Overview
The Community Activity Center, located at 5600 85th Avenue in Brooklyn Park, was built in 1983 and attracts over 350,000 residents, visitors, and others each year. The facility is currently home to two ice arenas, two banquet rooms, a small fitness room, two racquetball courts, and a gymnasium shared with the National Guard Armory, staff offices, and other amenities.
Brooklyn Park’s growing population has led to higher demand of CAC offerings and space. To address these needs, City leaders began exploring ways to better utilize existing space, as well as options for expansion. In 2018, CAC improvements were included in the $26 million Park Bond Referendum. Residents approved the referendum in November 2018. City leaders explored a possible partnership with the YMCA, but the partnership dissolved in the wake of COVID-19 impacts.
The plan resulting from the 2018 Park Bond Referendum focuses on enhancing the customer experience by improving the front entry, customer service desk, and public bathrooms.
In 2022, City leaders began exploring additional ways to serve residents, including the addition of sports ball courts and the potential conversion of an ice rink. City leaders requested funds in the 2023 Legislative Session, which resulted in an additional $5 million to aid in the construction of a multi-court gymnasium, entrance and ADA corridor improvements, and exterior site improvements. Following robust conversation throughout 2023, the City Council directed staff to explore the option to add a multi-court gymnasium space as the preferred solution. The City of Brooklyn Park is currently requesting 9.5 million dollars from the State of Minnesota to assist with funding the project.
How will we pay for the CAC Remodel?
The CAC remodel will require a variety of funding sources. In order to maintain two ice rinks and add the multi-court gymnasium there is a projected funding gap of over $10 million. Currently, two funding sources have been secured:
- Park Bond Referendum funds: $2 million
- State Bonding funds: $5 million
CAC Remodel Options
The City Council is exploring three primary options for the CAC remodel. All three options include fulfilling the promise to residents following the 2018 Park Bond Referendum, which includes entrance and corridor improvements.
| Entrance/corridor improvements only | Gym addition (including entrance & exterior improvements) | |
| Entrance & Corridor Improvements | $5,047,869 | $5,047,869 |
| Courts | N/A | $13,394,933 |
| Exterior Improvements | None | $1,784,635 |
| Total Cost Estimate | $5,047,869 | $20,227,437 |
| Park Bond Funding | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| State Bonding | $ 0 | $5,000,000* |
| Estimated Funding Gap | $3,047,869 | $13,227,437 |
| Staffing Impact | None | Likely Addition |
Entrance/corridor improvements only: Focus only on improving the entrance and corridors (front entry, customer service desk, bathrooms) to enhance the customer experience. Both ice rinks remain, but no additional courts will be created.
- Estimated funding gap: $3 million
Gym addition (including entrance & exterior improvements): Improve the entrance and corridors and keep both ice rinks and create three multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball or event support space, and make improvements to the exterior grounds and parking flow.
- Estimated funding gap: $13.2 million
Task Force
Joining the Community Activity Center (CAC) Improvement Task Force is a unique opportunity to enhancing one of our best recreational spaces! Collaborate with city officials, community members, and consultants to help design and improve the CAC’s facilities, including a new multicourt gymnasium, entrance and corridor enhancements, and an expanded exterior events space.
The task force will be comprised of:
- One City Council representative
- One Recreation & Parks Advisory Commission member
- Two representatives from court user groups
- Two representatives from ice user groups
- Four to six at-large community members
Commitment
The Task Force will meet 1-2 times per month starting in December 2024, and will work for up to one year.
Engagement
City leaders have engaged with the community, City Council members, and the Recreation and Parks Advisory Community at various points over the past several years.
2023 Community Engagement
In 2023 the City engaged the community on this project via City Council meeting public comment periods, emails, calls, and meetings with stakeholders. City leaders found it very valuable to hear the perspectives of current ice rink user groups and potential court user groups. In addition, the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee engaged in the project, getting updates and sharing their feedback to advise the City Council.
2022 Community Meeting and Survey
The City hosted a virtual meeting on CAC improvements in January 2022 and followed up with a survey to gain up to date ideas and preferences from residents on how to update the Community Activity Center. The survey ran from February 8 to March 4, 2022 both online and in-person. We received a total of 1,918 responses.
2017 Park System Plan Community Engagement
City staff leveraged a 26-member Community Advisory Team and a 40 member Community Outreach Team as well as Youth Facilitators to engage residents using a variety of strategies. These included pop-up meetings, a survey (online, door to door and at events), in person events, and other targeted measures to reach deep into our community. One of the key findings was the desire for adding a gym/fieldhouse for year-round use, in addition to an aquatics facility and performing arts/studio arts facility.