Bunker Beach Water Park is home to the first wave pool and longest lazy river in the state. The nine-acre destination waterpark is 20 minutes north of the Twin Cities in Minnesota and centrally located in Bunker Hills Regional Park in Coon Rapids. Bunker Beach was originally constructed in 1988 as a wave pool facility only. Since then, numerous features and attractions have been added in three phases in 2003, 2006, and 2010. In the spring of 2018, the County addressed the deterioration of the 30-year-old wave pool’s mechanical concrete structure. This was a short-term repair to allow for a more comprehensive asset preservation analysis of the entire facility.

In late 2018, the County hired Counsilman-Hunsaker to conduct a feasibility analysis of the wave pool infrastructure and mechanical areas and develop a facility-wide asset preservation plan. Through that process, Counsilman-Hunsaker developed multiple wave pool replacement options and associated costs. The $6.5 million project recommendation was supported by the Anoka County Parks Committee and approved by the Board of Commissioners in March 2020.