Frequently asked questions
Questions about construction
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Phase one of the investment plan includes a third sheet of ice, infrastructure investments, including system upgrades and roof repairs, parking lot improvements, and upgrades to the Lion's Pavilion. New swimming pools, more space for senior programs, expanded event and banquet space, space for the arts, and a walking track are also being discussed as possibilities for phase two.
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Yes, to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars and keep some amenities open during renovations, construction will occur in phases.
City leaders will work to ensure Community Center services remain available throughout construction.
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The project is being completed in two phases.
Phase one construction began in August 2024 and is expected to be completed by July 2026. It includes a adding a third sheet of ice to the rink, general site improvements, parking lot updates, and Lions Pavilion and play area updates.
Phase two includes community center expansion and renovated activity and aquatic center. Construction is expected to start fall of 2026 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2028.
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Some activities and programs will be temporarily relocated, while others will continue at the Community Center during construction. The city will work to limit disruptions as much as possible for all Community Center users.
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The project is focusing on sustainable development with various eco-friendly initiatives.
High-efficiency plumbing fixtures to save water
Energy recovery ventilation systems to reduce heating and cooling loads
LED lighting throughout the building, parking lot, and site
High-efficiency ammonia refrigerants and geothermal cooling for the ice rink
Recycled materials for parking lots
Expanding stormwater ponds
Restoring native vegetation
Electronic vehicle charging stations
Expanding walking and bike trails
All finishes were chosen with consideration of proximity to the project location. If products meet sustainability, performance, and appearance benchmarks set by the architect and are manufactured in the U.S., they were selected over comparable products from further away. A few highlights addressing sustainability and/or user comfort:
Rubber floorings and wall base meet/exceed indoor air quality standards — PVC free, contain recycled materials, and 100% recyclable.
Carpet tile is from a net zero company — indoor air quality Green Label Plus #GLP0820 certified, manufactured with 100% recycled materials and fully recyclable.
Greenguard certified paints are specified for all indoor walls, doors, doorframes, and miscellaneous metals.
Sound absorbing wall panels are specified for use in high-volume public areas to increase audio comfort for end-users.
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By law, any public project with a value greater than $175,000 must be bid and awarded to the lowest bidder. The city will use a process that informs and encourages local bidders, while still respecting the state law. If local contractors are the low bidders, the city will use local contractors.
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On Nov. 7, 2024, the City of Maple Grove and Life Time announced plans to complete a land exchange agreement that will allow Life Time to build a new, flagship athletic country club in the Minnesota Health Village – located near Maple Grove Hospital, just south of Highway 610 and west of the Home Depot (at the intersection of I-94 and 610). As part of the agreement, the city will secure 17.5 acres of land in the Minnesota Health Village for Life Time to build a new athletic country club and pursue other multi-use development opportunities. In exchange, the city will take ownership of Life Time’s current 70,000-square-foot building, which adjoins the Maple Grove Community Center.
Read about the land exchange agreement.
Questions about the plan and need
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Through surveys, meetings and other outreach efforts, residents identified a variety of needs at the Community Center, including additional pool facilities, more ice time, expanded event and banquet space, and more space for senior programs and the arts. Other needs at the center include replacing aging infrastructure and mechanical systems, improving energy efficiency (which saves money), increasing sustainability, and installing more effective temperature controls.
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In the 25 years since it first opened, the Maple Grove Community Center has been bringing people together and contributing to the strong quality of life our residents enjoy. Approximately 650,000 local and regional guests visit the Community Center every year to participate in activities and programs, find support and services, and of course, have fun.
Over time, facilities require reinvestment to make sure they can keep operating as expected. Maple Grove’s population has increased 28% since the Community Center opened in 1997, and it requires improvements and more space to continue serving our growing and diversifying population. According to a scientific community survey, 90% of Maple Grove residents believe it is valuable for them to have a Community Center.
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Maple Grove residents played a major role in shaping this investment plan. Residents were asked for their input on the Community Center during the summer of 2017 and as part of the community engagement process for the 2018 park system plan update. They continued to share their views through events, surveys, and other activities. Based on this feedback, city staff developed a long-term plan to expand the Community Center and the services it supports.
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A variety of local groups shared their views and ideas, including families, civic groups, businesses and city staff. The city conducted meetings with various community groups who use the center, including senior residents, arts groups, teenagers, athletic associations, and the Maple Grove Community Organization. Feedback from residents continues to be critical as the city moves forward with planning.
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Ice time is in very high demand at the Maple Grove Community Center. The Osseo Maple Grove Hockey Association (OMGHA) is the second largest youth hockey association in the country, with about 1,150 skaters and 68 teams. In addition, the Maple Grove Skating School is the state’s largest skating school and was the 27th largest in the country as of 2023, with over 1,500 participants from 17 communities. Similar communities with three sheets of ice in one location include Eden Prairie, Edina, Plymouth, Bloomington and Blaine.
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Since the Community Center opened in 1997, the population of the northwest region has surged to more than 230,000 residents. Over the past decade, Maple Grove’s population has increased by 18%, more than twice the average for the state of Minnesota (7.6%).
Over the years, the Community Center has been well maintained. However, given its age and high level of use, infrastructure updates and repairs are needed to modernize the center and ensure that it can serve the region’s growing population for many years to come. This includes improving energy efficiency (which saves money), increasing sustainability, and installing more effective temperature controls.
