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Coon Rapids Police and Fire Unite for the Anoka County Polar Plunge
On a late February afternoon, when Minnesota winter still holds its grip, hundreds will gather at the edge of a frozen shoreline in Blaine. At noon on Saturday, February 28, they will do something that defies comfort and embraces purpose. They will step into icy water so others can step into opportunity.
This year, the Coon Rapids Police Department is joining forces with the Coon Rapids Fire Department to participate in the Polar Plunge at Lakeside Commons Park in Blaine. The event supports Special Olympics Minnesota, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides year round sports training and competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state.
For the officers and firefighters of Coon Rapids, the plunge is not a stunt. It is a statement.
A Fourteen Year Legacy of Impact
The Anoka County Polar Plunge has grown into one of the region’s signature winter traditions. Over its 14 year history, the event has raised more than $2.4 million for Special Olympics Minnesota. In 2025 alone, 927 plungers raised $233,141, demonstrating the depth of community support behind what has become both a spectacle and a service project.
Those funds are not abstract figures. They help cover athlete registration fees, coaching, uniforms, travel expenses, and access to statewide competitions. For thousands of athletes, Special Olympics is a doorway to confidence, camaraderie, and achievement.
In a state defined by its winters, the symbolism is unmistakable. The cold is real. So is the commitment.
Service Beyond the Badge
Law enforcement and fire departments are often measured by how they respond in crisis. Yet moments like the Polar Plunge reveal another dimension of public service. They show officers and firefighters as neighbors, teammates, and advocates.
By teaming up this year, Coon Rapids Police and Fire underscore a shared mission that extends beyond emergency response. Public safety is not only about protection. It is about partnership.
Each donation made through the Coon Rapids Police and Fire team goes directly to Special Olympics Minnesota. The partnership aligns first responders with athletes whose resilience often outpaces the weather itself.
Event Details
What: Anoka County Polar Plunge
When: Saturday, February 28 at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Lakeside Commons Park, 3020 Lakes Parkway, Blaine
Supporters can sponsor the Coon Rapids Police and Fire team at:
https://reg.plungemn.org/team/coonrapidspoliceandfire
Freezing for a Reason
On social media, the message is simple: freezing for a reason.
But at Lakeside Commons Park, the meaning runs deeper. The plunge is less about endurance than empathy. It is about choosing discomfort so others may access opportunity. It is about a community that understands strength not only as physical courage, but as collective compassion.
When the countdown reaches zero and the first splash breaks the surface, it will echo more than laughter and shock. It will carry a promise that in Anoka County, winter does not freeze generosity.
