The multimillion-dollar renovation of the Maple Grove Community Center includes building renovations, upgrades, landscaping, aquatic improvements and more. Photo: JLG Architects
Community centers can often be referred to as the heartbeat of a community. The City of Maple Grove recognizes its value, and this July will break ground on the first phase of a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion project on the Maple Grove Community Center.
“It’s a massive project,” says Chuck Stifter, Maple Grove Parks and Recreation director. “We’ve been working on this since 2018.”
Following the birth of the idea for the project, many studies were conducted, including community engagement to determine the public’s needs. The input led to the development of a master plan, a referendum and many meetings to educate community members.
“It’s critical to have community support for projects this size,” Stifter says.
Broken up into three phases, the first, expected to break ground this month, includes a new ice rink, locker rooms, concourse, lobby, parking lot improvements and geothermal refrigeration improvements.
“We are deliberately separating out phase one to only be working in the arena area,” Stifter says, adding following phases will include building renovations and upgrades, landscaping as well as indoor and outdoor aquatic improvements.
Visit the nearby Town Green Park to enjoy all that the City of Maple Grove has to offer. Photo: City of Maple Grove
After six years of buildup, preparing to officially put shovels in the dirt is exciting, Stifter says. Construction is expected to take about 14 months, with the hope of completing phase one by mid-September 2025—just in time for hockey season.
“That’s important,” he says, noting the community center serves as Maple Grove Senior High School’s home ice. In addition, the City of Maple Grove has strong partnerships with the local youth hockey association, Stifter says. “They’re a valuable partner and our main user,” he says. “They partner not only in guiding us in designing this appropriately but also financially.”
In the same breath, Stifter mentions that the community center’s other two rinks will remain in operation during production of the third sheet of ice.
The entire project’s plan aims to reduce the building’s energy usage by up to 80 percent, compared to similar facilities. “That’s a pretty progressive effort on the city’s part,” Stifter says. “When we hire architects, we tell them that sustainability and putting thought into the future is important.”
With start and completion dates of phase one becoming clear, Stifter says one of the more popular questions he and other project officials receive is: When are the next phases expected to begin? “We recognize the arena attracts a defined audience, and we do serve a lot more people of the community in the rest of our building,” he says. “… We’re continuing to seek additional funding resources, including a state bonding bill request … we’ll have a better understanding once those are announced on how to better define the scope of the rest of the project.”
“… It’s a massive endeavor,” Stifter says. “It’s going to be exciting for the community.”
Learn more at maplegrove.gov and growingtogethermaplegrove.org.
