Cost Estimate for Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion Bumped Up
The Woodbury City Council on Tuesday held another detailed discussion about the project.
Gene Johnson acknowledged that $21 million is a lot of money.
“But we want to make sure it’s done right,” he said.
Johnson, a member of the Bielenberg Sports Center Expansion Project Task Force, was on hand at Tuesday night’s Woodbury City Council meeting, during which the city discussed the latest plans for the project and got a virtual tour of the proposed field house.
The project—including a permanent structure to replace the dome, a parks substation, $1.2 in contingency funds and other improvements (more windows and a 50-year roof among them)—is now estimated to cost more than $21 million. The lobby has been widened slightly and solar and geothermal systems are also part of the plans.
The footprint of the building—which will be twice as large as the current field house—will remain the same, officials said.
The city could utilize capital-improvement funds to pay for part of the project, as Woodbury did for Central Park and City Hall, for example, City Administrator Clint Gridley said.
A two-part funding plan has been put forward—using general-obligation bonds for about $16 million of the project, and capital-improvement and park-dedication funds for the rest.
Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens, who served on the task force, said the new building will also provide space for events such as the Woodbury Community Expo.
“We really want this facility to be more than a sports field house,” she said.
The council also briefly discussed including a “water feature”—possibly a “splash pad”—as part of the plans. Councilwoman Julie Ohs said it should be considered to give families another option for recreation at the 320-acre Bielenberg Sports Center.
“Not all kids play sports,” she said.
The council informally agreed to move from the schematic to design/development phase, examine financing options, look into future revenues and expenditures at the new field house, and find a food vendor for the facility. The city council will also discuss a possible name change—and/or naming sponsorship—at some point.
Pending council approval, work will begin in April 2013 and the expanded facility will open in spring 2014.
Note: The next Woodbury Community Expo will likely be the final event at the existing field house. It’s set for the first Saturday in April 2013.
Previous Coverage
Virtual Tour of Plans for New Bielenberg Sports Center in Woodbury (video)
Woodbury Takes Another Step Toward Bielenberg Expansion
Woodbury Seeks $1.5 Million Grant for Bielenberg Expansion Project
Woodbury Council Gets Update on Bielenberg Expansion, Capital Projects
Woodbury Close to Settling on Architect for Bielenberg Expansion
Snapshot: First Look at Plans for Bielenberg Expansion
City Asks: What Do You Think of the Bielenberg Expansion Plans?
Sports Center Highlights For Woodbury
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Central Park
8595 Central Park Pl, Woodbury, MN -
Woodbury City Hall
8301 Valley Creek Rd, Woodbury, MN -
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Kris Janisch
9:38 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I'm trying to add a pretty informative PDF from the city but I'm running into technical issues. Hopefully it will show up soon.
mary jensen
10:27 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I think the city should leave the name Bielenberg Sports Center. The citizens proposed and voted for this name. Selling the naming rights to a company with no ties to Woodbury would be an insult to our residents, even if an easy way to make money.
Kris Janisch
10:31 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
The city did note that in the council memo. And the city administrator said it could be something like the Bielenberg Sports Campus and the field house and rinks being the Bielenberg Sports Center, or something to that effect. What if selling naming rights could pay for a water park? Would that change your opinion? (Not that that's been proposed.)
Kris Janisch
10:37 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Got the PDF uploaded, thanks to Jason Egerstrom at City Hall.
Eric
3:59 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
$21 million and no third sheet of ice? Really?
Kris Janisch
8:11 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
A third sheet of ice is part of the plans, it's just an outdoor "pleasure rink."
Eric
8:59 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
That's not what we need - there are 'pleasure rinks' all over Woodbury in the winter - by Valley Crossing, Evergreen, on Tamarack, etc. We need a third sheet for hockey.
Paul Whackernutz
9:01 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Anybody know what the the various athletic associations and clubs pay to use ice time? Will the reconstruction and increased budget have an impact on that amount?
Kris Janisch
9:45 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Not sure Paul, but here's the story I did about an indoor rink not being in the plans. Has a lot of info from the Woodbury Area Hickey Club. http://patch.com/A-nMDS