Exciting Momentum for the Community Center
We are thrilled to share an important milestone in the journey toward bringing the Valley Community Center to life.
At the March 17 Lake Elmo City Council meeting, Valley Community Center representative David Frank presented preliminary 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; an encouraging step forward as we continue pursuing funding and community partnerships. Feel free to read the Gazette article covering the meeting here.
A Vision for Community Connection
The proposed 50,000-square-foot Community Center will be an inclusive, welcoming space designed to foster social connection, wellness, and recreation for residents of Lake Elmo, our neighbors across the greater St. Croix Valley, and as a regional destination for visitors around the metro. This initiative represents years of grassroots effort, built through community engagement, stakeholder meetings, and feedback from residents throughout the region.
As Valley Community Center’s representative David Frank shared during the March 17 Lake Elmo City Council meeting, it will be a big investment in the quality of life for the residents of this city and for the surrounding area. More than a building and a development project, this is a grassroots initiative based on years of effort, including stakeholder meetings, surveys, and community engagement activities. It has support from residents all over the area, including many here in Lake Elmo.
Why Lake Elmo?
After carefully evaluating several potential locations, including Stillwater and Bayport, the Valley Community Center Partners selected Lake Elmo as the future home of this exciting project.
In December 2025, an agreement was reached with Stillwater Area Public Schools to purchase the current Lake Elmo Elementary site for $4.25 million. The purchase includes both the building and approximately 13 acres of land, offering ample space to create a multi-use community hub anchoring Lake Elmo’s idyllic Village.
The sale is expected to close in December 2026, allowing the school district to complete the current academic year before transitioning to the new Lake Elmo Elementary facility this summer.
Strong Local Support
Lake Elmo City Councilmembers expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential impact at the March meeting:
"I think this could be a crown jewel in our cap, so to speak, of really something great for the future of the city,” Councilmember Kragness said at the March 17 City Council meeting
“I think this could be a great use for this site,” Councilmember Hirn said. “So I’m really excited about this.”
Their support reinforces what we’ve heard from so many of you: this center has the potential to become a cornerstone of connection and well-being in our region.
What’s Next?
The project is currently in its due diligence phase as we finalize acquisition details and continue engaging with local stakeholders. Once the purchase is complete, the next stages will include:
Community-centered design and planning
Site engineering and development
Expanded outreach efforts
Ongoing fundraising initiatives
As always, our goal is to ensure that the Valley Community Center reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of the entire community.
Collectively, we're going to have a tremendously important impact on the future of the St. Croix Valley. We’re thrilled for what’s ahead. Thank you for being part of this journey!
We have more to accomplish in 2026 and need your help, but we’re excited to celebrate the steps taken in the past year together.
Thank you.
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As always, thank you for your enthusiasm & support.
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