The City of Cedar Park has opened a new Public Safety Joint Training Facility, a $30 million project approved by voters as part of the city’s 2022 bond program.
City leaders marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 24. The facility is designed to bring police, fire, and emergency management personnel together in one location for joint training exercises.
Officials say the goal is to improve coordination and response times by allowing first responders to train side by side in realistic scenarios.
“This facility reflects Cedar Park’s commitment to building a safe, inclusive, and resilient community,” Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said. “By investing in advanced training and coordinated response, we are ensuring that our public safety teams are prepared for the most difficult scenarios.”
The facility is located at 1200–1204 Fire Lane, next to the city’s existing fire training tower.
It includes:
- A 17,000-square-foot main training building with classrooms, office space, and an Emergency Operations Center
- A 10,000-square-foot structure for fitness and hands-on simulation training
- A 7,700-square-foot apparatus bay for fire and emergency management vehicles
Police Chief Mike Harmon said the shared training space will help improve coordination among agencies.
“By training alongside our public safety partners in real-world scenarios, we are improving response times and ensuring safer outcomes for the community,” Harmon said.
Fire Chief James Mallinger added that the facility allows crews to better prepare for emergencies in a growing city.
A key component of the project is Cedar Park’s first dedicated Emergency Operations Center, which will serve as a central hub for managing major incidents and disasters.
Emergency Management Coordinator John Cummins said the new center will help officials respond more effectively during large-scale events.
“With a dedicated Emergency Operations Center and integrated training environment, we can coordinate faster and communicate more effectively,” Cummins said.
City officials say the facility is part of a broader effort to strengthen emergency preparedness and regional collaboration as Cedar Park continues to grow.
