Andover Coon Rapids 2011-2012 : Page 36

COON RAPIDS WELCOME LETTER Welcome to the City of Coon Rapids! Change abounds in our city. As a fully developed city, the current focus is on redevelopment and enhancement. This is evident with changes in land use from commercial to residential in sections of the city, upgraded roadways, a revitalized park system, decorative lighting, landscaping and flower beds. The city is thriving, and this is reflected in the The City also has a strong interest in developing and preserving amenities that enhance our quality of life. the amenities that make suburban living a pleasure. There is a wide range of housing options, making Coon Rapids Coon Rapids residents have had a long history of attractive to everyone regardless of age or income. We have volunteering for worthwhile activities. A number of city an interesting variety of restaurants, shopping areas (including commissions serve in an advisory capacity to the City Riverdale Village Regional Shopping Center), plus a broad Council on a volunteer basis. They include: Arts, Board of Adjustment and Appeals, Charter, Historical, Parks range of churches and service clubs. and Recreation, Planning, Safety, and Sustainability. For Recreational activities abound in Coon Rapids with many more information on these commissions, call City Hall neighborhood and regional parks, municipal golf course, at 763-767-6493. indoor and outdoor ice rinks, softball and baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, hiking and biking trails, skateboard Best regards, parks, and fishing and boating opportunities for everyone Coon Rapids City Council to enjoy. Coon Rapids is an exciting community and the metropolitan area’s gateway to the northern part of the state. For all our residents, we offer a unique combination of urban excitement and small town friendliness with many opportunities to work and play together. COON RAPIDS HISTORY Our long-time residents still remember the way it used to be: by Norman W. Kittson, and the road then became part of the dirt roads, no electricity, a street car traveling from Minneapolis famous Red River Ox Cart Trail. The trail closely followed the through Coon Rapids to Anoka. Now they see a thriving City present East River Road/Coon Rapids Boulevard alignment. in an urban setting with an excellent quality of life. Agriculture was the first industry in the Coon Creek area, with Coon Rapids traces its founding as a separate government farms ranging in size from 90 to 600 acres. In 1881, Dr. D. entity back to July 30, 1857 when Anoka Township was C. Dunham organized the first brick yard, which was located organized. The City retains these same boundaries with the near Coon Rapids Boulevard and Avocet Street and was known exclusion of the City of Anoka which was incorporated as a as the Anoka Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Company. It represented the first non-agricultural industry in Coon Rapids. separate city. The legacy left by that brick industry is still visible today, in When the Federal Government surveyed the area in 1847, it part, by a pond in the area, known as the “Clay Hole.” found a well traveled road running through Anoka County. The road was laid out in 1835 for military use and may be In the summer of 1898, the Great Northern Development the oldest road in this part of the country. In 1843, trade was Company proposed to build a dam below the Coon Creek established from St. Paul to Pembina in the Red River Valley Rapids, with a power generating plant on the east side of the The Coon Rapids Historical Mural was painted by Helen Potter, employed as a community artist by the City of Coon Rapids during 1977-78. For more information about this Mural, visit www.coonrapidsmn.gov 36 2011-2012 Official Andover/Coon Rapids Community Resource & Residents’ Guide ™

City Of Coon Rapids Welcome Letter

Welcome to the City of Coon Rapids! Coon Rapids is an exciting community and the metropolitan area’s gateway to the northern part of the state. For all our residents, we offer a unique combination of urban excitement and small town friendliness with many opportunities to work and play together. The City also has a strong interest in developing and preserving the amenities that make suburban living a pleasure. There is a wide range of housing options, making Coon Rapids attractive to everyone regardless of age or income. We have an interesting variety of restaurants, shopping areas (including Riverdale Village Regional Shopping Center), plus a broad range of churches and service clubs. Recreational activities abound in Coon Rapids with many neighborhood and regional parks, municipal golf course, indoor and outdoor ice rinks, softball and baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, hiking and biking trails, skateboard parks, and fishing and boating opportunities for everyone to enjoy. Change abounds in our city. As a fully developed city, the current focus is on redevelopment and enhancement. This is evident with changes in land use from commercial to residential in sections of the city, upgraded roadways, a revitalized park system, decorative lighting, landscaping and flower beds. The city is thriving, and this is reflected in the amenities that enhance our quality of life. Coon Rapids residents have had a long history of volunteering for worthwhile activities. A number of city commissions serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council on a volunteer basis. They include: Arts, Board of Adjustment and Appeals, Charter, Historical, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Safety, and Sustainability. For more information on these commissions, call City Hall at 763-767-6493. Best regards, Coon Rapids City Council

