Dunn County facilities launches monthly 'Park Power Up' renovations at county parks

Austin, a facilities staff member, described a new monthly renovation program for Dunn County parks that has already produced visible repairs and cleanup at multiple sites.

Austin said he has been in the facilities group about 100 days and organized a "Park Power Up" initiative in which facilities staff (including custodial and office personnel) spend a scheduled half-day at one county park each month to perform maintenance and small repairs. In early rounds the team repaired or repainted pavilions, reset and reseeded grass, removed overgrowth, ground stumps and installed grill hardware. Parks worked on in the first months included Champney Park, Russian Slough, Pine View and Lake Mahnomen.

Examples from Austin's slides and remarks: 15 picnic tables and two pavilions cleaned and repainted at Champney, clearing and restoration at Russian Slough near the Red Cedar River, reseeding and bollard clearing at Pine View (on Lake O'Gallagher), and trail and picnic area work at Lake Mahnomen. Austin said some minor purchases (paint, lumber, grills) and staff time produced the improvements and that the program is intended to return to parks on a one-to-one-and-a-half-year cycle depending on needs.

Supervisor Thomas asked whether volunteers would be welcome; Austin said yes and suggested the county will post schedules and tools needed (paintbrushes, shovels) so civic groups and teams could join. Supervisor Story referred Austin to UW–Stout biology department contacts about managing prairies and conservation areas.

Austin said the facilities team intends to post park information on the county website (pavilion size, electricity availability, camping potential) so residents can better use and reserve sites.