidewalk over the 4th Street bridge and back on the trail north past Packer Arena.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may provide, but we feel it is best for the safety of all. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at 507-437-9950.