What
does the Parks & Recreation Department do?
Hastings’ park land totals approximately 400 acres of open space.
The Hastings Parks and Recreation Department oversees 33 parks, which
includes amenities such as baseball, football and soccer fields;
softball diamonds; basketball and tennis courts; outdoor skating rinks;
playground equipment; sand volleyball court; disk golf course and
picnic shelters. Over 25 miles of trails throughout Hastings are also
maintained. This trail system is one of the most scenic trail systems
in the entire metro area! The Hastings Family Aquatic Center and the
Hastings Civic Arena are operated by this department. In addition,
department staff works with various youth and adult athletic
associations, schedules field use, and organizes special events and
activities for both kids and adults.
Can
we reserve a picnic shelter?
Picnic shelters at Roadside Park, Vermillion Falls Park, Lions Park,
and Wallin Park may be reserved for a nominal fee for residents. Please
contact Kristin at (651) 480-6175 to reserve a shelter or visit the picnic shelter reservation info on
our website.
Can
I reserve a playfield for my team?
Yes, you may contact Jared Flewellen with the Parks and Recreation
Department at (651) 480-6181 to see which fields are available. A Field
Reservation form can be downloaded here.
How
do I make a donation to the Parks and Recreation Department?
You can make a contribution in several ways. Donations are accepted for
a specific program or event, tree purchase, memorial bench, or if you
have another way in which you would like to contribute, the Parks and
Recreation Department will work with your needs. More donation Info is available
online.
How
do I report an issue or vandalism in the parks?
If you see a possibly dangerous issue in a park, please contact the
Parks and Recreation Department immediately by calling (651) 480-6175.
Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
What
are the hours of the parks?
By City ordnance, all parks open at 6:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM, with
the exception of Veterans Park which closes at 10:30 PM. No overnight
camping or parking is allowed in City parks.
Am I a City
resident?
A resident is any person who lives within the city limits of Hastings.
This is not to be confused with the 55033 zip code. City
and zip code boundaries are not the same. Even though your
mailing address is Hastings, this does not necessarily mean you are a
City resident. If you live in a township, you are not a City resident.
Some programs have different fees for residents and
non-residents. Non-residents must pay an additional surcharge
established by the Parks and Recreation Department (More than half
of the participants in many of our programs live outside the City
of Hastings and the cost of supplying these programs comes
exclusively from City taxpayers; fairness requires that non-City
residents share the burden of expense). The City of Hastings Parks and
Recreation Department reserves the right to remove anyone
falsifying information from our programs. Please call our office if you
have any questions regarding residency
Can I have someone from the City look at my trees and help me evaluate
their health? Yes. The City Forester is available to make a
site visit. The Forester is trained to identify disease problems and
potential risks associated with trees. The Forester can be contacted by
calling (651) 480-6177 or emailing pmahoney@ci.hastings.mn.us.
Who
is responsible to maintain the boulevard trees? On City streets, the property owner is
responsible for trimming, cutting, and otherwise maintaining any tree
according to City Ordinance 90.05. At periodic intervals a survey of
public trees in the City is made to look for diseases that pose a
threat as well as for trees that are of risk to the public. If a tree
requires removal, the city makes arrangements for its removal or the
property owner is notified that it is their responsibility. Trees
suspected of being diseased or posing a hazard to the public can be
reported to the City Forester for inspection.
Do
I need a permit to plant a tree on the boulevard or public right of
way? According to City Ordinance, property owners
must obtain a permit before planting a tree along the streets or other
public property. You should have the tree species & planting
location picked out. Then call Gopher State One for utility locations
and obtain a permit from the City Forester.
How
do I obtain a copy of the Hastings Tree Preservation Guidelines?
When you are planning to build on or develop land that has significant
trees we request that you submit a Tree Preservation Plan to the
Planning Department prior to any work. The plan should contain all of
the parts prescribed in the guidelines. These guidelines are available
from the Planning Department and from the City Forester. More information available here.
How
can I find out what kind of tree to plant? The City Forester has a good knowledge of what
kinds of trees do well in Hastings. You can obtain a list of these from
him or just stop by the Parks & Recreation Office. Local Nurseries
and Garden Centers are also good sources of information on planting the
right tree for your location.
How
many hockey rinks are there and where are they located?
There are five outdoor hockey rinks located at Pioneer Park, Lions
Park, Wallin Park, Kennedy School, and behind the Civic Arena.
How long does it take to prepare rinks at the
beginning of the season?
On a good year with cold weather and good frost conditions, it will
take an average of 10 days to prepare the rinks with ice. This does not
include preparations like repairing hockey boards, cleaning and
repairing warming houses, and repairing and maintaining the rink lights.
How many applications of water does it take to make a
rink?
On average, it takes approximately 16 applications of water to make a
rink. Our goal is to have a thickness of 1/2 - 3/4 inch of ice on
each rink.
How many rinks can each tanker truck flood?
