Brooklyn Park Makes Community Activity Center Improvements Top Priority
The Brooklyn Park City Council voted Monday to alter its state bonding requests by making proposed Community Activity Center improvements its number one funding priority.
The Community Activity Center, or CAC, has been a hot topic since a controversial plan last year sought to convert an ice sheet to basketball courts.
The city council has since gotten behind a plan to keep the ice sheet and expand the center to add gym space. Such a plan is expected to cost more than $13 million.
The city also plans to improve entrances at the CAC, which is expected to cost an additional $5 million.
“Let’s get the CAC done, that should be a top priority,” said Brooklyn Park City Council member XP Lee.
Brooklyn Park is seeking $12 million from the state for the project.
Brad Tullberg, the city’s recreation and parks director, said funding for CAC improvements could come from a variety of sources if state bonding isn’t approved. Those funds would include $5 million the city received last year from the state for the initial ice sheet conversion plan, as well as city park bond funds.
Ice sheet inside Brooklyn Park’s Community Activity Center
Additional State Bonding Requests
The city is also seeking state bonding for a new Central Fire Station and an expansion at the Zanewood Recreation Center for teen programming.
Brooklyn Park is seeking $12.7 million for the Central Fire Station, roughly half the construction cost. If no funds come through from the state for that project, the city council would be faced with a difficult decision.
“If the state does not provide the resources toward the fire station, then it would be a decision by this city council body in terms of how to go about, 1) do you want to move forward with the fire station project? And if so, what mechanism would we want to use to pay for those construction costs?” said Brooklyn Park City Manager Jay Stroebel at Monday’s meeting.
Officials say the state provided more than $1 million last year for the design of a new fire station, which would also serve as a regional emergency operations center and training facility.
The city, meanwhile, is seeking $4 million from the state for the Zanewood Recreation Center. The funds would allow the city to expand programs and workforce development opportunities for youth in Brooklyn Park and nearby suburbs.
The Minnesota Legislature is expected to make a decision on state bonding projects before the session wraps up May 20.
