The City of Columbia Heights and the Columbia Heights Police Department have purchased two lots directly adjacent to the Circle Terrace Neighborhood branch of what is currently named Labelle Park. These lots once contained dilapidated rental properties, but with the assistance of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and other federal and local funding sources, these properties were purchased
with the intent of neighborhood enhancement. During this time, the City created a proposal allowing for the park equipment in this park to be replaced, along with the installation of an outdoor athletics court for 2016. With this, an idea was proposed for a multipurpose community building to be erected within the new park. Before taking this proposal to the City Council, the Columbia Heights Police Department conducted a door-to-door survey of the entire block and surrounding community, gauging their interest in such a building. With overwhelmingly positive results and support for this building, an amendment proposal was brought to the Columbia Heights Parks and Recreation Commission for approval to amend the Labelle Park Master Plan by incorporating this building for community and police services in the Circle Terrace Neighborhood. This amendment was unanimously approved and it was next brought the City Council, where the amendment also garnered unanimous support from Columbia Heights Council leadership. A committee has been since formed to establish grants and funding for this project that has been estimated to cost an additional $250,000. Prior to this, for the better part of a decade, Circle Terrace Blvd NE was a haven for crime and disorder. The small community contributed disproportionately for police calls and officer action. The City of Columbia Heights and its police department treated the symptoms of this crime but failed to reach the community in order to establish the root causes of the issues affecting this neighborhood. This community, made up of almost 100% rental properties, has long been a diverse and transient population, making it difficult to truly create the reality of a community. However, in 2008, Scott Nadeau was made the new Chief of Police, and he immediately sought change within the Police Department and within the community. Since then police have proactively addressed crime and other community-oriented issues. With hard work and good police work, along with positively forged relationships with community stakeholders and City departments, this community has rebounded within the last several years. Crime is at a forty-year low, and police calls have decreased significantly. Where once police and community shared an adversarial relationship, there is now a dialogue of positivity and hope that is shared between residents and police alike. This building would act as a focal point for the community, allowing the citizens access to a community building that would host a multitude of community events. The community, which is approximately 60% Somali, has requested the building be created to provide the opportunity and resources for programs such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, Adult Basic Education, First Aid Training, Parks and Recreation, Parenting Classes, Religious Outreach and Events, and a bevy of other possibilities. The community also overwhelmingly requested this building for police services and outreach. The Columbia Heights Police Department has responded to this request by promising to provide staff services within this building part time each and every week at no extra cost to the community. The City of Columbia Heights has already invested into the park redevelopment with the funding of the park rebuild, and has also pledged to fund the maintenance of this building annually without taxation or fees to the community. Several community stakeholders have already pledged their allegiance and support for this building, including the Columbia Heights School District and the Anoka County Community Action Program. This park will tentatively be renamed City of Peace Park and feature a Police Services and Community Education Building on the playground-adjacent lots.