The City tanker truck holds 2,400 gallons of water. On a normal
flooding day, 2 rinks can be flooded with one truckload. Each
filling of the truck takes approximately 20 minutes, including
maintaining the fire hydrant. To flood 13 rinks on a normal day,
it will take the "flood master" approximately 3.5 hours.
Do the rinks or warming houses close due to
weather?
Due to extremely cold or unseasonably warm weather, the rinks will
close. Please call the hotline at (651) 480-2392 for up to date
information.
How
do I apply for a job?
Check the City’s employment
page to see if we are hiring for Warming House Attendants.
What is the HFAC refund policy?
If the pool is cleared for over an hour due to inclement weather,
guests who purchased a daily admission less than an hour before the
pool was initially cleared and can produce a receipt will receive a
daily admission to return on another day. Daily admission holders who
have been at HFAC over an hour before the pool is closed will not be
given a daily admission to return. These policies have been set to
ensure the safety and enjoyment for all of our guests at HFAC. If you
have any questions, please call (651) 480-6179.
Do you have lockers available for guests?
No, there are no lockers available.
What kind of payment does HFAC accept?
HFAC accepts cash, VISA, Discover & MasterCard. We no longer accept
personal checks
What are the best times to visit HFAC?
HFAC is typically less crowded every day after 4:00 p.m.
Can we bring coolers and food into HFAC?
Tables are available at the neighboring park for guests to use;
however, food and coolers cannot be brought inside HFAC.
Can we use strollers or wagons?
Strollers can now be brought inside HFAC. Wagons are not permitted
inside HFAC.
Can I leave and re-enter?
Guests can get their hands stamped as they leave the front gate, so
they can re-enter at a later time.
Do I have to pay if I do not swim?
Yes, each person is counted as part of our total attendance and
facility capacity.
Can I bring in my own chair?
No, we have a certain number of chairs available on site. We do
not allow outside chairs to avoid overcrowding of the deck in case of
an emergency.
Does the HFAC have birthday party packages?
Yes, you may have your birthday party celebration at the HFAC. Click here
for more information.
Can I reserve the facility after
hours for a group?
The Aquatic Center is available for private rentals during its regular
season from 8:30-10:30 PM, seven days a week. More details can be found
on our After Hour Rentals webpage.
Does the HFAC offer swim lessons and how do I register?
The Hastings Family Aquatic Center teaches the American Red Cross Learn to
Swim Program. You can register online for swim lessons or you can call the
Hastings Parks and Recreation Department at (651) 480-6175 for
assistance.
Where is the Civic Arena located?
The Civic Arena is located on the south side of Hastings at the corner
of Hwy 61 and Hwy 316. The entrance is located on Hwy 316. The address
is 2801 Red Wing Blvd.
How does the ice resurfacer work? Ice resurfacers are designed to do several
things at the same time as the machine is driven over the ice. There is
a sharp blade that shaves the ice. These shavings are moved by a
horizontal auger to the center of the conditioner and then lifted up
into the snow tank by a vertical auger. There are two separate tanks of
water on the resurfacer. The wash water tank allows water to enter the
ice surface in front of a squeegee which makes slush with the shavings
to help wash the ice and fill in the deep gouges. This wash water is
recycled by being vacuumed up, filtered and then returned to the wash
water tank. The other tank is for ice-making and is visible during the
resurface. This water comes out just behind the conditioner and is
spread onto the ice surface by a towel. The original ice resurfacer was
invented by Frank Zamboni of California in 1949.
How
thick is the ice in a typical arena? In most arenas, the ice is kept between 1" to
1½" thick. The goal is to find a depth that is deep enough to
handle the number and weight of skaters and yet thin enough to keep the
electrical consumption at a minimum. The thicker the ice surface, the
harder the refrigeration system has to work to keep the ice frozen. In
most arenas, the ice thickness is checked on a regular basis by using a
cordless drill and tape measure. By checking at various locations
throughout the arena floor and writing information on a chart, it helps
the arena staff know where to reduce or increase ice thickness. This is
usually done at least once per week.
What
is the Party Wagon?
With the assistance of the Hastings Lions Club, the Party Wagon is a
16' covered trailer that consists of a wide variety of games, tables
and chairs to host a wonderful neighborhood block party. You may also
reserve the Party Wagon for an individual gathering such as wedding,
graduation or family reunion. Rental fees do apply. Please contact
Kristin at (651) 480-6175 for more information on the Party Wagon or
visit our website.
What’s in the Party
Wagon?
6 Tables
& Chairs for 40 people
2 Beverage Coolers with spouts
1 Quick Shade Canopy (10’x10’)
Volleyball Set
Badminton Set
Bocce Ball Set
Tug of War Rope
Jump
Ropes
Sidewalk Chalk
Hula Hoops
Footballs
Shuffle Board Set
Croquet Set
AND MANY MORE ACTIVITIES!!
How much does it cost to use the Party Wagon? The rental fee for the Party Wagon varies by
usage. Please see the Party Wagon Procedures for current rate
information.
