“Spring is upon us,” said Scott Keeler, the director of Great Bend’s Public Lands Department, on Monday. His staff are right in the middle of the usual spring cleanup but they are also still dealing with the aftermath of last summer’s hailstorm.

“The guys, (as of) today, have transplanted 67 trees from our nursery back in the city, to try to replace some that were damaged in the storm.”

Pruning is going on. Testing of the systems watering for irrigated turf is taking place, and staff have started fertilizing and spraying for weeds.

“We had a busy week,” Keeler continued. “Last week at the zoo we were averaging between 300 to 500 people a day coming through. So far this year, we’ve had over 6,700 visitors there.”

Last weekend, Aquatics Director Megan Hammeke at the Great Bend Rec Commission conducted first aid and lifeguard training. Keeler said summer jobs for concessions staff are filled and 26 lifeguards have been hired. “We’d like to get about four more,” he said, noting there are usually a few college students who apply at the end of the school year.

The Public Lands Department is also ready for this weekend’s activities at the Sports Complex. The Rec Commission will host the Flashlight Egg Hunt on Saturday night. The first high school varsity baseball and softball games of the season will also be this weekend.