The MG Park-n-Rec Board approved funding for the MG Community Gymnasium project the week of March 17, 2014. Construction costs of $8.1 million and total project costs of $8.65 million were included the final proposal. The approved amounts include a 5% contingency fund that exceeds $300,000.
Construction activities are expected to begin the week of April 14, 2014.
The project is now moving into the implementation phase with a construction trailer anticipated on location by mid-April. Todd Leyse, Building Committee Chairperson, will be representing OMGBA at weekly construction meetings on location.
OMGBA is now moving into the implementation phase of the project as well - driven by the formation of numerous committees to manage the changes necessary to ensure that OMGBA is prepared for the opening of the new facility on or around January 1, 2015. Chairpersons of each committee have been determined and volunteers are being sought to assist with planning. Committees include:
Throughout the month of November 2013, all parties involved in the Maple Grove Community Gymnasium project approved the proposal and authorized the parties to engage with outside parties to prepare a final design and budget proposal for the City of Maple Grove to approve final funding in March 2014.
The Osseo Maple Grove Basketball Association unanimously approved its support of the project in a special board meeting on Monday, November 4th.
The Board's approval of the project was based on a powerpoint presentation that detailed the design and functionality of the proposed facility, the operating agreement agreed to by all parties, the operating costs that OMGBA would be responsible for, and the financing offered by the City of Maple Grove.
Upon receiving the 7/3/14 proposal from the City of Maple Grove, the Building Committee met on two separate occasions. The nature of the meetings were to ensure that OMGBA's needs would be adequately met by the proposal and, if so, to develop a prioritized list of attributes necessary for the addition to best serve the needs of the basketball community.
The Committee supported the proposal and developed an extensive list of attributes for the new gymnasium addition. The list included items such as:
During the second Building Committee meeting, Todd Leyse (Building Committee Chairperson) and Jim Davison (OMGBA President) were designated to represent OMGBA in the planning process moving forward between the City of Maple Grove, ISD 279, architects, builders, and others to move this proposal forward and ensure that the needs outlined by the Building Committee were included in the outcome.
On July 3, 2013, OMGBA received a letter from Al Madsen, Maple Grove City Administrator, announcing that a proposal to add three gyms at Maple Grove Junior High and one eventually at Maple Grove Senior High would be considered by ISD 279 and the City of Maple Grove.
Although this was a different proposal than originally promoted by OMGBA to the City of Maple Grove, it was one of the alternative options discussed by OMGBA. The addition of 3 full courts onto Maple Grove Junior High would provide 5 full courts at that location - a "key" criteria for hosting fundraising activities.
Also, the letter noted an interest to work with OMGBA to help ensure the new facility would be operationable for OMGBA's 2014 season.
In 2004, OMGBA established a Building Fund, as it saw a need within our community (Osseo High School and Maple Grove High School attendance areas) emerging for more quality basketball courts.
In 2007, it formed a Building Committee.
On June 8, 2011, OMGBA presented to the City of Maple Grove's Citizen's Advisory Committee and have prior and since met with City Staff.
OMGBA's proposed building has 6 courts, with a 2 floor center cooridor. The courts are run lengthwise along this cooridor (which lessens the roof structure required, which lessens the wall heights required). The lower level concourse is mainly for a hallway, storage, an office, restrooms and vending. The upstairs concourse is for concessions and viewing the practices/games. There will NOT be any locker room nor showers installed.
Each court has bleachers with backs against the center wall, so spectators can enter each court and quickly take a seat, which has plenty of room, compared to some sites where spectator's chairs and feet straddle two courts, which can be a safety concern for players and spectators. The bleacher location also reduces foot traffic and dirt entering the floors, reducing floor maintenance.
Most facilities have one row of chairs set up along the 84' side line. These courts are planned to have 4 rows of bleachers, 60' long, and an elevated viewing area in the upper concourse which will make for the best tournament basketball site in the state.
The construction budget is set at $7.1M currently for the site currently being proposed - Maple Grove Junior High. This includes nearly $300,000 in contingency funds for construction and includes Design and Owner Costs, including a $100,000 contingency fund for Owner Costs. The budget is being reviewed and may move up some (to $7.3M?) to address some concerns not previously addressed.
Since OMGBA serves primarily Maple Grove High School and Osseo High School, we are satisfied that this is a good location - it is in our particpant area (technically in the OSH attendance area). Also, children from MGSH, OSH, and PCSH attend Maple Grove Junior High and it is relatively centrally located to all three high schools, should the schools and/or the district want to use the facility after school and before OMGBA needs it. Lastly, the location is good in that about 85% of our roughly 1900 players live in the city of Maple Grove, so it is an asset the community will enjoy for years to come.
Of course attaching to the school will allow some shared parking opportunities and help MGJH who could use the parking. Another advantage to this site is we feel the existing site supervisor can also watch over this space, reducing labor costs, which keeps the operating costs low.
The City of Maple Grove's staff wants to do a Market Study to determine the number of courts the facility should have as part of the due dilligence process. We are requesting 6 courts but it could be more or less than that. OMGBA and the city have agreed to split the cost of this study.
Next will be some policy decisions followed by a Feasibility Study to determine what the operating costs will be and who/how they will be covered.
At some point, a joint powers agreement will be negotiated and eventually this and all the budgets approved by the three entities.
Please note at this point the proposal has the city paying 80% of construction costs, OMGBA paying 20%, and the District not paying anything.
The facility will be used during school days during school hours and immediately after school, weeknights in season by OMGBA for practices, and on weekends for games, playoffs, and tournaments, and in the off season by new OMGBA programs and/or rented out to others. The facility will be built to facilitate volleyball as well.