A Step Forward for Valley Community Center

Today, Valley Community Center is announcing a decision that represents an important step forward in bringing a community recreation center to Lake Elmo.

After careful consideration, VCC has made the decision to relinquish its purchase agreement for the former Lake Elmo Elementary School property to make way for a bigger vision of a growing community, which includes VCC.

The School District will now consider new proposals for the future of the property. We are excited about the potential for a comprehensive, forward-looking plan for the school property and adjacent land: one that reflects the needs of a growing Lake Elmo and the broader St. Croix Valley. The City of Lake Elmo is exploring opportunities to partner with qualified development teams on a redevelopment project in the City’s Old Village, including plans which identify appropriate acreage for VCC and evaluate how that use could be incorporated into the overall development concept.

These plans follow a City-led Workshop on September 8th, which you may see the discussion here starting around 1:12. This is a step forward in pursuing a vision Lake Elmo has been working toward for years, which preserves and enhances the heirloom Village.

We believe there is tremendous opportunity when individual pieces of a community's future are considered together. This is an incredible opportunity for the old Lake Elmo Elementary School property including the long-term vitality of the community where Stillwater Area Public School students and families live. The City of Lake Elmo is looking ahead at the community's long-term needs and how private development can contribute thoughtfully to the historic Village. VCC's role is to help advance the community recreation center within that larger picture.

The Vision Has Not Changed

We remain deeply committed to bringing a community recreation center to Lake Elmo: a place where families can gather, children can learn to swim, people can stay active and healthy, and neighbors can connect.

The vision still includes a public pool, versatile gathering space, child watch and indoor play, a multi-purpose gymnasium, and individual and group fitness.

What has changed is our path to best get there. The property under our purchase agreement was larger than the footprint required for the community center itself, creating an opportunity to think beyond a single building and toward a more comprehensive vision for the site and surrounding area.

The Right Path for Valley Community Center

This decision gives VCC an opportunity to shift our attention to working with a developer to build the asset our community needs. VCC was created to bring people and resources together, and fix a problem we see in the far east metro of the Twin Cities where there is a gap in family amenities.

We are focused on a shared vision for a regional community recreation center, and have spent years building relationships, studying successful community center models, understanding community needs, and developing a vision for what this facility can provide. Now, we can focus more directly on the work ahead. The community center remains the goal. Lake Elmo remains the location. And our commitment to making this vision a reality remains strong.

We believe this approach gives us a better pathway to bring together the public, private, philanthropic, and community partners necessary to make the project successful. Ultimately, relinquishing the purchase agreement is not stepping away from the vision, it is a step toward the best solution for the community.

Come Help Shape What Comes Next

We are planning a community gathering to share more about this next chapter. Stay tuned for details! We will share plans to bring the vision to life and how people who believe in the need for a community recreation center can become involved. Make sure you’re on our mailing list for updates.

Collectively, we're going to have a tremendously important impact on the future of the St. Croix Valley. We are excited about what comes next.

Thank you.

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As always, thank you for your enthusiasm & support.

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