Posted: 7/2/03

Pools top list for community center

Area residents would most like to see pools included in a new Forest Lake Area Community Center, according to results of surveys conducted this spring.

In March, a print survey was mailed to the 4500 Forest Lake households with registered voters and was available online, asking residents to rank 29 possible activities from ìvery importantî to ìnot important.î

There was also an online survey just for students that asked them to select the Top 5 most desired facilities from a list of 16.

Of adult responders, 78 percent ranked a recreational pool as ìvery importantî or ìimportantî to include, with 68 percent saying the same of a water park and 50 percent in favor of a competitive pool.

Students ranked water park as Number 1 and a competitive pool/diving well as Number 7.

Also in the Top 5 facilities among student responders were, in order, climbing wall, theater, ice arena and skateboard park.

Other facilities that gained more than a 60 percent favorable rating among adult responders were walking trails, a teen center, fitness center, picnic area, ice arena and softball fields.

Least desirable among both adults and students was lacrosse fields.

ìWe were extremely pleased with the response,î said Community Center Task Force Chairman Alan Bakke.

ìWe received 1100 completed surveys from households, representing more than 3000 residents, or about 20 percent.

ìThatís a phenomenal response rate for this type of community survey and demonstrates that the people of Forest Lake really care about their town and how it develops.

ìPlus, we had more than 500 students complete surveys, representing almost 7 percent of the school districtís 7600 students,î Bakke said. ìWe want to make sure our youth have a say in this Community Center, too, since they will be major users.î

Bakke noted that a small percentage of responders were not in favor of the Community Center, but the overwhelming majority were.

The Community Center Task Force is using the survey results, along with other input, to determine which amenities to include in the center.

ìCertainly, community interest will be an important factor in our decisions,î Bakke said, ìbut we also need to consider other factors, such as how much it costs to build certain amenities and which ones will generate the most revenue.î

He said that one of the top-ranked facilities, an ice arena, is already planned as the first amenity on the 160-acre complex the city has earmarked for the Community Center.

The city of Forest Lake recently began work on a development agreement with a nonprofit group that plans to build the arena with private donations.

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