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Kevin Nelson: Seasons Are changing: Parks and Rec plan for spring
Staff continue to maintain the outdoor rinks via flooding during several work shifts per week. We realize that this work will be going a different ...
Kevin Nelson, Author at Austin Daily Herald
Columnists
Kevin Nelson: Outdoor ice is open to skating; watch for groomed skiing trails
Outdoor rinks were skateable at Kaufmann and Skinner’s Hill this past week. Thawing temperatures deteriorated conditions on the man-made rinks (versus the pond), but the ...
by Kevin Nelson, Friday, January 14, 2022 4:51 pm
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Kevin Nelson: Outdoor rink ice may be arriving soon; dome baseball approaching
We’re starting to think, similar to some other winter-activity enthusiasts, about ice skating on outdoor rinks and sledding at Skinner’s Hill (not to mention cross-country ...
by Kevin Nelson, Thursday, December 30, 2021 8:15 pm
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Kevin Nelson: Park trees cut down
Just when we thought we’d seen it all! Our parks supervisor was making the rounds through various parks this past Monday morning when he noticed ...
by Kevin Nelson, Friday, December 3, 2021 5:30 pm
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Kevin Nelson: Playground surface at Morning Lion’s Park to be replaced
Several years ago, a new playground and its underlying fall-protection, rubber-tile surface was installed at Morning Lion’s Park. Unfortunately, that surface has not held up ...
by Kevin Nelson, Friday, November 19, 2021 5:30 pm
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Kevin Nelson: Bandshell has become flood proof
The Bandshell at Community Park has now been “flood proofed.” This entailed filling in the basement with sand to ground level and also installing 13 ...
by Kevin Nelson, Friday, October 22, 2021 7:58 pm
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Work on outdoor hockey rinks has begun
Maintenance staff began re-constructing hockey rink boards at Kaufman and Galloway Parks last week in preparation for seasonal neighborhood play. The plan, this year, is ...
by Kevin Nelson, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 5:22 pm
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Kevin Nelson: Parks work and seasonal closures
We had an overwhelming show of support for parks work and clean-up plus other community clean-up from Cornerstone Church on Sunday, Sept. 26. Thank you ...
by Kevin Nelson, Tuesday, October 5, 2021 5:50 pm
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Kevin Nelson: Fall flower watering
The hanging flower baskets are beginning to get that late-season viney and straggly look, which is common as they near the end of the growing ...
by Kevin Nelson, Saturday, September 11, 2021 6:30 am
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Kevin Nelson: Bridges at Nature Center
As regular visitors to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center may have noticed or soon will notice, two bridges are in need of repair or ...
by Kevin Nelson, Saturday, September 4, 2021 6:30 am
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Kevin Nelson: Shirley Theel Park: What happened?
As had been noted several months ago, due to the underlying composition (mostly clay) of the ground within Shirley Theel Park, it holds water for ...
by Kevin Nelson, Wednesday, August 18, 2021 6:30 am
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Kevin Nelson: ‘Thank you’ to parks volunteers
We’ve been blessed with a very good number of volunteer groups to assist in our parks again this summer. Volunteers have ranged from organizations to ...
by Kevin Nelson, Saturday, August 14, 2021 6:30 am
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Austin cleared for city deer hunt
We’ve been notified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources that we’re allowed to hold an archery deer hunt again this fall. This means that ...
by Kevin Nelson, Friday, August 6, 2021 5:46 pm
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Watering of plants kicking into gear
Depending upon the anticipated temperatures and other activities (hanging and/or taking down American and event flags; community events, personal schedules, etc.), staff may begin watering ...
by Kevin Nelson, Saturday, June 26, 2021 6:30 am
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Kevin Nelson: Swimming pool processes and protocol
It’s been a great first week for re-opening at the Municipal Swimming Pool. The hot weather has added to the enthusiasm of pool-goers, and yes, ...