Austin Park & Recreation Department

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Austin Park & Recreation Department Come join the fun! We offer recreation programs for adults and youth. We maintain all the parks, Riverland Baseball Complex, and Todd Complexes.

Ice and events at Riverside and Packer Arenas may also be scheduled through our office.

Check out our 2026/27 Fall & Winter Recreation Activity Guide at the following link!! https://www.ci.austin.mn.us/Parkan...
10/23/2026

Check out our 2026/27 Fall & Winter Recreation Activity Guide at the following link!!https://www.ci.austin.mn.us/Parkandrec/brochure.pdf

Please Share!!Youth Basketball has been cancelled tonight, 10/22 and 10/29 due to School Conference's at Banfield Elemen...
10/22/2026

Please Share!!
Youth Basketball has been cancelled tonight, 10/22 and 10/29 due to School Conference's at Banfield Elementary. Check your email for rescheduled dates.

October Public Skates!
10/20/2026

October Public Skates!

Rebuilding Austin’s Urban Forest – Part 2A few people have recently asked our team if we are planting trees in areas oth...
10/16/2026

Rebuilding Austin’s Urban Forest – Part 2

A few people have recently asked our team if we are planting trees in areas other than the boulevards throughout Austin. The short answer is yes!

In addition to the many boulevard trees planted this year, we are also adding trees to several locations throughout our park system, including Driesner Park, Todd Park near the new Robot Playground, Horace Austin Park near the pool, and Bandshell Community Park. The photos accompanying this post were taken at Bandshell Community Park.

Many of the trees being planted throughout our parks are bare root trees that were temporarily staged in gravel beds at the Mower County Fairgrounds this spring and summer. Growing bare-root trees in gravel beds is a cost-effective way to purchase and prepare trees for planting. Gravel beds help maintain moisture around the roots while allowing them to develop and grow, helping prepare the trees for successful establishment in their permanent locations.

We greatly appreciate our partnership with the Mower County Fairgrounds and their staff for providing a place to temporarily house these trees until they are ready to be planted.

Planting trees throughout Austin’s parks provides lasting benefits for residents and visitors. Trees offer shade, make outdoor spaces more comfortable, enhance the beauty of our parks, support wildlife, and contribute to a healthier environment. They also help create more inviting places for people to gather, play, relax, and enjoy the outdoors.

Rebuilding Austin’s urban forest is an investment in our parks, our community, and the quality of life of future generations.

Todd Park Baseball & Softball Field ImprovementsAs part of Phase 1 of improvements to the Todd Park baseball and softbal...
10/15/2026

Todd Park Baseball & Softball Field Improvements

As part of Phase 1 of improvements to the Todd Park baseball and softball fields, City Parks crews recently removed old, damaged asphalt and replaced it with durable, accessible concrete at Todd Park North 5-Plex.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Town Hall Meetings in July to share input on potential ballfield improvements. We had some great discussions and received valuable feedback from community members and park users.

Todd Park has long been an important community destination for youth and adult sports, tournaments, and recreation. We’re excited to continue working with our community to develop a long-term vision for improvements to these well-used facilities and ensure Todd Park continues to serve our community for years to come.

Public Skates coming up!
10/14/2026

Public Skates coming up!

Rebuilding Austin’s Urban Forest!You may notice City Park Crews planting trees throughout the community as we continue w...
10/12/2026

Rebuilding Austin’s Urban Forest!

You may notice City Park Crews planting trees throughout the community as we continue working to grow and strengthen Austin’s urban forest. These young trees will provide shade, improve air quality, beautify our neighborhoods, and benefit our community for generations to come.

In 2026, nearly 1,000 trees are being planted throughout the Austin community!

Thanks to the support from Austin City Council and the Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Board, the City is planting more than 300 trees in neighborhoods and throughout our park system.

We also want to thank the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for awarding the City a Community Forestry Grant to help fund to planting and care of nearly 100 additional trees throughout Austin. The DNR also awarded a grant to plant 519 trees at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center!

A special THANK YOU to everyone participating in our Adopt a Boulevard Tree program!

Since the program began in 2025, more than 200 trees have been adopted by property owners, who are helping our urban forest thrive. For this fall’s plantings, watering bags will be delivered next spring or summer, depending on weather conditions.

Want to get involved? There’s still time to sign up for next year’s Adopt a Boulevard Tree program! Simply email [email protected] to learn more and participate.

Together, we’re growing a greener Austin!

Youth Wrestling Opportunity...
10/09/2026

Youth Wrestling Opportunity...

New playground at East Side Lake.Just in time for the beautiful weather we are expecting this weekend, the new playgroun...
10/09/2026

New playground at East Side Lake.

Just in time for the beautiful weather we are expecting this weekend, the new playground at East Side Lake is officially open and ready for play! The City will also host an official grand opening celebration in spring 2027.

This new playground features numerous inclusive play components, including a fully accessible ramp system that provides access to the center of the playground. It also incorporates sensory elements designed to engage children’s senses of touch, sight, and sound, while promoting balance and coordination.

And if you look closely, you might notice something a "little fishy…"

This project would not be possible without the generous financial support of The Hormel Foundation and the Austin City Council. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board for their continued support throughout the planning process.

Thank you to our community members who took the time to provide input on the playground design options. Your feedback helped shape this project and we are excited to bring more opportunities for children and families to play, explore, and enjoy the park together.

A special thank you goes to our City Parks crews, who completed the playground installation, ADA accessible routes, and border system in-house. By completing these portions of the project in-house, the City and tax payers will realize substantial cost savings, allowing us to reinvest approximately $60,000 directly into additional playground features and amenities. This added investment will create even greater play opportunities and long-term value for children, families, and the entire community.

We hope you enjoy exploring Austin’s newest playground and discovering all the fun and inclusive features it has to offer!

Check out our NEW 2026/27 Fall & Winter Recreation Activity Guide at the following link!! https://www.ci.austin.mn.us/Pa...
10/08/2026

Check out our NEW 2026/27 Fall & Winter Recreation Activity Guide at the following link!!https://www.ci.austin.mn.us/Parkandrec/brochure.pdf

Address

500 4th Avenue NE
Austin, MN
55912

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15074331881

Website

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