Woodbury Council Tables Splash Pad Discussion

The city hasn’t ruled out installing a splash pad as part of the Bielenberg Sports Center expansion project.

But a Woodbury City Council workshop meeting Wednesday night left the proposal in limbo, as the city opted to revisit the splash pad idea later this spring.

The splash pad has been considered as an alternative as Woodbury further hones plans for the expansion project, which calls for the dome to be replaced with a permanent field house, along with a new outdoor pleasure rink and two-story lobby linking the new facility and existing ice arenas. The estimated cost is $21.8 million.

Councilwoman Julie Ohs has long supported the splash pad plan, saying it would make the expanded facility more inclusive.

“I think it’s a good idea, we’ve got the money for it, and the money has to be spent on something like that,” she said. “Why wouldn’t we?”

Ohs also came up with a list of reasons why Woodbury should build a splash pad at the sports center:

1. We have the funds and they must be used on a project like this.
2. It is inclusive and benefits more than just the athletes.
3. It is ADA accessible and a great addition to the playground.
4. Unstructured free play is important to children's healthy development, why not promote it.
5. We need to irrigate the fields anyway, why not utilize the water twice.
6. A splash pad is a safe water experience for non-swimmers.
7. Provides alternate activity for the siblings not in organized sports so the family can stay together.
8. Kids today are over scheduled, why not just let them play.
9. Usage and comments from Cottage grove show it would be a well received and enjoyable amenity and many residents have expressed support for it.
10. Organized athletics can be expensive, why not provide a fun activity for those who cannot cover the cost of organized sports. In our public schools the percentage of kids receiving free or reduced lunch ranges from 5.3% to 15.4%, this shows a need for affordable recreation.

Ohs said there was talk of taking the splash pad off the table for the expansion project.

“I’m not willing to do that,” she said, adding that she would rather see it go to a formal council vote before that happens.

At a May workshop, the council will likely examine other capital-improvement projects and decide where the city should spend its park-dedication fees, Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens said.

There is some confusion in the community about the $500,000 figure for the splash pad, she said. The money comes park-dedication fees, which come from developers and have to be applied to those types of projects.

“There are limited uses they can be applied to,” Stephens said.

The May meeting, at which the council will consider potential uses for the parks funds, “will put the splash pad in perspective,” she said.

“We don’t want it to go on forever, but there wasn’t a clear consensus” at Wednesday’s meeting, Stephens said.

From Woodbury: Reaction to the Splash Pad Idea

Splash Pad Discussion on Agenda for Woodbury City Council Meeting

Woodbury Councilwoman Renews Call for ‘Splash Pad’ as Part of Bielenberg Expansion Plans

Splash Pad at Bielenberg Gets Lukewarm Reception from Woodbury City Council

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