Brainerd Receives 2nd $500K Grant for Historic Water Tower Preservation | Lakeland News

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The historic water tower in Brainerd has secured a second $500,000 grant from the National Park Service through the congressional direct spending program for fiscal year 2026, bringing its total funding to one million dollars. Built in the early 1920s, this structure stands as one of the first continuously poured concrete water towers in the country and has served the community for over a century. While previous renovations have addressed the roof and window panels, the current focus is on repairing significant delamination issues affecting the stucco on the exterior bowl of the tower. This new funding represents a major milestone in a long-term preservation effort aimed at restoring the building's iconic facade, though it falls short of the project's ultimate goal of $3.2 million. To bridge this financial gap, the historic water tower committee is collaborating with LHB construction and the city of Brainerd to revise their plans and seek cost-saving measures that could allow for exterior work within a one-million-dollar budget. The strategy involves sending revised architectural plans to local contractors to solicit proposals, hoping to initiate the critical exterior renovation project in the spring of 2028. Beyond its structural importance, the water tower holds deep cultural significance as a symbol of Brainerd's history and identity. It is featured on all city logos and is instantly recognizable to residents and visitors alike as a defining landmark of the community. Both the municipal government and the preservation committee view the tower as a historic asset that must be protected for future generations, ensuring that its unique architectural heritage remains intact despite the challenges posed by aging materials and environmental wear. The successful acquisition of these grants marks a momentous occasion for the city, signaling renewed commitment to maintaining this century-old icon. By combining federal support with local partnerships and strategic cost management, the stakeholders aim to stabilize the deteriorating stucco and preserve the visual character that defines Brainerd. This collaborative effort underscores the shared desire among citizens and officials to honor the past while investing in a sustainable future for one of the region's most cherished landmarks.

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The historic water tower in the city of Brainerd received another $500,000 grant from the National Park Service through the congressional direct spending grant FY26. Our reporter Xavier Curry has more on how the historic water tower committee and the city will try to preserve a city landmark. >> Built in the early 1900s, the historic water tower has been a part of the Brainerd community for over 100 plus years. >> The historic water tower has got um a lot of history, right? It was built in the in the '20s and it was one of the first continuously poured concrete water towers in the country. You've seen through previous years that seen some delamination of the stucco on the north side of the water tower. These two grants that were awarded will go towards fixing that stucco on the exterior of the bowl. >> Over the past couple years, the tower has received some renovations including fixing up the roof of the tower and installing newer window panels. Now, the focus shifts to fixing the exterior. >> As you can see as you drive by the structure, you can see that the exterior stucco is affecting the outside of the structure. So, now what we've got left is is the structure is the stucco and that's kind of what we want to do. >> The second grant of 500,000 given to the tower committee brings the total amount received to $1 million, which is a step closer to its goal of 3.2 million. >> It's a huge momentous occasion for us to help us restore the exterior of the Brainerd water tower. Uh we're working with LHB construction and the city of Brainerd to somehow get the price down from approximately $3 million to see what we can do for a million dollars. >> Both the city and the committee see the water tower as a historic landmark that should be preserved for generations. >> The historic water tower is an icon of Brainerd. It's on all of our city logos. Everyone that has been through Brainerd or is a resident of Brainerd knows that the water tower just resembles what Brainerd is, its history, um its iconic nature, being just a symbol of our community, and uh moving forward we want to ensure that that's preserved. >> Reporting in Brainerd, Xxavier Curry, Lakeland News. >> And the plans are to send the revised plans to area contractors for proposals in the hope of starting the exterior renovation in the spring of 2028. >> Lakeland News is a non-profit news organization. Donate to Lakeland PBS today to support your local news team.