THE PARK PRESS: Q2 2025

Mission Statement:

Park Construction is dedicated to improving the infrastructure of our communities by providing exceptional construction services. Guided by our core values of safety, quality, integrity, and teamwork, our goal is to exceed expectations and raise the bar of excellence.

In This Issue:

• Project Spotlight: Sherburne County CSAH 83
• Park Recognized as one of the Top 200 Workplaces
• Message from the Corner Office
• New Hires and Promotions
• Park Branded Apparel For Sale
• Upcoming Events
• Training Opportunities
• Video Spotlight: Truck Foreman Jennifer Clemens
• Safety Message: Safety Wins and Areas for Growth
• Recent Wins
• Park on Social Media
• It Pays To Have Friends!
• EEO/Minority Outreach

Project Spotlight: Sherburne County CSAH 83

Park Construction is leading the full reconstruction of 2.25 miles of CSAH 83 in Sherburne County. This project includes realigning the roadway in two key areas to improve safety and traffic flow.

Our team is handling removals, grading, paving, and storm sewer installation.

By the numbers:

• 44,000 SY of bituminous removed
• 65,000 CY of excavation
• 45,000 CY of sand
• 20,000 TN of gravel
• 11,000 TN of asphalt paving
• 650 LF of storm sewer

Big improvements like this take precision, planning, and teamwork—and that’s what we bring to every mile for our clients.

Park Construction Recognized as one of the Top 200 Workplaces by the Star Tribune  

Park Construction Company has once again been recognized as one of the Top 200 Workplaces by the Star Tribune! This award is particularly meaningful because it's based entirely on feedback from our incredible employees. The Star Tribune's annual Top Workplaces survey highlights the best places to work in the Twin Cities and Minnesota, and we couldn't be prouder to be among them.

A huge thank you to our dedicated team for making this possible. Your hard work, commitment, and passion are what make Park Construction a truly exceptional place to work. Here's to our continued success and to creating an even better workplace together!

Message from the Corner Office

It’s hard to believe we’re already well into the summer season. Despite Mother Nature throwing a few curveballs our way, our entire team—field crews and office staff alike—has kept things running smoothly. Thank you for your patience, perseverance, and good humor through the weather delays.

Every day I see our core values of Safety, Quality, Integrity, and Teamwork in action. Our field teams are out on job sites across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio, making a tangible difference in the communities where we live and work. Your craftsmanship and work ethic are building the future, and we’re incredibly proud of what you do. Behind the scenes, our office teams provide the planning, support, and coordination that keep those efforts moving forward. Together, you embody the spirit of Park—one team working toward a common goal.

I’m also excited about our annual Park Mental Wellness Holiday on Friday, August 1, 2025. This is our third year celebrating this company-wide day of rest, and I hope everyone—whether you spend your days in steel-toe boots or at a computer—takes the opportunity to disconnect, recharge, and prioritize mental health. Construction is a demanding industry, both physically and mentally, and it’s important we all look after ourselves. Coming back refreshed makes us stronger as individuals and as a team.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication so far this season. We appreciate everything you do. Enjoy the long weekend, take care of yourselves, and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Jeff Carlson

CEO/President

New Hires and Promotions

Park Construction has recently welcomed several talented new staff members to our team - be sure to stop by and say hello if you get a chance!

Juan Macias – Paving Superintendent 

Douglas Barse – Concrete Superintendent

Robert Preuss – Assistant Equipment Superintendent

Park Branded Apparel For Sale

Contact Kelly Elness (HR) for product options, costs, and size availability.

Email: kelness@parkconstructionco.com 

Office: 763-717-6200

Upcoming Events

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Rib Fest 2025

August 13th | National Guard Armory, Arden Hills, MN

Join us for great food and fun at the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Rib Fest! Enjoy delicious ribs while supporting local veterans and their families. Learn more at yellowribbonribfest.org.

