What’s Next for Brooklyn Park Projects with No Bonding Bill
Alongside many other Minnesota cities, Brooklyn Park requested state bonding dollars to further some of its major projects. But after a chaotic end to the legislative session, Brooklyn Park won’t see the money this year.
Mayor Hollies Winston said the city has big plans. All of them at this time involve a focus on activities, access and public safety.
“Brooklyn Park is very much a part of the American experiment — we have a ton of different cultures coming together,” Winston said. “How do we make sure that we have the infrastructure that everyone gets along, all heritages are respected, and we’ve got something for everybody to do?”
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston discussed the future of the city without bonding dollars this year.
Bonding Request Breakdown
The council asked for about $28 million in bonding dollars from the state legislature this year.
Twelve million of those dollars were requested for the Community Activity Center, where Winston said they plan to invest in its existing ice rinks and add a new basketball court to serve the city’s entire population.
Brooklyn Park City Council Member XP Lee called the CAC a “top priority” when requesting the state bonding dollars.
“We want to expand it so we can serve more youth, get them on the right path and make sure they have positive things to do,” Winston said.
The city also asked for $4 million for the Zanewood Recreation Center.
Brooklyn Park Fire Department crews respond to more than 10,000 calls a year.
Likewise, Brooklyn Park sought $12.7 million for a rebuild of its Central Fire Station. When the legislature missed a deadline to pass its infrastructure bonding bill, all chances at getting that money went out the window.
“We were disappointed,” Winston said. “We would’ve hoped to come to some type of conclusion around that. I think, from our perspective, we are going to keep it positive and think: ‘You know, we’re going to have to make some tough decisions as a city.'”
What’s Next?
On the bright side for Brooklyn Park, bonding dollars weren’t going to be the only source for these projects. The city already has $5 million in flexible state funds for the CAC.
“How do we pull these different pots together?” Winston asked. “What do we need to do, and what conversations do we need to have with residents to make sure they get what they need?”
A discussion on where to pull the money from and how to spend it awaits the council on June 3.
Brooklyn Park also lost out on another goal this session: special tax increment funding legislation for the proposed “BioTech Innovation District.” Winston said work will continue to help build up that space near Highways 610 and 169 in Brooklyn Park. A number of medical companies are already located there, including Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Certex Medical and Olympus Surgical Technologies.
Some funding has already been secured. Winston said he hopes that eventually building up a biotech district would help address disparities throughout the community.
