Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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. Visit our website to learn more.

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?
Yes, lockers are available on the pool deck. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lock to secure their own locker. There are NO pay lockers!

What kind of payment does HFAC accept?
HFAC accepts cash, VISA, & 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.

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.