Day of the Dozers 2025

September 20th | ERX Motor Park, Elk River, MN

Have your friends and family get behind the controls of heavy equipment and experience the thrill of operating dozers, excavators, and more. A fun event for all ages while supporting a great cause. Visit diginmidwest.org for more details.

Training Opportunities

Taking classes through your Union is FREE! The Union will likely cover your hotel, fuel, and airfare expenses, too!

With ever changing technology, continuous equipment improvements, and being a life long learner, we highly encourage you to take advantage of the various opportunities offered through your union.

Improving yourself in the workplace opens many more doors – professionally, personally, and financially. If you are unsure of a class you should take, or a skill you should improve upon, please ask your Superintendent for their input.

“The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin

OSHA 30:

All individuals overseeing or managing personnel at Park Construction must have completed OSHA training within the last five years. A text message will be sent to those who need to complete the OSHA 30 during the off-season.

Safety Leadership Academy:

The Safety Leadership Academy is a mandatory program for individuals overseeing or managing personnel at Park Construction. The course spans 2.5 days and has received positive reviews, highlighting its substantial value. Those who have not yet completed the training will be contacted with the dates and RSVP information. Even if you are not currently supervising anyone but wish to enhance your safety leadership skills, attendance may be possible depending on availability. For more information, contact Jeff Slusser at jslusser@parkconstructionco.com.

Video Spotlight: Truck Foreman Jennifer Clemens

At Park Construction, logistics is everything—and Jennifer, our Truck Foreman, is at the heart of it all.

For the past 4 years, Jennifer has overseen our equipment dispatch, daily planning, registration, and coordination. Every single morning, she checks in with our foremen to ensure their trucking needs are met, keeping our operations smooth and our projects on schedule.

She’s also a key part of our long-term equipment strategy, helping us plan for future growth and capacity. From coordinating with other trucking companies for specialty equipment to managing our own contract hauling services, Jennifer’s ability to build relationships across the industry keeps Park moving.

We regularly hear from partners and peers in the field that Park drivers are some of the friendliest and most professional in the industry. That’s a reflection of the culture that Jennifer helps create.

Safety Message: Safety Wins and Areas for Growth

Well, it might be a new year, but the construction season clearly didn’t get the memo—we’re off to a familiar start. Rain delays, utility frustrations, and hot temps have made sure nobody’s getting too comfortable. It’s like Mother Nature watched Groundhog Day and thought, “Hey, let’s give that a try, just with more mud and fewer ice sculptures.”

But here’s the plot twist: unlike the movie, our daily choices do matter. Unsafe habits and behaviors don’t just affect one person, they ripple out to everyone. That’s why we’re truly thankful for the dedication, teamwork, and professionalism you bring to Park every day, rain or shine.

So, let’s take a moment to reflect on our safety stats from this time last year and recognize the progress we’ve made.

Utility Damage Reduction

Starting with the ever-relevant topic of utilities: while challenges still exist, we’ve made significant progress. Total utility hits are down 46%, and marked utility damages have decreased by 18%. These improvements aren’t due to luck, they reflect the consistent effort and commitment our teams bring to each project. From thorough pre-planning and open communication with facility owners and locators to skillful fieldwork using the Metrotech and potholing before excavation, your work is making a difference.

You can see the results in the chart below, total utility damages by month are trending in the right direction…down!

A special shoutout goes to our Vac-truck crew. When the truck was first acquired, there were questions about its value. Today, the numbers speak for themselves. The combination of experienced laborers and operators, along with strong Vac-truck support, has been instrumental in reducing utility strikes across the board.

Where Can We Improve?

One area we need to reverse is the decline in near-miss reporting. We’ve seen a 54% decrease compared to this time last year. Near misses are free lessons, opportunities to learn without injury or damage. Please continue reporting them, they’re essential to a strong safety culture.

Additionally, property damage incidents are up 46%. While unfortunate, these incidents (and near misses) have driven the creation of numerous lessons learned. Let’s reflect on those, apply the takeaways, and grow from them.