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Adding the Life Time building to the Community Center will bring 70,000 square feet of additional space, which was part of the vision for a refreshed Community Center. By adding the Life Time space, the building can be reorganized to separate active uses to the Life Time side from social uses on the Community Center side, providing more efficient operations and a better user experience. Without the Life Time space, the city would not have been able to complete the fullest version of the Community Center expansion and renovation plan. If the city attempted to build an expansion of the center of this size on its current campus, it would be far more expensive and require the construction of a new parking structure as well.
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With plans to acquire Life Time's 70,000-square-foot building that adjoins the Community Center, the city now has the chance to reimagine future phases of renovations with the entire building in mind. This will include how the city can design additional areas for programs, new activities and amenities, such as an indoor playground, among other things.
Questions about the cost
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The total cost of the project is $116 million funded over a 20-year period. The current funding plan is structured in three parts:
$90 million in revenue generated from the half-cent sales tax, which was approved by voters in November 2022. The half-cent sales tax went into effect on April 1, 2023.
State bonding funds, if approved by the Minnesota Legislature. In 2023, $6 million was secured, and the city will pursue 2024 state bonding funds to fill the budgetary gap in construction funding.
$8 million from sponsorships and donations, including contributions from athletic associations.
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The Council explored many options to pay for the Community Center project, including property taxes, and considered whether to spread out the improvements in phases over several years. In the end, the council determined that moving forward with a more comprehensive improvement plan utilizing a local sales tax would be the best way to provide the services residents are seeking for the future and decided to present that option to voters. In November 2022, voters approved the local sales tax to finance this investment plan.
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The city anticipates there will be an increase in operating costs for the larger, more complex facility when the project is completed. The current subsidy to the Community Center operation is $900,000, which would increase by $1.2 million, for a total subsidy of $2.1 million which is paid by the tax levy. The city will work to manage the increase through effective cost management, greater energy efficiencies and exploring additional revenue opportunities.
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The city is continuing to pursue state bonding funds and other grant options to help with financing and construction costs.
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No. The cost of the half-cent sales tax will remain $90 million, which was approved by voters in November 2022 and went into effect on April 1, 2023. To complete the agreement with Life Time, the city will utilize $10.9 million from existing capital funds. The city’s share of the transaction will reach $17.5 million, including a tax abatement and the waiver of special assessments for the new Life Time development. Read more here.
Questions about the local sales tax
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Unlike a property tax option, the half-cent sales tax ensures that both residents and nonresidents share in the cost to reinvest in it – not solely Maple Grove residents who own residential or commercial property.
About 55% of the sales tax for the Community Center – or $49.5 million of the cost – will be paid by non-residents, according to estimates by the University of Minnesota Extension Center. For residents of Maple Grove, the estimated cost of the half-cent sales tax is about $3.20 per month.
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The half-cent sales tax in Maple Grove went info effect on April 1, 2023. In December 2022, the City Council passed an ordinance to impose a local option sales tax in Maple Grove. This action was followed by the city providing notice to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the agency that announces all local sales tax starts, changes, or ends. Notice of the April 1, 2023, effective date for the sales tax is also posted on the City of Maple Grove website.
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The local half-percent sales tax is applied the same way as the state sales tax. There are exemptions to the sales tax, including the purchase of groceries, clothing, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, feminine hygiene products and baby products. For more information, view this list of taxable items and this list of most nontaxable items from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
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Dozens of cities and counties have adopted local sales taxes that are collected on top of the state's 6.875% sales tax rate to pay for major public projects. The local sales taxes are most often from 0.5 to 1% (or ½ cent to 1 cent for every $1 spent).
A local sales tax is used to help pay for a variety of major public projects that benefit the community, including new community centers, jails, libraries, and other public amenities. In recent years, several metro area cities have approved a local sales tax, including Saint Peter (new fire station), Elk River (parks and recreation improvements), Rogers (trail and pedestrian projects and aquatics), West St. Paul (road projects) and International Falls (transportation and infrastructure).
Like Maple Grove, several counties and cities across Minnesota approved a local option sales tax, including Edina (parks and recreation investments), Grand Rapids (civic center investments) Moorhead (community center and library) and Litchfield (community wellness and recreation center).
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A half-cent sales tax adds a half a penny for a every $1 spent. In other words, an additional 5 cents is added to a $10 purchase or 50 cents for a $100 purchase.
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The sales tax is not permanent. The half-cent sales tax will pay bond payments to finance the city’s investments over 20 years and expire when the bonds for the project have been retired. This will allow current residents to take advantage of the Community Center improvements while the bonds are being repaid.
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At the beginning of 2022, city staff discussed the potential of a local option sales tax impacts on businesses with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Through these discussions, it was determined that the impact of the tax would likely be limited for many of the largest employers and manufacturers in the city. Sales tax is primarily collected via products that are sold to the end user. If a company is one who wholesales to another company, it is likely that a Certificate of Exemption (ST3) would be on file with the company which would not require payment of the tax. As an example, if a manufacturer was to wholesale a product to retailer, the business to business will not be subject to a sales tax assuming there is an ST3 certificate. The sales tax will be collected when the retailer sells the product to the public/end users. If an ST3 is not provided to the vendor claiming an exemption, the product or service is taxable.
Additionally, many products within the state may not be subject to a sales tax. Examples of such products include industrial production, which is material used or consumed to produce a product; capital equipment; clothing; and utilities used in industrial production.