Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
The West St. Paul City Council is now reviewing the results of a recent public survey regarding the possible joint construction of a community center for the cities of West St. Paul and Mendota Heights. Nearly 900 responded to the survey and the top things people called for were a fitness room, walking track, multipurpose gym, indoor lap pool and play pool, community meeting space and indoor playground. Other amenities mentioned were a snack bar or café, outdoor play pool, pickleball area, and an arts and crafts studio.
About half the respondents said they would pay a membership fee to use the center and about 25% were unsure. The remainder said they would not pay a membership fee, or they would only pay if the center were located in their city. About 17% said they would support a tax increase of any amount to help fund the project and 27% would support a tax increase of up to $200 annually. Nearly a third of respondents opposed a tax increase of any amount.
Information from city-managed fitness centers in Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Mounds View, Chaska and Shakopee shed light on several challenges the project could face if approved. Such fitness centers often lack sufficient revenue and rely on subsidies to cover expenses. Additionally, membership levels at community fitness centers still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic numbers and staffing shortages continue to be an issue.
The city hired LOCi Consulting to complete a market analysis on the project and to administer the survey in each city last November and December. Its findings show that a community center for West St. Paul and Mendota Heights without a pool would have 2,500-3,500 members within five years, whereas one with a pool could have up to 4,000.
If a center is deemed feasible, there’s still significant work to be done – including finding a suitable location – and it could be several years before anything is built. The consulting firm is expected to present detailed financial estimates this spring and the West St. Paul City Council plans to seek more community feedback in the spring as well.
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