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On a February morning, when Minnesota winter settles deep and families spend more time indoors, the City of Coon Rapids is inviting residents to do something quietly radical: trade, not toss.
The Coon Rapids Recycling Center is launching its 2026 Community Swap Series with a Puzzle and Game Swap on Saturday, February 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Coon Rapids Civic Center (Room B), 11155 Robinson Dr. NW. The initiative is part of the city’s ongoing waste reduction and sustainability efforts, designed to keep usable items out of landfills while giving residents a cost free way to refresh their home entertainment.
According to the city’s official announcement and event calendar, puzzles, board games, and card games will be collected in advance and exchanged through a simple token system on the day of the event.
How the Swap Works
The process is structured, but neighborly.
Collection Phase: February 9 through February 20
Residents may drop off gently used items at the City Hall Front Desk between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Early donations allow organizers to build an inventory before the swap begins.
Swap Day: February 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Participants may also bring items directly to the Civic Center on the day of the event.
Token System
For each accepted item donated, residents receive one token. Each token can be redeemed during the two hour swap window for a different puzzle or game. One item in. One item out. A closed loop, simple by design.
Standards for Participation
To maintain fairness and quality, the city has outlined clear acceptance guidelines:
- Complete: Every piece, card, and instruction manual must be present.
- Good Condition: Boxes must be intact and items clean. The city’s guiding rule is straightforward: do not bring anything you would not give to a friend.
- All Ages Only: Only family appropriate puzzles, board games, and card games are accepted.
- Not Accepted: Video games, DVDs, CDs, and adult themed materials are excluded.
Organizers reserve the right to decline incomplete or damaged items.
A Broader 2026 Swap Series
The Puzzle and Game Swap is the first of five themed exchanges scheduled for 2026, each targeting practical household categories and seasonal needs:
- February 21: Puzzles and Games
- May 9: Garden Tools and Seeds
- August 15: School Supplies and Kids’ Clothes
- September 19: Pet Supplies
- September 26: Halloween Costumes and Decorations
City officials describe the swap series as part of a broader strategy to reduce waste and promote reuse within the community. By creating structured, well publicized exchange events, the Recycling Center is encouraging residents to think differently about surplus household items, not as trash, but as shared resources.
Why It Matters
In a consumer culture built on constant replacement, a puzzle swap may seem modest. But at the municipal level, reuse initiatives carry measurable environmental benefits. Extending the life of consumer goods reduces landfill volume, lowers demand for new production, and conserves the raw materials and energy embedded in everyday items.
At the household level, the impact is immediate. Families gain new activities at no cost. Children see reuse modeled as normal civic behavior. And neighbors interact face to face, not as customers, but as participants in a shared exchange.
What to Know
- What: Puzzle and Game Swap
- When: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: Coon Rapids Civic Center, Room B
- Address: 11155 Robinson Dr. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
- Advance Drop Off: February 9 to February 20 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at City Hall Front Desk
- Contact: Coon Rapids Recycling Center | 763 767 6485
For MinneapoliMedia readers across the north metro, this is less about puzzles and more about practice. Practice in sustainability. Practice in community. Practice in choosing circulation over disposal.
In winter, when the days are short, even small acts of reuse can feel like light.
Learn more: https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/4412
