“Woodbury still has a lot of room to grow and will grow for the next couple of decades,” Mayor Anne Burt shared with members of the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce last week.
The hour-long presentation covered a number of significant projects that were started in 2024.
“What a year!” Burt said. “But I say this almost every year. It’s because of the great talent we have in our city and staff.”
Burt said a big win for the city was the approval by voters of a sales tax referendum to fund a majority of the Public Safety Campus Project. The renovation and expansion will integrate medical, fire, police and emergency preparedness and provide more space to serve the growing city.
The $40 million Central Park renovation, with $7.5 million from state bonding, upgrades the indoor gathering spot. Co-located in the space will be The South Washington County Telecommunication Commission, ISD 833’s adult education and early Childhood and Family Education programs, as well as the library. The mayor expects the renovation will be completed by the fall of 2025.
Burt highlighted the city council’s strategic initiatives on drinking water, environmental stewardship and public safety. She is very pleased with the architectural design of the permanent water treatment plant, which broke ground last month. The facility will have a contemporary farmhouse facade and look more like a residential development than a municipal plant.
Woodbury also has a new Destination Marketing Organization. In April 2025 the website DestinationWoodbury.com will launch. The website will serve as a one-stop shop for things to do, community event calendar, and local tourism resources.
The new year will also see the beginning of the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit from Woodbury to St. Paul.
New commercial developments include Amazon’s “last mile” facility near Settlers Ridge Parkway and Topgolf, a driving range and entertainment center at the southeastern corner of Interstates 94 and 494.
Affordable workforce housing is underway at Reserves at Settler’s Ridge and Meadows at Prairie Ridge.
In school district news Burt said that South Washington county schools have a lot of construction underway for several of their schools, including East Ridge and Woodbury high schools.
“The Math and Science Academy, the number one high school in Minnesota, has chosen to expand its 6-12 campus on Bailey Road, while the existing location on Radio Drive will house K-5,” Burt said.
The 2040 Comprehensive Plan guides the city in managing its growth over the next few decades.
Editor’s Note: Woodbury News Net is a member of the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce.
