Brooklyn Park Approves Seeking Bids for New Fire Station
Over the next 25 years, the city of Brooklyn Park is expected to gain 17,000 people, according to Metropolitan Council estimates.
It’s one reason why the city is planning for a new, much larger central fire station.
But the new station comes with a significant price tag. The city has budgeted an amount not to exceed $45.1 million. According to city officials, it amounts to roughly $10 a month in additional property taxes, on average.
At the city council meeting Monday, Brooklyn Park City Council Member Christian Eriksen pointed out that the city of Edina started work on a new central fire station that’s expected to cost $47 million.
“It seems like we’re right in the ballpark. And being responsible,” said Eriksen.
Apple Valley-based CNH Architects is designing the building with Minneapolis-based Kraus-Anderson managing the construction.
On Monday, the city council unanimously approved initiating the bidding process for work on the project.
Rendering of new Brooklyn Park fire station
‘This Isn’t Just a Fire Station’
The new fire station would contain several components that the existing central station doesn’t have. That includes space for fire training.
Chief Shawn Conway mentioned how Brooklyn Park firefighters currently have to travel to a training facility in Maplewood.
“As the city’s population expands, this isn’t just a fire station, this fire station does have a training component, all of which we don’t have currently, and we have to pay upwards of $20,000 to $50,000 to train our staff,” said Conway.
The new station would be 61,000 square feet, slightly smaller than a previous design. It would offer updated decontamination units that allow firefighters to clean clothing and equipment of hazardous materials.
It also adds an emergency operations center to help lead regional response.
“Given the growth of our city, I think this is incredibly important. I think we’ll be using this not only for fire, but a more robust fire department … given we are the 5th or 6th largest [city], I think that’s necessary,” said Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston.
Conway said the current station is at capacity as the city moved to a 24/7 full-time firefighting model, another reason he said the project is needed.
“There’s no more room to expand,” said Conway.
The new fire station will be built just west of the city’s Community Activity Center. The existing central station would remain until the new one is ready.
A senior center is planned to eventually replace the current fire station.
Related: Brooklyn Park Fire Chief: New Station 2 Could Begin Construction This Year
