City Meetings This Week

The public is invited to attend the following City meetings this week. Agendas, meeting minutes and City Council packets are available in the Agenda Center on the City’s website: https://owatonna.gov/agendacenter.

• April 24: Employee Recognition Banquet at 5 p.m. at the Owatonna Eagles Club, 141 East Rose Street.
• April 26: 2024 Strategic Planning – Session 2 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the Meeting Room in the Charles S. Crandall Center at City Hall, 540 West Hills Circle. City Council Members, Mayor and City Administrator will meet to finalize strategic goals and priorities. Arbor Day Event at 12:15 p.m., a tree planting will occur at Brooktree Golf Course in honor of City employees who retired in 2023. The public is invited to attend this Arbor Day event to honor the City’s 2023 Retirees.
• April 30: Annual Contractor Meeting at 8 am in Chambers, Charles S. Crandall Center, 540 West Hills Circle.

National Celebrate Trails Day is April 27

On Celebrate Trails Day, the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) calls on America to walk, bike and be active outside to showcase the joy and impact of trails. Celebrate Trails Day takes place on April 27 with hundreds of events nationwide that serve to inspire more people to make trails, walking and biking part of their everyday lives.

In Owatonna, signs will be posted throughout the trail system over the weekend. Some will have small items (temporary tattoos, stickers, lanyards) that trail enthusiasts can take home. Feel free to snap a photo near one of the signs and post on the Owatonna Parks & Recreation Facebook page using #CelebrateTrails. Visit Owatonna’s Parks and Recreation Finder to search for trails and other amenities for outdoor recreation.

According to RTC , here are five reasons to get outside on trails this spring and on Celebrate Trails Day:

1. It’s one of the best seasons for outdoor adventures with milder weather across the country—perfect for time on the trail. People can find their perfect trail using RTC’s free trail-finder app, TrailLink. 
2. It's good for our bodies and the planet. Having spaces to walk and bike near where you live makes it more likely that you will be physically active which is important for our bodies and our minds. And, when we swap out short car trips for walking and biking trips, we burn calories instead of carbon! 
3. It can be a safe way to get around without a car. Currently, people who walk and bike are increasingly likely to be seriously injured or killed in crashes with cars and trucks. Connected trail networks separate people from vehicles, making it a safer transportation option for more people.   
4. It's the right time to let elected officials know that trails matter to you. On Celebrate Trails Day and every day, our time on the trail is an act of advocacy sending a message that trails are important to people across the country. As Congress and local officials make decisions about ways to invest infrastructure resources, getting outside on the trail is an important way to build support. 
5. There are more places to walk, bike and be active outside than ever! With more than 41,000 miles of multiuse trails—where you can walk, run, ride, skate and more—and over 150 trail networks emerging, there are safe places to walk, bike and be active outside in every single state and hundreds of communities across the country. 

Reserve a Park Pavilion for a Private Event

Go online or call now to reserve pavilions for your next family reunion, picnic, graduation or other special occasion! Try the park finder app at Owatonna.gov to find a park to meet your needs.