6 minute read
Plymouth
Accommodating a Growing Community
Plymouth Community Center gets a new lease on life
By Todd Pernsteiner, Pernsteiner Creative Group, Inc.
Since the Plymouth Creek Center (PCC) opened in 1999 as a hub for arts, recreation programs and special events, the city’s population grew by more than 14,000 people – and a major expansion was needed to meet demand and better accommodate space needs.
After two decades of use, the well-used Plymouth Community Center (formerly known as Plymouth Creek Center), needed maintenance and updates – and its popularity means it was stretched to meet the demands and changing needs of a growing community.
Serving a Growing Population
The community center was originally designed to allow for a potential expansion project based on expected population growth. Since it was constructed, Plymouth’s population has increased by more than 14,000 residents. That growth spiked Plymouth Community Center’s usage and left the building struggling to meet the demand for space. Prior to the renovation, the facility hosted senior programs, recreation programming, weddings, rentals and more. Many of the building’s rooms were not suited for recreation programming needs (such as a yoga class on the carpeted ballroom fl oor). Additionally, rental demand outpaced capacity.
Feasibility Study Examines Future of the Community Center
A 2017 feasibility study examined concerns about the community center’s ability to meet current and future needs. The study confi rmed that high demand caused programming limitations at the facility. To gauge community interest and develop the best fi t for facility users, the city launched a community engagement initiative in 2018 to ask residents for help in shaping the center’s future. Several community engagement tools were available to help residents share thoughts about whether the center needed expansion and, if so, what type of space would best serve the community. Input was collected through an online survey tool, an interactive website, open house events, and in-person at city facilities and events. A Community Engagement Report for the center was available for review and was presented to the City Council in late 2018.
A New Community Center Comes to Life
Renovation of the community center began in September 2020. The roughly $50M project, when all phases are completed, will offer a gathering place for all members of the community to enjoy recreation activities, sports programs, educational opportunities, arts programs, events and more.
Phase 1: Active Wing
Opened January 3, 2022
The Active Wing, the fi rst phase to open includes a new year-round indoor walking track, exciting new indoor playground, two gymnasiums, dance and fi tness studios, and a sensory room. • Fieldhouse outfi tted with artifi cial grass, great for year-round team fi eld sports.
Infl atable dome provides an indoor space from November through early April. • Fitness/wellness studios for yoga, aerobics and Zumba classes, with appropriate fl ooring and amenities. • Two full sized gymnasiums for pickleball, basketball, badminton, preschool, tumbling and more
Creating places for communities at play.
We design parks and trails that invite people of all ages and abilities to gather and play, boosting well-being while conserving community resources. That’s a tall order. But LHB delivers, time and again.
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• Indoor playground with components similar to an outdoor park. Sits adjacent to two party rooms, perfect for hosting a birthday party • Sensory Room provides a calming space with a variety of equipment that provides visitors with a personalized experience to fi t a variety of sensory needs. • Walking track dedicated year-round indoor walking facility.
Phase 2: Event and Education Wings
Opening July 18, 2022
Complete with conference and multipurpose rooms equipped with new integrated technology, the Event Wing features a renovated ballroom and redesigned Black Box Theater, which were staples from the former Plymouth Creek Center building. Known as the Plymouth Room, the newly renovated ballroom seats up to 300 guests at tables or 400 guests for audience-style seating. This popular wedding and special event venue includes a stage, built-in bar and large windows that overlook the beautiful Millennium Garden and wetland areas. The renovated Black Box Theater features audience-style seating for up to 180 people and is equipped with a sound system and lighting. The Education Wing includes senior/adult spaces designated for groups, clubs and social gatherings;
multipurpose rooms tailored for education and STEM classes; art rooms for creative programming; and music classrooms for lessons and other acoustical activities. “To be able to fully open this beautiful facility to Plymouth residents is very exciting,” said Plymouth Community Center Manager Jess Riley. “Each wing of the community center offers something unique, and we are excited to continue welcoming guests of all ages and abilities to this new space.”
Education Wing
• Senior/adult spaces – designated for groups, clubs, cards and social gatherings • Multipurpose rooms – designed for education and
STEM, as well as corporate and community meetings • Art rooms for art and creative programs • Art gallery for rotating community displays • Music rooms – acoustical spaces for classes and lessons • Conference spaces and meeting rooms for corporate and community rentals • Renovated ballroom for weddings, events, corporate and catering • Redesigned black box theater for seminars, education and meetings The entire Plymouth community is excited for the center to be completed. Mayor Jeff Wosje commented, “while we have made a lot of memories at the original Plymouth Creek Center building over the past two decades – once the project wraps up in summer 2022 with the completion of the Event and Education Wings – the newly expanded and renovated Plymouth Community Center will have more space to truly serve the entire community. I can’t wait to walk through the doors and see it bustling with activities and events.” Learn more about the Plymouth Community Center at plymouthmn.gov/pcc.
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The City of Plymouth has incorporated numerous inclusive recreation features into the remodeled community center including a sensory room and sensory bags. They also partnered with KultureCity, a nonprofi t organization that raises national awareness and helps create inclusive spaces for those with sensory needs, to become a Sensory Inclusive Certifi ed venue. The sensory room is a space for guests who feel overstimulated a would like a quieter environment to recharge. The room is outfi tted with calming amenities, such as lights, colors, activity panels, soft sensory objects, a tactile art installation, weighted lap pad and more. Visitors can check out a key card to use the room. To help create a calming and inclusive environment, sensory bags equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fi dget tools and verbal cue cards are also available to center visitors. Guests may check out a sensory bag from staff at the front desk or indoor playground.
KultureCity Inclusive Certification
KultureCity awards Sensory Inclusive Certifi cations to businesses that have become more accessible and inclusive to all guests, including those with sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation – helping them feel welcome while visiting a facility. Sensory sensitivities may be experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease or other conditions. Facility users can download the free KultureCity app to view the sensory features available at the Plymouth Community Center and where they can be accessed, as well as view photos that explain what guests may experiencing when visiting the facility. The free app is available through various app stores.
