COMMUNITY CENTER AND REC CENTER

For more information on this topic, see Parks and Rec, City Parks, and Community Center.

Although the land for the St. Louis Park Community Center was purchased as tax-forfeited land in 1944, discussions about the Center started in earnest in 1949. A location was chosen on land on Lake Street that the State had given the Village for drainage purposes in 1944. In 1950, citizens came together to draw up plans and raise funds, but then the Federal government ordered no new construction for “recreational, amusement or entertainment purposes.” This also put the kibosh on a new stadium for the Minneapolis Millers, who had planned to build on Wayzata Blvd. at Zarthan, across from McCarthy’s Café.

A solution was found when the city bought the old Holy Family Church for $495, and it was moved (Doepke Building Movers) to 6212 W. Lake Street in 1950. One acre had been obtained from the State in October 1944. After two years up on blocks, a foundation, windows, plumbing, light and heat were added, and furnishings were donated or paid for by such groups as the War Mothers, Sixty-Plus Club, Brookside Garden Club, Chester Hyland (who donated a juke box), and John Billman, who donated a piano.



The building was opened as the St. Louis Park Community Center in November 1953. Activities at first were confined to crafts. 

1954
The electorate for the first time voted to support the Recreation Department in a school board election. Thus in 1955, the Recreation Commission came into being. At this time, the Community Fund changed the recipient of its funds from the Recreation Department to the Community Center. In 1956 the Parks and Recreation Departments were combined and the Recreation Commission was dissolved.

A 75 by 25 ft. basement was added to the Community Center, as well as two hockey rinks.

1956
After a fire, a two-story addition was added to the Community Center in August 1956.  It was built by contractor Jerry Holt and financed with insurance money and a donation of $2,750 from Ecklund Swedlund home builders.

1958
The Community Center was refurbished and re-stuccoed.

1960
Corwine and Doell did specs for Johnson Lake improvement.

1961
In January 1961 the suggestion was made to eliminate all City wading pools, in order to develop Johnson Lake.

1962

The Mayor urged some action on the Johnson Swimming Hole area.

1963
Discussions about a new recreation center began in earnest in 1963, just a few years after the Community Center on Lake Street was enlarged. Patched together as it was, the old building was in bad shape, with crumbling ceilings, inadequate plumbing and heating, and an electrical system that could only take four or five lights at a time. The Center had become too small for the needs of the community.

1964
Also inadequate was Johnson Lake, located between Excelsior Blvd. and 38th Street. The Mayor wanted to make improvements so that it would be safe for swimming, and work had been done in 1964 to shape the lakebed and create a sandy beach. But tests by the State health department showed unhealthy levels of bacteria, and the City was advised to develop a pool instead. The kibosh on Wolfe Lake (renamed in 1965) for swimming put the plans for the Recreation Center into high gear. (Children at local City park programs were bussed to Johnson Lake for swimming lessons, competing for water with millions of minnows.)

1965
Mayor Ken Wolfe appointed a 10-member committee to study the need. The commission came back in 1965 with a recommendation that the Park build a $550,000 center with an indoor-outdoor pool but no hockey rink. It recommended a 20,000 sq.ft. building for meeting rooms, etc. The commission found the suggestion to link forces with the YWCA or Jewish Community Center infeasible, but did recommend coordinating with the pool facilities at Westwood Jr. High.

1968
After nearly considering a site at Aquila Park, the Wolfe Lake site was approved by the City Council in September 1968. The area between Raleigh and Natchez south of 36th Street to Excelsior Blvd. had originally been platted as Westmoreland Park in 1911.  The City bought up lots throughout the 1950's and '60's, some for $100, some for maybe $500.  Westmoreland Park was platted for a residential community, with the streets Westmoreland Ave., Quincy, and Ottawa drawn in, if not actually built.  Before the Rec Center, the site was the Acme Field baseball diamond, sponsored by Acme Stone and Lumber.  Also on the property, Holt’s nursery requested permission from the City to use the property for a woodlot and storage in exchange for landscaping. There were also a few houses that were removed.

1969
On June 3, 1969, Park held a referendum for the construction of the Rec Center, as designed by architect Carl Graffunder and Associates at a cost of just over $2 million. It was turned down by a 2-1 margin – speculation is that senior citizens voted against it in droves.  Meanwhile, the Community Center closed down in December.

1970
In a controversial move, in March 1970, without voter approval, the Council voted to spend $1.7 million for the Rec Center and hired the firm Smiley and Associates to come up with a new design. Gone were some of the frills, like a community theater, handball courts, kitchen, etc. General construction was by Mikkelson Construction Co. of Minneapolis.

The Lake Street Community Center was condemned.

1972
Finally, the St. Louis Park Recreation Center, located at 5005 W. 36th St., opened on July 17, 1972, slightly delayed by a strike of concrete truck drivers and cloudy weather. An estimated 1,200 attended on opening day. There were three pools; one was 50 meters long with 8 lanes.  There was also a 12 ft. diving well with two boards, 1 meter and 3 meters.  There was also a separate wading pool. The complex covered 40,418 square feet.  The hockey arena had a seating capacity of 2,000.  The director was Ken Vraa. The address was later changed to 3700 Monterey Drive.

1973
The contents of the old Community Center were sold off and the building was demolished.  It was replaced by a warming house shelter that had been part of the basement.  That was removed in 2006.

1997
A total overhaul of the Rec Center was carried out in 1997-98.  Improvements included a new ice arena, banquet room, team rooms, galley, concessions area, caterer's kitchen, parks and rec offices, and a garage for the zamboni.  Also new in 1997 was the aquatic park (4 story body slide and tube ride). 

More staff offices were added in 2002 and a skate park was put in in 2003. 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.