Lakeville Is Studying a Community Center & 3 in 4 Residents Say They Want One

TLDR

• Lakeville is now studying a full community center as part of its parks master plan.

• About three out of four survey-takers agree the city should have one — and say they'd use it.

• Top wish-list items: a walking track, indoor gyms, and fitness space. Bottom of the list: esports and tech rooms.

• Active adults are "bursting at the seams" at the current Heritage Center.

• A bigger, statistically valid survey — including how to pay for it — comes in August.

Lakeville's parks master plan started as a 10-year roadmap for parks and trails. But so many residents brought up the same idea that the city added a whole new study on top of it: a community center. At Monday's work session, the city and its consultants shared where things stand — and it's further along than you might think. It builds on the 1,300+ residents who already weighed in on parks.

What Residents Said They Want

The headline number: about three out of four survey-takers agree or strongly agree that Lakeville should have a community center — and that they'd regularly use one.

When asked what should be in it, the clear favorites were a walking track (usually paired with indoor gym space), individual fitness, and group fitness. Those ranked one and two on the wish list. Further down: things like an esports/e-gaming area and a computer/tech workspace. And in the write-in answers, a lot of people asked for an indoor pool or aquatic center and an affordable, family-friendly rec space.

One council member raised the reality check everyone eventually hits: people love the idea of a community center — until you ask them how they want to pay for it. The city plans to dig into that (including what families pay at places like Eagan's and Apple Valley's centers) in a bigger survey this August.

The Squeeze on Existing Spaces

Part of what's driving this is that current facilities are stretched. Staff said the active adult (senior) programs are "bursting at the seams" in the retrofitted Heritage Center, and demand keeps climbing. Gym space is in high demand across the board — and the school district isn't expected to add gym space anytime soon, so the city can't lean on schools to fill the gap.

The consultants floated a smart approach: don't just build for today, plan for Lakeville at a built-out population of around 90,000, and design flexible rooms that can be reconfigured and expanded as needs grow. They also want any new facility to make room for revenue-generating uses — think event and wedding venue space — to help it pay for itself.

Parks, Trails, and Land

The plan isn't only about a building. On the parks side, the priorities are replacing aging equipment, adding more variety in playgrounds, improving trail connections (including safer crossings of busy roads), and expanding water access — places to launch a kayak or just touch the water at spots like Lake Marion and Orchard Lake.

And there's a clock on one piece of it: land. Staff stressed that finding a central parcel big enough for a community center — while land is still available, especially along the growing Cedar Avenue corridor — is something to decide sooner rather than later.

The Bottom Line

No decisions yet — this was a check-in, not a vote. The next step is a statistically valid survey in August that reaches a broader slice of the city and digs into the money question. After that, the consultants will bring back site options and two final reports by the end of the year. If a community center matters to you, that August survey is your chance to be counted. Keep tabs on it through the city's website.

FAQ

Is Lakeville building a community center? Not yet. They're studying whether to, what goes in it, where it'd go, and how to pay for it.

What do people want most in it? A walking track, indoor gyms, and fitness space topped the list. An indoor pool was a popular write-in.

Why now? Existing spaces are stretched — senior programs especially — and the school district isn't adding gym space. The city's also growing fast.

How would they pay for it? That's the big open question. The August survey will dig into membership costs and funding. Expect that to shape everything.

When will we know more? A broader survey comes in August, with site options and final reports by the end of the year.