Fall is a great time to play softball. Men’s Fall Softball team deadline for registration is 5 p.m. on  Wednesday 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; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday; noon-2 p.m. Wednesday; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday.   

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.

Nature center

The Nature Play Afternoon will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Thursday, 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.

Other events coming to the nature center includes:  10 a.m. Aug. 30, the MN Zoomobile; 11 a.m. is the Senior Special Tour and at 1 p.m. the Nature Play Afternoon. Come learn about fascinating tropical rainforest critters from the Minnesota Zoomobile.   Due to popular demand and limited seating, RSVP is required for this event.

Citizen Academy

Austin Police Department’s Citizen Academy is now open for registration. Application forms and information are available at the LEC or online at www.ci.austin.mn.us.

Tryouts

The final summer season of baseball 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 Parks and Rec Facebook page.

Deer hunt

For those interested in the 2018 city deer hunt, you must first pass your proficiency test and also complete the NBEF/Advanced Bowhunter Education program hosted by the Minnesota DNR 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 Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., so stop out during this time frame to qualify.  The next date the Club runs an event is on Sept. 8-9, starting at 8 a.m. 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 by Septe. 14.