Anoka County officials have put shovels to ground on a new facility set to aid the Parks Department, Highway Department, and Sheriff's Office. The construction of the eagerly anticipated maintenance shop commenced on April 18, as reported by the Anoka County website. This project, forecasted to wrap up this fall, is seen as a significant step forward in replacing the outdated, almost six-decade-old building.

Commissioner Julie Jeppson, head of the county’s Transportation Committee, pointed to the county's expansion: "It’s obvious our Anoka County department needs are growing, and our physical operation must change to meet those needs," she told Anoka County. The new construction promises to bring to bear full-time operational capabilities year-round, directly benefiting Anoka's northeastern reaches.

The soon-to-arrive maintenance shop will not only alleviate storage problems at the existing Bunker Lake facility but is also projected to house numerous plow trucks. This advance is expected to seamlessly harbor equipment and staff from the Parks Department and Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioner Jeff Reinert, chair of the county’s Parks Committee, expressed his excitement over the improvements. "This facility will be a vast improvement that will strengthen and support services for the regional parks, trails, and facilities in the northeast quadrant of Anoka County," Reinert said, according to the Anoka County press release. The addition is to also serve crucially needed space for Parks Department storage. The new building is slated to safely accommodate small equipment and the hand tools essential for department operations, plus a lot more.

Beyond these, the facility will support sites such as Coon Lake County Park and Martin-Island Linwood Lakes Regional Park, among other recreational areas. It will include a welding center and a wash bay, along with general maintenance and repair areas, ensuring the parks department's operations continue ticking over smoothly and safely.