Photo: Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
🌤 Weather at Horace Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23–68 °F | 58–81 °F | 25–72 °F | 5–28 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Austin Waste Water Treatment Plant Facility, 1 mi away, elevation 1,199 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
🏆 Austin City Park — City park on the Mill Pond in Austin, with the municipal pool, a gazebo and fountain, and a walking and bike trail
Horace Park is a city park on North Main Street in Austin, Minnesota, run by the City of Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. It is not part of Minnesota’s state park system. The park began as Horace Austin State Park and was transferred to the city by the Minnesota Legislature in 1949. The city’s park list still uses the short form “Horace Austin”. Today the park lies on the Mill Pond, one of Austin’s two man-made lakes, and the city lists the municipal pool, a picnic shelter, a playground, the Mill Pond walking and bike trail, the Mill Pond Prairie, a gazebo with fountain, a plaza, a dock for fishing and a boat landing (City of Austin, as of October 2026).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | North Main Street, Austin, Mower County, MN |
| Entry Fee | Free park access; check the city for pool admission |
| Water | Mill Pond, with dock, fishing and boat landing |
| Managed by | City of Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry, 500 4th Avenue NE, (507) 433-1881 |
| Former Name | Horace Austin State Park |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Horace Park still a state park?
No. Horace Austin State Park was transferred to the City of Austin in 1949 and is now a city park. No state park pass is needed.
Who is the park named after?
The former state park carried the name of Horace Austin, Minnesota’s governor from 1870 to 1874. The city of Austin itself is named for Austin R. Nichols, the first settler in the area, not for the governor.
Make it a road trip: Pair a visit with Myre-Big Island State Park (within about an hour’s drive).
🌳 Visit Horace Park
Facilities and contact details from the City of Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
About Horace Park
Horace Park is one of Austin’s city parks on the Mill Pond. Austin grew up along the Cedar River, and the Mill Pond and East Side Lake are the two man-made lakes in town. Since the transfer in 1949, the city has run the former state park together with its other parks; the park office is at 500 4th Avenue NE and is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (as of October 2026).
Things to Do
Swim at the municipal pool, walk or bike the Mill Pond trail, fish from the dock, launch a small boat at the landing, picnic at the shelter, and let children use the playground. The gazebo with fountain and the plaza make a quiet stop on a walk through town.
Insider Tips
Parking: The park has its own lot off North Main Street. Pool: Check the city’s pool schedule before a summer visit. Trail: The Mill Pond walking and bike trail starts right in the park.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Pool season, picnics and fishing. Spring and fall: Walks and bike rides around the Mill Pond.
Wildlife & Nature
Horace Park combines open water on the Mill Pond with the Mill Pond Prairie, a green stretch in the middle of Austin.
Nearby Attractions
Downtown Austin — home of Hormel Foods and the SPAM Museum. Myre-Big Island State Park — near Albert Lea, west of Austin. Rochester — northeast of Austin.
Park Map
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