CIRCLE PINES, Minn.- (June 7, 2018)– Working for the city of Circle Pines for 14 years, David Olson’s job as a parks maintenance worker keeps him busy year round.”Mowing, trimming trees, some dirt work. In the winter we do hockey rinks and plow snow. We maintain the sidewalks and trails around the town.,” Olson said.
Before coming to work in Circle Pines, Olson worked for the city of Anoka. He says he enjoys working for a smaller town like Circle Pines because he gets to work with many of the same people who he’s grown to be close with. “It’s a small group of people so everybody knows each other well and we get along pretty well. It’s kind of like a family. I believe the person that has been with us the least amount of time is 10 years now, so a lot of long time people.”
With 10 different facilities in Circle Pines plus a trail system the city has a plethora of spots for residents to enjoy. Olson, who has spent a substantial amount of time in the parks over the years, has his favorite. “I like Golden Lake Park,” Olson said, “And it’s probably our most prominent one and most used.”
Over Olson’s time working for the city, the parks have undergone frequent changes and additions, which is why Olson thinks more citizens should get out and explore the parks. “The more people get out and use them, the better. We’re always making improvements.”
“Something new that we’ve just added this year is pickle ball, which apparently is becoming popular,” Olson said, “We’re always looking to kind of keep up with what’s popular and what brings people into the parks.”
Olson appreciates getting out on the trails when he’s not working and urges residents to take advantage of what he says is an extensive trail system.
“That’s really one of our big assets,” Olson said, “When people first move to town they don’t realize the extensive system that we have.”
