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Coon Rapids Expands Street Sweeping Program to Protect Local Waterways
Coon Rapids Expands Street Sweeping Program to Protect Local Waterways
$146K in Grants Will Fund Cleaner Streets, Greener Creeks
COON RAPIDS, Minn. — The City of Coon Rapids is set to significantly enhance its street sweeping operations over the next three years, thanks to nearly $146,000 in grant funding from the Coon Creek Watershed District and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff and improve the health of local waterways.
Enhanced Sweeping Zones and Cleaner Creeks
Currently, all city streets are swept five times per year. Beginning in 2025, the new funding will allow for two additional sweeps annually in priority areas—zones with dense tree canopy coverage and direct connections to impaired waters.
These enhanced efforts will add approximately 323 lane miles of sweeping each year through 2027, significantly expanding the city’s environmental maintenance reach. Officials estimate the initiative will prevent nearly 99 pounds of phosphorus from entering Coon Creek, Sand Creek, Pleasure Creek, and Springbrook Creek annually—an important step in protecting local water quality.
“Street sweeping may look like routine maintenance, but it’s actually one of our most effective tools for keeping pollutants out of our stormwater system,” city officials noted. “Reducing phosphorus means cleaner creeks, less algae growth, and a healthier ecosystem overall.”
Equipment Upgrades to Improve Efficiency and Sustainability
The grants will also support equipment modernization and sustainability improvements. The City plans to purchase a portable trommel screening plant to separate and recycle collected materials, allowing sand and other organics to be reused rather than discarded.
Additional upgrades include a new loader bucket scale to better measure debris collected and a GPS tracking system to optimize sweeper routes and data collection—ensuring that high-priority areas receive consistent coverage.
Community Role: Preparing for Fall Street Sweeping
As the enhanced program gears up, residents are reminded that fall street sweeping typically begins in mid-October, weather permitting. To help maximize the program’s effectiveness, the City asks residents to keep streets clear by removing leaves, grass clippings, basketball hoops, trash cans, and other debris from roadways before sweepers arrive.
Keeping streets clean not only supports city maintenance crews but also helps reduce flooding, protect water quality, and maintain neighborhood appearance.
With this three-year initiative, Coon Rapids is positioning itself as a leader in integrating everyday maintenance with environmental stewardship—turning clean streets into cleaner creeks.
