FAIRMONT — The summer playground program will be returning to Fairmont’s parks this year.

Roni Dauer, Fairmont Community Education and Recreation director, told the Fairmont Park Board on Tuesday that the playground program will be similar to previous years.

From 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 11 through Aug. 8, students entering grades 1-7 can participate in arts, crafts, games, creative play and many other activities. Younger children may attend if accompanied by an adult.

Six of Fairmont’s parks will serve as rotating sites for the program.

In addition to the playground time, Makerspace Mondays will be held from 1-3 p.m. starting June 17 at Fairmont Elementary School. This is a time set aside for computer lab, problem solving, coding activities, gym and playground.

“And it’s all free,” Dauer said. “Thanks to the city of Fairmont for sponsoring it.”

Pre-registration is encouraged at the CER office, (507) 235-3141.

Dauer said CER has a variety of opportunities beginning in June, including the popular summer welding academy that begins June 10. A limit of 20 students and adults may register for the class, and high school students will qualify for one academic credit.

Some scholarships are available for CER programs, and those interested in applying for financial help may contact their school counselor or the CER office.

In other business, Craig Nelson, park board member, reported he will be planting about 650 flowers at Lincoln Park this year. Nelson personally takes care of the flowers and perennials each year in the portion of the park closest to the street as a gift to the community.

The city has ordered about 1,100 flowers to be planted in various parks and other municipal property. The hanging baskets on Blue Earth Avenue and the large flower pots on Downtown Plaza are handled by other community organizations.

Board members discussed adding benches at Steve Pierce Park, the former water treatment plant site on Albion Avenue. Troy Nemmers, city engineer/public works director, said the benches and most of the trees already at the park were donated in someone’s memory, a process the city would like to continue at that park.

Nemmers explained that in order to maintain consistency the city has three options for benches for anyone who would like to donate one. The cost runs about $600 to $700.