Construction Continues at the Maple Grove Community Center
Ice Skaters at the Maple Grove Community Center will have more opportunities to enjoy the ice, as the arena goes from two rinks to three.
The expansion is one of many changes occurring as part of phase one of the community center’s improvement project.
“We have got the walls up on the third sheet of ice,” said Maple Grove Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Stifter. “Over the next month, we will start pouring the concert flooring in the arena.”
The arena will remain open during the project, with the other two skating rinks available.
The third rink is expected to be open to skaters in November.
Construction outside the Maple Grove Community Center.
Work has also begun on re-shaping the ice arena lobby, among other improvements.
“We have an extended project that is going to shrink this ice from Olympic to NHL size which is kind of a bold move for the city,” said Stifter. “It’s been Olympic since it was originally built, but it better serves the hockey group.”
This work will happen in the early summer of 2026 after rink three is complete and operable.
Phase one includes a new cooling system and restrooms, and updates to concessions and spectator areas.
“We got the Lookout Loft which is a modified and improved viewing area for the TCO rink which is an exciting addition to provide,” said Stifter.
Phase Two Planning has Begun
Phases two will focus on the Life Time facility, public spaces, and the aquatic center.
Construction could begin in mid-May of 2026.
“There’s an opportunity to go to two pools to three, with moving some walls and changing some things,” said Stifter. “Also the outdoor aquatics, you know double that in size potentially. A lot of that is going to be driven by budget.”
Another plan in the works is to covert the gymnasium that is used for basketball and pickle ball into a new banquet hall that will overlook the lake.
“Really this community has utilized our banquet facility for a long time, but it has always been small we have people that are renting that space and we have a lot of requests for expansion of that space or a larger space,” said Stifter.
Work continues on the spectator areas between rinks at the Maple Grove Community Center.
Phase two also includes making more room for senior programming and changes to the Life Time fitness building next door.
“We’ve got all of our active uses moving to that side, a gymnasium, fitness facilities, a walking track, all of that will be on the Life Time side,” said Stifter.
Phase two could be finish by 2028, a ways to wait, but for those that use the community center, well worth it.
“We provide a lot of nice things for the community that are very much appreciated and it’s nice to be able to expand and advance that to make sure that we can continue to provide those services for the community for the next 30 years,” said Stifter.
