Colorful Blaine Water Tower Gets $1.2 Million Makeover
BLAINE, Minn. (Aug. 14, 2025) – For many Minnesota communities, water towers aren’t just infrastructure—they’re landmarks that define the skyline. In Blaine, one of the city’s signature structures has just received a colorful new look, and residents are taking notice.
Water Tower #2, located on Paul Parkway, is one of four water towers serving Blaine. This summer, it underwent a $1.2 million makeover that has transformed its appearance and boosted its visibility. The newly repainted tower now features vibrant colors, along with the city’s name, logo, and website clearly displayed at the top.
“If your water tower stands out, it helps your city,” said Chertong Her, a Blaine resident. “Not that the old one was an eyesore, but the colors were fading. A fresh coat of paint really livens up the place.”
For many longtime residents, the tower’s facelift feels symbolic of the city’s growth and renewal.
“I’ve lived in Blaine pretty much my entire life and grew up looking at this tower,” said Dan Dinh. “The makeover makes it look a lot nicer—pretty reflective of what Blaine’s going through right now.”
Others from nearby communities are also taking note.
“It looks beautiful,” said Jasmine Knapper of Ham Lake. “When I passed by, it looked so different. I love the new colors—it’s like a seven out of 10 for me.”
A City Landmark Reimagined
The Paul Parkway tower is one of three in Blaine that each hold one million gallons of water. A fourth, located at Lexington Avenue and 125th Avenue, has double that capacity at two million gallons. Beyond their critical role in providing water storage and pressure, the towers serve as unofficial markers and points of orientation for residents.
Dinh joked that the repainted tower is already becoming a navigational landmark for him:
“This is going to be my new compass. Drive down the street and I know I’m five minutes away.”
Investing in Community Identity
City leaders say the improvements were part of a scheduled maintenance cycle, but the decision to include updated branding was deliberate. By adding vibrant colors and making the city’s name and logo highly visible, the tower now reflects Blaine’s identity in a way that is both functional and symbolic.
The project may have carried a $1.2 million price tag, but for residents who take pride in their community, the investment seems well worth it.
“It looks fantastic, and we couldn’t be happier with it,” Her said.
From the air or the ground, Blaine’s refreshed tower is hard to miss—and for many, that’s exactly the point.
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