City Exploring Community Center Options

The City of St. Louis Park is exploring whether it should build a new community recreation center, and residents can get in on the ground floor of the discussions.

A new Community Recreation Task Force is being set up to study the issue and offer input. The task force is expected to meet seven to nine times—typically on a monthly basis—beginning in January. Those interested in serving on the task force should contact Stacy Voelker in the Parks and Recreation Department at (952) 924-2546 or svoelker@stlouispark.org for an application. Applications must be received by Friday, Jan. 6.

In a survey done earlier this year, St. Louis Park residents expressed interest in additional recreational resources. In particular, residents said they were either very interested or somewhat interested in the following amenities:

• Indoor pool (71 percent of respondents)
• Indoor walking/running track (69 percent)
• Fitness and exercise area (68 percent)
• Areas to socialize (53 percent)
• Indoor playground area (52 percent)
• Gymnasium space (50 percent)

No specific proposals have been made, but St. Louis Park officials did tour city facilities in Chaska, Eden Prairie and Plymouth last month to gather some ideas. The city hopes to hear a report from the new task force in April, at which point a formal plan could emerge.

Currently, the city operates the which has two ice rinks and is the home of and hockey. There is an outdoor pool, but no indoor pool.