WE ARE OPEN! Anyone entering our facilities will be asked to perform a self-health screen posted on or near entrances. Please do not enter if you answer yes to any of those questions. Users must sanitize their hands immediately upon entrance. Please follow CDC guidelines (and maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Splash Pad at North Park open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with limited capacity. Please maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet. Splash pad is turned on by tapping the center floor button. Spray features will spray for 4 minutes and turn off until someone taps the on button. Please note this play area is not staffed or disinfected. Use at your own risk.

Washington Park Wading Pool is open daily 1-6 p.m. with limited capacity. At the top of every hour, we will allow 25 people (kids and adults) in the gate to swim for 50 minutes. At that time, we will clear the pool, wipe commonly touched surfaces and reopen at the top of the next hour. If you would like to swim longer, you may wait in line to be re-admitted. Wading pools open to those 8 and under and must be accompanied with an adult of at least 18 years old.

Lincoln Park Wading Pool is expected to open sometime the week of June 22. Wading pools will remain closed if temps do not reach at least 72 degrees by 2 p.m. During this time of limited capacity, we are asking groups of no more than 5 (4 children and 1 adult) come to the pool per time. If you have a larger group and would like to rent the pool for a private swim, we are offering this for $64 per hour.

The Recreation Center is open for fitness only; fieldhouse and track are open, but no basketball, racquetball or use of the indoor pool or locker rooms will be allowed. Fitness equipment has been relocated to the Vogel Fieldhouse and spread out to maintain physical distance. Only individuals 15 years and up with memberships are allowed to enter the facility. Memberships can be purchased the day of by check or credit card and you may purchase multiple months up front, if so desired. Customers must also sanitize their hands upon entrance and wipe any and all equipment used before and after each use with provided sanitation wipe(s). Hours are Monday, through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 7 to 11 a.m. and closed Sundays. Follow us on our Facebook Page for the latest information.

Park Playgrounds and Restrooms are open! Please use at your own risk, as they are not cleaned or sanitized. Restrooms are cleaned and sanitized once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Portable restrooms are sanitized daily; users are encouraged to carry their own sanitizer and supplies for personal use. Physical distancing is required.

Dog, BMX and Skate Parks are open. Please use at your own risk; parks and amenities are not sanitized. Physical distancing is required.

The Community & Civic Centers are closed to the general public. Open Skate/hockey will resume later this summer. If you would like to schedule private rentals, please call 359-8340.

Meals on Wheels and Senior Citizens Center takeout meals are still operating. Please call 359-2243 for meals delivery or to call and reserve a meal for pick up/take out.

Big Tree Contest – Find the largest Ohio Buckeye tree in the city limits of New Ulm and win up to $200 toward a tree to plant anywhere in the city limits of New Ulm, including your own yard! Complete and return an entry form and submit to the Park and Rec Dept (office located in the Rec Center) by 3:00 p.m. Monday, July 6, 2020. Your tree will be measured by members of the New Ulm Tree Advisory Commission. Final determination of winning tree will be made by the Commission. Entry forms can be downloaded at newulmmn.gov

Monday night Community Concerts are canceled for the month of June.

Summer Recreation Programs are canceled until July 13. Program information will be released on Monday, June 22 for limited July & August programs, www.newulmmn.gov. In the meantime, please follow us on Facebook (New Ulm Park and Recreation) for ongoing Virtual programs and resources.

Leash Law – A friendly reminder that pets are required by law to be on a leash at all times in city limits, except on private property and inside the Dog Park. Also, owners are responsible for picking up waste.

German Park Amphitheater construction continues and will be completed this autumn. The project cost is over $1,200,000 and $933,723 has been raised. Past donors, thank you for generously supporting this project! Fundraising continues. The next $100,000 in donations will be matched by a private donor, in honor of Janet and Terry Dempsey. Any size donation is greatly appreciated. Checks should be made to City of New Ulm Amphitheater and mailed to Park and Rec. Dept., 122 S. Garden Street, New Ulm MN 56073. For credit card donations please call 507-359-8340. For questions call Tom Schmitz at 233-2121 ext. 202 or toms@newulmmn.gov

Another noxious weed gone rogue. It’s called Dames Rocket; a phlox like flower that has escaped from gardens and seems to be following an explosive growth pattern, similar to noxious garlic mustard. It has abundant seeds that are spread by animals or people. It crowds out native plants and produces toxins to kill them. Pull dames rocket out by the roots, and NEVER put them with compost. Place in regular garbage or garbage bag marked “Invasive Species” and bring to a DNR approved landfill. You may also put it under a heavy plastic tarp for a long time. Do not place clumps of dames rocket loose on the ground or it will start to spout new plants from under the clump. Help save our prairies, wetlands and forests. Pull dames rocket and garlic mustard before your favorite places are degraded beyond repair.

Email List – review what Park and Recreation Commissioners are discussing by subscribing to the meetings through E-Updates. To subscribe, simply go to https://cityofnewulm.civicweb.net/Portal/Subscribe.aspx and check the box next to Park and Recreation Commission, enter email and complete verification code. The next time an update is made, you will receive a notification directly to your email’s inbox.

Information on Fees & Hours of Facility Operation: Visit us on the web at www.newulmmn.gov Email parkandrec@newulmmn.gov or cherylk@newulmmn.gov or call 359-8344. Rec Center, 122 South Garden St.

We will continue to communicate with the Public via Facebook, The Journal and KNUJ