Wood Lake Nature Center
Three Major Destinations Require Critical Repairs and Upgrades
After years of heavy use, the Richfield Community Center, Wood Lake Nature Center building and facilities at Veterans Park face a wide range of infrastructure needs that must be addressed for the health, safety and enjoyment of all residents and visitors.
Richfield Community Center
The Richfield Community Center hosts hundreds of community members each week and attracts visitors from across the city and around the region, for wellness, fitness and tax programs as well as other activities. Originally built as a public library, the 63-year-old building lacks the space and updated equipment to support the range of community programs and activities desired by residents.
Critical problems with the aging building include:
Erosion on the foundation that leads to water seeping into the building when it rains
Small and outdated kitchen
Minimal community gathering spaces
Lack of separate space for fitness activities and sports
Leaking roof
Inadequate space for storing equipment and supplies
Insufficient space for staff
Wood Lake Nature Center
Wood Lake Nature Center is a 150-acre natural area dedicated to environmental education, wildlife observation and outdoor recreation. The building at Wood Lake Nature Center is more than 50 years old and has aged past its useful life. Having hosted thousands of visitors and educational classes annually over the last half-century, the facility is plagued with critical infrastructure problems that cannot be resolved with routine maintenance and repairs.
Problems at the Wood Lake Nature Center building include:
Outdated, non-ADA accessible bathrooms
Frequent appearances of uninvited rodents and other wildlife due to foundational erosion
Insufficient space for the growing demand for educational classes and community events
Aging HVAC system and air quality issues
Inadequate and cramped storage for equipment, supplies and educational materials
Grading and water draining challenges near the building has led to deteriorating windows and building exterior
Insufficient space for staff to collaborate and gather
Veterans Park
Veterans Park is Richfield’s most versatile and visited park. Whether it is swimming, skating, attending the farmers market, walking the trails or playing mini golf, the complex serves Richfield residents and surrounding community members alike. Despite regular maintenance, many amenities throughout the park require significant upgrades and renovations to maintain the safety and health of patrons.
Major challenges at Veterans Park include:
The original, 63-year-old pool liner and basin is deteriorating and needs to be replaced
Outdated pool filtration and heating systems
Lack of ADA accessibility at the 53-year-old ice arena
Deteriorating trail system
Aging and degraded pavilion roof
Infrastructure and grounds issues at the mini golf course/building and other parts of the park