Looking at the chart below, it’s clear that May and June weren’t good months. And historically, August has been one of the worst months for damages. When looking at the chart, you’ll see that we categorize our damages into 4 subsets.

• Cat 1: Minor (reporting only and not included in chart)
• Cat 2: Cosmetic – May need to be repaired in the future
• Cat 3: Substantial – Mechanic is required and repair is less than $5,000
• Cat 4: Major – Mechanic is required and repair is more than $5,000

Now that we know that, we can do something about it.

Focus on These Key Behaviors:

To help reduce the frequency and severity of property and equipment damages:

1. Situational Awareness
2. Be aware of your surroundings and maintain a clear line of sight when operating or spotting equipment. Perform a walk-around before operating and ensure the area is clear of personnel, tools, and other hazards.
3. Pre-Task Planning / Morning Safety Briefs
4. Proactively identify risks before starting work. STOP–THINK–ACT.
5. Use Spotters
6. When working near traffic, tight areas, overhead lines, or personnel, spotters are one of the most effective ways to prevent damage.
7. Supervisor Engagement
8. Reinforce expectations daily and correct behaviors immediately when you see something off.

Closing Thought

At Park Construction, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made together this year. Every challenge we’ve faced has been met with resilience, teamwork, and the commitment to get better. Let’s keep that momentum going. Stay sharp, stay engaged, and let’s finish the season strong, as one team. You've proven we can raise the bar, so let’s keep climbing.

Recent Wins

Here are some of the projects we recently won bids on:

• 5MW Oppidan Data Center
• ADM Wet Feed Expansion – Marshall, MN
• BNSF Northtown IW SYS Upgrades
• Catholic Eldercare
• Cedar Lake Rd & Louisiana Ave – St Louis Park, MN
• CS McCROSSAN (TH 494)
• CSAH 22 Pipe Work – Anoka County, MN
• Eagle Brook Church – Brainerd, MN
• EWD1A Tory Taylor Substation – Concrete & Sitework – Cedar Rapids, IA
• Forest Lake Airport
• Hutchinson Substation Upgrades – Concrete & Sitework
• Lake Johanna Fire Station
• McKenzie County Landfill Construction – Arnegard, ND
• New Brighton 2025 Street Rehabilitation
• Ogden Substation – Ogden, IA
• ORMAT Cove Fort Upgrade – Cove Fort, UT
• POET ALE 10 Concrete & Sitework
• POET POR 11 Concrete & Sitework
• St Paul Jackson Street
• St Paul Mill & Overlay
• Swissport Slab Joint Repairs
• The Retreat Men’s Wing – Wayzata
• Valley Paving TH 212
• Wayzata Middle School Mill & Overlay
• Wayzata Schools Catch Basin Repair
• White Bear Lake Downtown Parking Lot
• White Bear Pentair
• Zimmerman Mill & Overlay

Park on Social Media

One of our goals for 2024 is to have a bigger presence on social media. We are posting weekly content on multiple platforms, and we encourage you to follow us, like our posts, and leave a comment or share it if you feel inspired. You can find us on the following sites:

It Pays To Have Friends!

Remember our Referral Bonus Program for next season! It’s Simple – if you refer someone and they get hired, you get a bonus!

We believe that our employees are our most valuable asset and that they are in the best position to recommend qualified candidates to join our team. If you know someone who would be a great fit for our company, please reach out to your supervisor or HR (contact info below) for more information on how you can participate in this program. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to growing our team with your help.

Email: kelness@parkconstructionco.com 

Office: 763-717-6200

EEO/Minority Outreach

It is Park Construction’s commitment to support our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy & Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) to create a workplace with diversity, inclusiveness and fair treatment. In effort to achieve and maintain this commitment, our Company is continually striving to diversify its personnel to reflect the changing demographics of the construction industry. We highly encourage employees to refer candidates who are women, people of color, or any member from a protected class for employment opportunities at Park.