Maple Grove Community Center Expansion Construction Begins
The only sign so far of construction at Maple Grove Community Center is a construction office placed in the middle of the parking lot.
But that will soon change in a big way.
Construction on the expansion to Maple Grove Community Center, including a third sheet of ice, has begun.
“Really the goal is to have the building up and enclosed by winter, let’s say, kind of mid-December,” said Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Stifter. “There’s a lot of work to do between now and then, and it’s going to come fast.”
The expansion’s first phase will include construction of a third sheet of ice. The expansion is funded in part by a sales tax the city approved nearly two years ago. Work to plan phase two is already under way, and Stifter expects there will be rounds of public engagement as the city works on plans to expand what it offers in terms of aquatics and community spaces, among other amenities.
In the meantime, Stifter expects the community center complex will lose about 40% of its parking, temporarily, during the construction process. He said there will be plenty of signs available to help people navigate the parking lot and surrounding streets.
“The parking will be reduced while they work on the western side of the campus…south of Grove Drive, that will all get closed off and torn up the first few months and kind of improved,” he said. “We’re targeting the first of November for that to open back up by then. That’s our goal. That’s kind of when the heavy hockey season starts.”
But the facility itself remains open during the construction, Stifter said.
