By Kevin D. Nelson

Austin Parks and Recreation

Mark your calendar to attend 4th Avenue Fest from 5-8:30 p.m., on Wednesday, June 12, in Horace Austin Park.

It will feature MacPhail Music Interactive Percussion Experience at 5:15 p.m. Kids and adults are welcome to participate at Horace Austin Park (the park between the library and the pool).

An Austin Community Band Concert will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the pool parking lot with a free ice cream treat. The evening swim at the pool from 5:30-8 p.m. will be free for all to join the fun. The finale begins at 7:30 p.m. with La Victoria Mariachi Band performing free  at the Paramount Theatre. Go in and enjoy the show!

Mind your lawn clippings

Hopefully, we all relish spring and the warm weather that it brings. It is this time of year when everyone can get behind with mowing, as spring rains do not always cooperate with our schedules.

So, please keep in mind that the City of Austin does have in place an ordinance which addresses long grass and weeds. You can find the ordinance in its entirety on the city website, city code section 10.13. The following is the first statement of said ordinance: “It is unlawful for any owner, occupant or agent of any lot or parcel of land in the city to allow any noxious weeds as defined in Minnesota Statutes Sections 18.77 and 21.72 or grass growing upon any such lot or parcel of land to grow to a greater height than 8 inches …”

Muncipal Pool

The Municipal Pool opens at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 10. You can get your pool membership online at www.ci.austin.mn.us. The fee is $40 per person. Daily fees are $4 per person for the afternoon session and $2 for our evening sessions.

The first session of swim lessons begins on June 17 and you can register online. We also have Aqua Zumba, Aqua Boot Camp, and deep-water fitness classes available beginning the week of June 10. Check out the classes in our summer brochure and register online. You do not need a pool membership to join a fitness class (but payment for the entire class session is required). Your pool membership will allow adults to swim during adult lap swim from noon to 1, Monday through Saturday, in addition to participating in any open swim time.

Registration

Online registration is open for you to register for Park and Rec programs and Nature Center programs. You can find our Summer Program Brochure on our website for your summer planning. Recreation programs begin the week of June 11.    

The link is on our city web page at www.ci.austin.mn.us. Click on “City Departments,” click on “Online Registration” or  cityofapr.maxgalaxy.net. From there, click on the “Registration” tab, click on “Youth,” and the programs will be listed. 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 any questions, please call.

Flower pots

The hanging flower pots should be in place as of the time of this update. The teams (of two carts, generally with one person on each, except during training or when they are working with flags, etc.) will be out watering the flowers beginning this weekend.

The staff are trained to be safety conscious and considerate of others in the process of performing their duties. With that thought in mind, their job does require them to get close to the poles where the plants are hanging, meaning they do travel with the watering carts on sidewalks and walkways in addition to streets. Also, if you’re hoping to keep your vehicle free from related water spots, park a little distance from the hanging flowers, as they do need water daily.

Riverside Arena

• Public Skate: 3-4:15 p.m., today and 6:30-7:45 p.m., Tuesday.
• Stick Time: 1:30-2:45 p.m., today; 5-6:15 p.m., Tuesday; 5:30-6:45 p.m., Wednesday.

Always watch Facebook for additions to stick time or public skates.