Isanti County parks commission recommends paved access and parking at Becklin Park; one member objects

The Isanti County Parks & Recreation Commission on Feb. 24 recommended entering a cooperative agreement with the State of Minnesota to build a paved road and parking area at Becklin Park to improve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access.

The recommendation followed a motion by Commissioner Amy Peterson, seconded by Commissioner Carol Urness, and was recorded as carried. Commissioner Luke Merrill voted no, citing concern about the long-term costs of maintaining paved access and parking.

Supporters said the paved access would improve safe, accessible entry for visitors with mobility needs and make the park easier to maintain in wet conditions. Merrill said his opposition was rooted in uncertainty about future maintenance funding and potential county obligations if the county accepts a new paved facility.

The motion is a recommendation to enter a cooperative agreement with the state; the minutes do not specify construction funding sources, a project timeline or a final cost estimate. The commission did not record a full roll-call tally in the minutes; the record notes only Merrill's recorded no vote.

Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to the appropriate county and state staff for review and, if accepted, a cooperative agreement and project plan would be developed. The commission confirmed its next regular meeting for March 24, 2026, where implementation updates could appear on the agenda.