Thousands of children and adults who partake in outdoor activities across the region will soon be able to enjoy a new building, learning and staging areas, and infrastructure that will provide improved year-round support for recreational endeavors in Theodore Wirth Regional Park’s 759 acres of parkland.
On August 19 the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board of Commissioners approved the schematic design of the Wirth Park Adventure and Welcome Center, which includes an area dedicated to lifetime activities and a building that will act as the jumping off point for outdoor activity of all kinds. The approximately 14,000-square-foot, one-story building is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of activities available within Minneapolis’ largest park. Some of those activities include cross-country skiing, golfing, disc golfing, hiking, snowboarding, snow tubing, cycling and mountain biking.
The Loppet Foundation is partnering with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) to turn this exciting vision into reality.
“The Loppet Foundation has been a terrific partner in the ongoing effort to improve Wirth Park,” said MPRB District 2 Commissioner Jon Olson. “This new building will serve a diverse set of park users, and I’m happy we could work out a plan designed to best meet all of the various stakeholders’ needs.”
Improving outdoor recreation at Wirth Park
The new Adventure and Welcome Center will replace the small building sitting onsite that currently supports the par 3 golf course. The new building’s schematic design includes indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, an exercise/training room, ski and bike shop offering rental equipment, men’s and women’s locker rooms and restrooms, ticketing counter, fireplace, food and drink concessions, outdoor patio and offices for The Loppet Foundation.
“This was a big step for the Loppet Foundation and the community as a whole,” commented Foundation executive director John Munger. “People are already using Wirth Park because of its fantastic trail network, the Center will provide learning areas, staging areas for races, new event trails, and a building specifically designed with year-round outdoor activity in mind.”
The Loppet Foundation has committed to raising $3.45 million to cover the building’s construction costs. Other funding sources include nearly $2 million in state and Met Council bonds and a $375,000 loan from the MPRB Enterprise Fund.
Planned tweaks to the snowboarding area and 18-hole and par 3 golf courses accompany the construction of the Adventure and Welcome Center. The project will also relocate the tubing hill near the snowboard area, allowing free sledding to return to the 10th fairway.
These changes are designed to improve safety and disentangle summer and winter sports, reducing conflicts among the numerous recreational opportunities in the area. A detailed description of the changes will be posted to the project page as it progresses to the next design stage.
Next steps and more information
All of the project details will be finalized in the next design stage. That includes selecting materials, final building and site layout, final site grading, final layout of new and revised golf holes and all other elements necessary to perform a bid for construction.
Golf course construction is scheduled for late 2015 into early 2016 and construction on the building is expected to begin in 2016. The Wirth Park Adventure and Welcome Center is expected to open for the winter 2016-17 season.
Please visit the project page and sign up for email updates for continued design and construction updates.
To read the Park Board’s resolution approving the schematic design and view conceptual renderings of the Wirth Park Adventure and Welcome Center please visit: http://bit.ly/1UXsWEr