10 New Items on the Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion Project
The Woodbury City Council on Wednesday approved the site plan, authorized Kraus-Anderson to solicit bids for the work and approved the sale of bonds.
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“This process has been extensive.”
So said City Administrator Clint Gridley on Wednesday before the Woodbury City Council approved the latest round of measures that move the Bielenberg Sports Center expansion project forward.
The council approved the site plan, authorized Kraus-Anderson to solicit bids for the work and approved bond sales to fund the $21.8 million project, which will be completed without a tax increase.
The expected opening date for the new facility—which also includes a new two-story lobby and outdoor rink—is February or March 2014.
In light of Gridley’s comment, here are 10 new items—or things not often mentioned in Patch stories—on the Bielenberg Sports Center expansion project. (For further details, check out the links below or click on the PDF with this post.)
1. Council Concerns
Councilman Paul Rebholz on Wednesday reiterated his concern about the position of delivery doors, saying he would prefer that they were not sited near the main entrance. He called it a “significant design issue.”
It would take a “minor modification” to the plans to change the position of the doors, Rebholz said.
Gridley said staff has looked into that suggestion, but it would require a separate driveway.
Rebholz said he simply wanted his concern noted for the record, and voted “yes,” along with the rest of the council, on the overall site plan.
2. Pond
A holding pond near the sports center will be drained, dredged and expanded, and storm water from the site will be ushered to it.
Through a “slinky system,” the pond will also be used for geothermal at the Bielenberg Sports Center, Gridley said.
Water from the pond is also used for irrigation of the fields at Bielenberg.
3. Plaza
A new plaza in front of the main lobby will provide additional space for events.
4. Playground
A new inclusive playground for kids of all abilities, Madison’s Place, will be built adjacent to the new field house.
The Madison Claire Foundation is spearheading the initiative and has been raising funds for the project. Dana Millington, the main organizer for the playground effort, is a Woodbury Patch blogger. See:
5. Softball/Baseball
While the new field house will have space for full-sized football, soccer and lacrosse fields, the facility will also be able to accommodate “light” softball and baseball, Gridley said.
“And probably uses we haven’t even thought of,” he said.
6. Demo Date
The April 6 Woodbury Community Expo will be the last major event held at the Bielenberg Sports Center.
Demolition and construction is expected to begin April 8.
7. Splash Pad
While there is a $500,000 allowance for a water feature, it is not part of the base bid, Gridley said.
8. Bids
The council will likely award bids for the bulk work and adopt a finalized budget at its March 13 meeting.
9. Existing Rinks
There will be $500,000 in improvements to the existing rinks, including the recoating of the exterior, which will provide better aesthetics and insulation.
10. Parking
There are no immediate plans to expand parking at the site, but the city plans to set designate some land should the need arise in the future.
Previous Coverage
Major Decisions on Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion: Woodbury Council Preview
Beer at Bielenberg? Woodbury Plans to Ask Residents in Community Survey
Last Hurrah for Woodbury’s Bielenberg Sports Center
Virtual Tour of Plans for Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion
Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion: Financing Plan, Other Design Details
Woodbury Firm on Third Ice Sheet for Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion
Woodbury Councilwoman Renews Call for ‘Splash Pad’ as Part of Bielenberg Expansion Plans
Cost Estimate for Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion Bumped Up
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BJ Erickson
11:33 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Looks like we’re going to spend a lot of money on windows… Maybe some of that money should go toward the third rink instead.
Is the proposed outdoor rink refrigerated?
If not, good luck using it.
Kris Janisch
11:37 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I think it would be refrigerated BJ, via the city's page on it: http://www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/bsc-expansion-project
Kris Janisch
11:38 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Also, it would cost $7 million to $9 million to enclose the outdoor rink in the future, but I think they could add boards for $50,000 or $60,000, if memory serves.
Joe
12:32 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Don't believe the $7 - 9 million figure. That's disinformation from the City to justify not adding the 3rd rink. Others have built a first class stand alone rink for much less than that amount - not just enclosing an outdoor rink.
Kris Janisch
12:38 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I have to admit I'm not an expert Joe. Do you have a link to a story about a similar project or anything?
Paul Whackernutz
12:40 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
We should be thankful the WAA doesn't sponsor a bowling league.
Kris Janisch
6:14 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I love bowling. Underrated activity.
David Salchow
7:27 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
A very impressive and well thought-out proposal. I hope this really enhances our community.
However, I don't believe the statement about the project not resulting in increased taxes. The majority of the project is funded by a bond issue. We'll be paying for the facility over the next 20 years as we pay off the bonds.
k irish
10:39 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
All this and no additional ice, really makes me sick.. The rinks are used the entire calender year. Not sure why this project is so anti hockey. $500 k for a splash pad? What the hell is that? I'm sure that would be a big hit in January...
Kris Janisch
10:42 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
I know there was some talk of adding boards to the outdoor rink k. But I don't believe that's part of the official plans.
BJ Erickson
12:12 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
And that's the problem - it should have be part of the plan. Enclosing the third rink should have been a part of the plan from the beginning.
Can we tell the Wild, “please come back?? We changed our minds…”
http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=11548616
Kris Janisch
12:19 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Didn't know about that one BJ, was up at the Stillwater paper at the time. Appreciate the background info.
Joe
12:28 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
I agree that a third rink should have been built. Woodbury has twice as many people as cottage grove but yet has 1 less indoor ice sheet. Doesn't make any sense. Also why does East Ridge play their home hockey games at the new rink in cottage grove when their school is next door to Bielenberg? Not sure why the new rink was built in CG instead of at Bielenberg. I guess they wanted to throw CG a bone since CG makes up 1/3 or whatever of East Ridge students but it seems to me to have been poor planning all around.
k irish
12:34 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
I guess we will just have to continue to give our money to River Falls, SSP, Cottage Grove.Hudson,etc, etc, for ice fees.. WAHA caretakes Harding Arena for Petes sake. How does that make sense? Bad enough to host games in the dump Beilenberg but to do it at Harding is disgraceful. A city the size of Woodbury should be better represented than that. Just spend an afternoon at Schwanz,to see the potential earnings a quality rink offers..
Kris Janisch
12:40 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
That was a concern brought up when a lot of hockey parents attended a council workshop awhile back k: http://patch.com/A-zT1P
John D.
11:36 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Guaranteed another enclosed rink will be needed in the future. With the building of over 6000 new homes next to Bielenberg it's a disgrace the city council is not planning accordingly. The costs will be double by then. Hockey is playing for Bielenberg. Baseball, soccer and lacross do not pay field fees, but hockey pays for ice time. It's pathetic that we pay WAAHC to play hockey in Woodbury yet rarely get to play 'home' games at Bielenberg, and 80% of practices outside of Woodury. It's a bad deal for the city, and a horrible deal for hockey's parents. Mostly though, it's a shame for the kids that play hockey.
M. McNally
11:22 pm on Friday, April 12, 2013
Walking track for seniors? Very important to citizens!