Projects & Trails
Here's just a few of the things that have been going on in the ANP..
Red and white oaks removed during this project were over 250 years old.
The City and the Anoka Conservation District also completed restoration on a collapsing section of riverbank, which had jeopardized the adjacent trail. The trail had temporarily been rerouted while until the restoration was complete. (Summer, 2025)
Rum River
Significant riverbank restoration was done along the east bank of the Rum, just north of the Bunker Lake Blvd bridge. This was in conjunction with the development of Rum River Shores housing. It maintained the trail connecting the Metro trail south of the bridge with the entrance to the ANP north of the bridge. The riverbank and the trail area are part of the ANP conservation easement, and not actually part of the housing development. While old oaks were removed along the riverbank, new native plantings were introduced and are beginning to mature. The City also constructed and maintains a dock system for public rental and use.
Trail system
ANP Area Trails: This is a recent map of the ANP. The Anoka County Library is visible near the lower right corner of the picture, just off the intersection of 7th Avenue and County 116 (Bunker Lake Blvd). Head behind the library on Parkview Lane to the Trailhead parking lot (at the playground).
The “core” trail (shown in red) in the center of the Preserve is known as the Vern Emmans Bluebird Trail. Please be cautious around the bluebird houses–there are many, and they’re placed in strategic locations for nesting.
Anoka High School students refer to the large, square meadow to the west as “Iowa,” and it offers a fabulous view from the hilltop in the northwest corner of the meadow. It slopes down to river bottom land which occasionally floods, and provides habitat and nesting grounds for many of the area waterfowl, turtles, and other species.
