Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, YMCA, Augsburg University and Pillsbury United Communities to explore new shared facility in Cedar-Riverside

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, YMCA, Augsburg University and Pillsbury United Communities to explore new shared facility in Cedar-Riverside

At its April 18, 2018 meeting, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, Augsburg University and Pillsbury United Communities (PUC) to assess current community programs and services offered in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and explore creating a new shared facility.

The MPRB owns the Brian Coyle Center at Currie Park in Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and leases the building to PUC, which operates the building. Currently the Brian Coyle Center is at full capacity and the building lease limits state bond funding for building improvements or expansion. Even if Brian Coyle Center capacity expanded, it is likely that all needs in the area – which ranks as the most densely populated neighborhood in Minneapolis, comprised largely of underserved communities and communities of color – would not be satisfied.

Over the next year, the MOU partners intend to broadly review the programs and services currently available in the community, identify gaps in current and projected programs and services, and anticipate changes in the neighborhood that might result in the need for expanded or new services. It’s likely that a new facility will be required to sufficiently meet the needs of the community, so the MOU includes a process to develop a preliminary design for a shared facility proposed on the Augsburg campus, along with an estimate of its capital costs and operational expenses.

The MPRB is proud of the programs and facilities offered in Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, but also recognizes that needs are going unmet. The collaborative exploration process outlined in the MOU will hone in on the needs and desires of Cedar-Riverside and its various communities and develop a plan to satisfy them in ways that exceed the capacity of any single entity.

Read More: MPRB Resolution 2018-122