Exciting Momentum for the Future Community Center

We are thrilled to share an important milestone in the journey toward bringing our community hub to life.

At the March 17 Lake Elmo City Council meeting, Valley Community Center Partners representatives presented plans for the proposed facility and formally requested a letter of support from the City. We’re proud to report that the City of Lake Elmo has expressed its support for this transformative project, which is an encouraging step forward as we continue pursuing funding and community partnerships.

How do you build community without a space for people to come together?

If you’re a longtime Valley resident, you already know the answer. Close your eyes for a moment and think back to the St. Croix Mall. Raise your hand if you ever:

• Went on a date to the Mall 5 Movie Theatre

• Played for hours at the arcade

• Bought a poster at Sam Goody…

Valley Community Center Partners is working hard to bring a new gathering place to the St. Croix Valley, a central location where the community can come together to prioritize health, wellness, and recreation.  This is what we’ve heard from the community, and this is what motivates us….

Valley Community Center Partners are working hard behind the scenes to provide a welcoming space in the heart of the St. Croix Valley that inspires health and well-being for all.

We know the St. Croix Valley community is eagerly anticipating this new space, and we are using this time to study our site, continue our discussions and pre-development work, keep our partners involved, and most importantly, continue our community outreach.

We are working hard to bring a new gathering place to the St. Croix Valley, a central location where the community can come together to prioritize health, wellness, and recreation.  This is what we’ve heard from the community, and this is what motivates us….

Strong communities are built from the ground up, and local community centers are a cornerstone of that foundation. They offer a welcoming space where families, veterans, seniors, and young people can access the tools they need to thrive. I am proud to support this community center initiative, which will empower individuals, strengthen families and uphold the spirit of self-reliance and local initiative that makes the St. Croix Valley region truly exceptional. - State Senator Karin Housley

A lot is happening behind the scenes at Valley Community Center. VCC is a transformative, volunteer driven initiative shaped by in-depth community engagement in the St. Croix Valley.

Unlike existing facilities located near the Valley, VCC is conceived to  be an inclusive, accessible hub for health, wellness, and connection.

10 Reasons Why Community Centers Matter (And Why They’re Not Just Rec Centers)

In an increasingly fast-paced, digital world, the power of real, human connection is more vital than ever. That’s where community centers come in—not as glorified gyms, but as the heartbeats of neighborhoods, where every person has a place and a purpose.

A takeaway from our feasability study and community meetings is that there is a big opportunity for youth and teen programming in the Valley. Adults often try (in good faith) to articulate needs on teens behalf. We are curious if there is a productive/safe means of hearing it directly from teens? This Is Stillwater founder and youth advocate Michael Manore approached VCC and proposed we conceptually…

The Valley Community Center board is working diligently to bring a much-needed community center to the St. Croix Valley region. By offering inspiring spaces to swim, play, exercise and socialize, this center will become a key health and wellness asset for residents and a sought-after regional destination.

As the population in Washington County continues to grow, so does the need for infrastructure that supports social and mental health, and life skill development. The proposed Valley Community Center will not only address these critical needs but also serve as a vibrant economic engine for Washington County. 

We're excited to make this dream a reality!

Valley Community Center loves camaraderie, play, and wellness! We’re looking forward to volunteering at the Snow Slide at the World Snow Celebration this weekend downtown Stillwater.

We are looking ahead to our Community Meeting which will be held on Thursday, November 14 6:30-8pm at the Community Thread office in Stillwater, Minnesota. Our Valley Community Center Board is so excited to present many positive updates including our Strategic Plan, Building Plans & Operational Analysis, and more.

Valley Community Center is focused on capacity building and outreach. We have developed a new logo and new website. Please enjoy browsing our new website, and, as always, feel free to let us know if you have any feedback….

This week, the Valley Community Center board is conducting site visits to four community centers in the metro area. We are looking at 4 sites: V3 Sports Plymouth, Shoreview Comm Center, St. Paul Midway YMCA and Maplewood YMCA…

Meet Shari Mogren, Valley Community Center’s New Project Manager…

It is with sincere appreciation we share this post! For the attendees of that evening, all who gave their time to respond to the survey, our growing followers, and Community Thread for hosting this gathering…