MPRB and Partners Break Ground on Phillips Aquatics Center

On Tuesday, March 28, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and a host of partners, funders and other supporters gathered at the Phillips Community Center to break ground on a major expansion and renovation project. The project includes restoration of a six-lane pool, closed since 2008, and construction of a new four-lane pool, and will open in late winter of 2017-2018 as the Phillips Aquatics Center.

“This is an exciting moment for the Park Board,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller. “We are not just restoring a community asset, but expanding it. In turn, the Phillips Aquatics Center will greatly expand opportunities for people of all ages in Minneapolis to learn how to swim.”

A wide range of individuals and organizations that have been involved in the project, which “really would not be possible without the passion and determination of the community and the generous funding support from local and state organizations that share in the vision for this new facility,” Miller said. “It’s a prime example of what can be achieved when partners work together to develop a vision and leverage their investments.” 

Project details

Construction begins March 29, 2017. The aquatics center is expected to open late in the winter of 2017-2018, barring construction or weather delays.

The project includes a full renovation of the existing six‐lane pool, restoration of the upper-level spectating area and updates to the existing locker room. The expansion will house a community room and a zero‐depth entry, warm-water, four‐lane teaching pool, along with dedicated locker rooms and rest rooms.

Outside, the parking lot will be reconfigured to include a drop-off area and a new entrance canopy for the building’s west entrance will be constructed. The entire project, including upgrades and replacement of all mechanical and electrical systems, complies with the State of Minnesota’s B3 guidelines to meet sustainability goals for site, water, energy, indoor environment, materials and waste.

In terms of swimming instruction, Miller noted that MPRB programming at the new aquatics center will be consistent with the organization’s mission and philosophy of improving water safety skills and increasing water survivability of Minneapolis youth and adults. “As it develops programs and schedules, MPRB will be soliciting input from the community, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Swims and other partners. In addition to teaching people how to swim, the MPRB will use the aquatics center’s two pools to create year-round opportunities for recreational, fitness and competitive swimming,” she said.

“It is important that people learn to swim and enjoy water recreation, said Park Board Commissioner Scott Vreeland. “We have great beaches and lakes, but we need to provide access to water and swim lessons in all parts of our city. In addition to this new facility in Ventura Village, we now have the Jim Lupient and North Commons water parks, and the Webber Pool, located in areas of the city that don’t have lakes. Swimming is a great lifetime activity for health and recreation.”

Construction impacts

The Phillips Community Center will remain open throughout construction, along with Waite House and other organizations who lease space in the community center.

Impacts for visitors and tenants include a construction fence around the site and temporary closures to the parking lot and building’s west entrance, as well as the teen and fitness centers at the Phillips Community Center.

Plans are in place to direct visitors to the open entrances, and MPRB and Waite House staff are coordinating event schedules and other program activities to minimize impacts. Closure dates for the teen and fitness centers will be posted at the community center and announced via email. 

Background

When the Phillips Community Center opened in 1987, it included what was then the city’s only community-accessible indoor pool. The MPRB had acquired the building, which also includes a gym, when the surrounding junior high school was demolished. The Boys and Girls Club leased and operated the pool and the building for 20 years, but the pool was closed when it returned the building to the MPRB in 2008. After a $1.6 million renovation in 2009, the center reopened with leasing opportunities for community organizations.

The Phillips Aquatics Center will serve as MPRB’s only indoor swimming facility, a “first” that follows the 2015 opening of the Webber Pool, the first natural-filtration pool in the U.S., in North Minneapolis’ Webber-Camden neighborhood. It is located in Ventura Village, which adjoins the Phillips West, Midtown Phillips and East Phillips neighborhoods.

Excerpts from groundbreaking event remarks

This project would not be possible without the collaboration and funding from a host of neighborhood organizations, government entities, foundations and businesses. Many of them offered remarks and thanked others during the groundbreaking event; following are some excerpts:

“Getting to this point required leadership, but it’s really a celebration of the community: All of the people who said, ‘We need our kids to have opportunities to swim. We need our kids to have recreational opportunities.’ It couldn’t have happened without that advocacy.” — Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County

“We couldn’t have won this state funding without talking about racism. It’s really hard, but we did it and the state was happy to put in funding for this project.” — Representative Karen Clark, State of Minnesota

“You might be surprised to learn that there is also a swimming disparity in Minnesota but it’s true. Children of color are disproportionately more likely to drown or be unable to swim that white children. This pool, located in the heart of Minneapolis, in a diverse and vibrant neighborhood, will begin to reduce that disparity.” — Senator Jeff Hayden, State of Minnesota [submitted in a statement]

“I’m thrilled I can be a part of this project because it’s about ensuring health, wellness and safety opportunities not just for our students, but for community.” — Superintendent Ed Graff, Minneapolis Public Schools

“Making this real for this neighborhood helps make it real for the entire city. You’ll begin to see more and more moments like this, celebrating investments in our neighborhoods.” — Mayor Betsy Hodges, City of Minneapolis (referring to the 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan, a historic 2016 agreement between the City and the Park Board)

“We want every single child in the city to know how to swim — and it should be part of the curriculum.” — Council Member Abdi Warsame, City of Minneapolis

“Like an artist and visionary, [Hannah Lieder, founder of Minneapolis Swims] captured and channeled the spirit of Phillips into something tangible for the community, like an author with a book. My role since taking over three years ago has been kind of like that of a movie producer for this beautiful book that the whole community has bought into: to work collaboratively to get a blockbuster movie made—while staying true to our core principles of equity, access and opportunity for all that swimming can bring to all the people of Minneapolis.” — Board President Denny Bennett, Minneapolis Swims

“We always thought this was very important, very essential to our neighborhood. By next summer [2018], families will gather here to swim and teach our kids how to swim and spend quality time in this facility. Thanks to everyone who contributed by any means. — Board Chair AK Hassan, Ventura Village Neighborhood Association

“The State Legislature … we owe them some thanks, Republicans and Democrats alike put this thing through. So many people we can thank.” — Board President Carol Pass, East Phillips Improvement Coalition

“We all need to thank to Somali women who came out and fought for a swimming pool that they could swim in.” — Board Member Shirley Heyer, Midtown Phillips Neighborhood Association

Project costs and funding partners

Costs for planning, design and construction of the aquatics center are approximately $7,561,000. Funding from individuals, neighborhood organizations, government entities, foundations and businesses includes the MPRB ($2,721,000), the State of Minnesota ($1,750,000), Minneapolis Public Schools ($1,750,000) and Hennepin County’s Youth Sports Grant program ($325,000), as well as pre-planning donations from East Phillips Neighborhood Association ($25,000) and Minneapolis Swims ($5,000).

Additional donor pledges ($955,000) for construction, coordinated through Minneapolis Swims, include: Minneapolis Foundation, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the Piper Family Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, East Phillips Improvement Coalition, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Rogue Foundation, Midtown Phillips Neighborhood Association, Wells Fargo and Ventura Village Neighborhood Association.

Project costs do not include programming, operations and maintenance of the aquatics center once it is open.

Stay Informed

Visit the project page to subscribe to email updates to keep up on news and updates during construction at www.minneapolisparks.org/pccpoolproject

Project contact

Dana Murdoch, project manager
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
612-230-6446
dmurdoch@minneapolisparks.org

Media inquiries

Dawn Sommers, Director of Communications and Marketing
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
612-230-6407
dsommers@minneapolisparks.org