History Of Coon Rapids

Our long-time residents still remember the way it used to be: dirt roads, no electricity, a street car traveling from Minneapolis through Coon Rapids to Anoka. Now they see a thriving City in an urban setting with an excellent quality of life. Coon Rapids traces its founding as a separate government entity back to July 30, 1857 when Anoka Township was organized. The City retains these same boundaries with the exclusion of the City of Anoka which was incorporated as a separate city. When the Federal Government surveyed the area in 1847, it found a well traveled road running through Anoka County. The road was laid out in 1835 for military use and may be the oldest road in this part of the country. In 1843, trade was established from St. Paul to Pembina in the Red River Valley by Norman W. Kittson, and the road then became part of the famous Red River Ox Cart Trail. The trail closely followed the present East River Road/Coon Rapids Boulevard alignment. Agriculture was the first industry in the Coon Creek area, with farms ranging in size from 90 to 600 acres. In 1881, Dr. D.C. Dunham organized the first brick yard, which was located near Coon Rapids Boulevard and Avocet Street and was known as the Anoka Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Company. It represented the first non-agricultural industry in Coon Rapids. The legacy left by that brick industry is still visible today, in part, by a pond in the area, known as the “Clay Hole.” In the summer of 1898, the Great Northern Development Company proposed to build a dam below the Coon Creek Rapids, with a power generating plant on the east side of the River. The actual construction did not start until 1912. Within one year, a small city had sprung up on the shores of the Mississippi River. Streets were laid out and roughly graded. The City’s population grew to over one thousand with laborers and engineers working on the dam, which was built by the Mississippi Power Company and was operating by 1914. Northern States Power Company ran the dam until 1969 when it was acquired by the Hennepin County Park Board. It serves as Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park today. With the coming of the dam, Anoka Township took on a new name - Coon Creek Rapids which over the years was shortened to Coon Rapids. In July 1948, an election was held in an attempt to incorporate the Township of Anoka as a village. The idea was initially defeated but succeeded in October of 1952. In keeping with the progressive nature of the community, the voters went to the polls in November of 1957 and changed the form of village government to the Council/ Manager plan. Two years later, in June of 1959, the Village of Coon Rapids became the City of Coon Rapids. Since 1959, the population has grown from 14,000 to over 63,500, making Coon Rapids the sixth largest metropolitan suburb. Main Street/CSAH 14 Reconstruction Celebrates Coon Rapids History When designing the Main Street project, the engineer looked at the City’s history and landscape for design clues and inspiration. By incorporating indigenous materials, colors and landscapes into the design solutions, they began to reflect and celebrate the City’s rich history and unique relationship to the region. Brick walls and bridge piers recall the local brick factory where bricks were once mined, fired and shipped all over the region. The custom roadway lights enforce the region’s flat prairie land form with strong horizontal sections holding “prairie style architecture” lamps that enrich the area with muted color and a design inspired from the landscape. Native trees, shrubs and perennials help to provide seasonal color and create a pattern in the landscape that unites the entire roadway. Art placed on the brick walls on both sides of Main Street east of the Highway 10 bridge to Round Lake Boulevard portrays persons and objects that were part of the area, each benefitting from the local natural resources. These include: Prairie - Acknowledges the rich, native prairies which once extended through the area; Teepee - the land along the Mississippi River was a premium hunting ground for Native Americans who lived in teepees covered with tanned animal hides; Voyageurs - Meaning ‘traveler,’ describes the French- Canadians who paddled the canoes of fur traders and explorers along the Mississippi River; Oxcart - Traveling along the Red River Trail extending through Coon Rapids, oxcarts carried goods and laid the foundation for commerce and transportation; Horse and Plow - Recognizes agriculture, one of the earliest European industries in the area. By placing trees and art in the landscape, the intention was to create interest and curiosity in the area and enhance the City’s history.

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