Coon Rapids Launches Community Engagement for 2026–2036 Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Coon Rapids, MN: The City of Coon Rapids has opened a new phase of community engagement as it prepares a comprehensive update to its Park and Recreation System Master Plan, a strategic document that will guide the city’s parks, trails, facilities, and recreational programming from 2026 through 2036. City officials say the updated plan will shape long-term investment decisions, identify future amenities, and help secure funding for upcoming projects.

Residents are being encouraged to play a central role in defining the city’s next decade of improvements.

How Residents Can Participate

The city is inviting public input through two online tools, both developed by ISG, the consulting firm supporting the planning effort:

• Online Survey
  A brief survey allows residents to share their priorities, describe unmet needs, and highlight what would make the park system more welcoming and useful for all.
  Survey link: Click here.

• Interactive Project Map
  This map enables users to pinpoint specific parks, trails, or areas where improvements are desired, offering a more detailed, location-based way to communicate feedback.
  Map link: Click here.

City representatives say public engagement is especially important as Coon Rapids continues to grow and diversify. The goal is to ensure the next 10-year plan reflects changing demographics, emerging recreation trends, and the needs of families, youth, seniors, and historically underrepresented communities.

What the 2026–2036 Master Plan Will Do

As a guiding document, the updated master plan will:

• Identify evolving community priorities for parks, trails, and recreation programs
• Set goals and strategies for future capital improvement projects
• Define long-term maintenance and facility needs
• Estimate project costs and outline potential funding sources, including grants or future voter-approved investments

The plan will not authorize specific projects on its own, but it will provide the framework that City Council and staff will use when making budget and development decisions during the next decade.

Context: A Successful Decade of Investment (2014–2024)

The new planning cycle begins after the city completed a sweeping modernization of its park system over the past decade. These improvements were funded by a $17.4 million voter-approved park bond, passed in 2013 with broad public support. Although the city’s public notices reference roughly $18 million in completed improvements, official records confirm the bond’s principal funding totaled $17.4 million.

Between 2014 and 2024, the bond program transformed nearly every corner of the park system:

Renovations Across the City

Eleven parks underwent complete redevelopment, replacing aging infrastructure with modern, accessible, and community-focused amenities. The decade of work culminated in the reconstruction of Lion’s Coon Creek Park.

Sand Creek Park Redevelopment

One of the largest undertakings was the overhaul of Sand Creek Park, a 40-acre athletic complex. The site was rebuilt into a premier regional destination capable of hosting large tournaments and accommodating a wide range of sports and spectators.

Inclusive and Accessible Play

A major emphasis was expanding play opportunities for children of all abilities. The city installed ADA-accessible playgrounds with rubberized safety surfacing throughout multiple parks, improving safety and inclusion.

New Recreation Amenities

The bond also introduced new features that quickly became community favorites:

• A splash pad at Boulevard Plaza, a major summertime draw for families
• Dedicated pickleball courts, including those at Riverwind Park, responding to a surge in the sport’s popularity

Trail Network Expansion

The city made significant investments in trail connectivity and safety, including major projects such as the 85th Avenue Trail, which links Coon Rapids and Fridley to the Springbrook Nature Center. These upgrades strengthened walkability and bike access across the community.

Why the Update Matters Now

With the 2014–2024 improvement cycle complete, city leaders say this is the moment to set a new vision for the decade ahead. The updated master plan will help the city anticipate future costs, prioritize projects, and position Coon Rapids to leverage various funding opportunities.

“Just as the previous master plan guided transformative park improvements, the next plan will shape the future of our recreation system for years to come,” city officials said in their announcement. “Resident input is fundamental to getting it right.”

Next Steps

The planning process will continue into 2025, with draft recommendations expected to be reviewed publicly before the final plan is presented to the City Council. Residents are encouraged to participate early, as feedback collected now will heavily influence the plan’s foundations, priorities, and investment strategy.

MinneapoliMedia