Price tag for new aquatics facility increases

Price tag for new South St. Paul aquatics facility increases
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | May 2026

Costs to remedy recently discovered environmental issues at the site of the city’s planned aquatics facility has ballooned the project’s cost by as much as 40%.

Planned is a 6,026-square-foot pool to replace the 70-year-old Northview pool, which will be closed this summer and next. A new outdoor pool – about 1,000 square-feet larger than the current pool – is being built in its place. It will include beach entry, lap lanes, play structure, climbing wall, diving board, two water slides, and a new pool building with changing rooms, concessions and staff space. Construction costs were originally estimated at $7 million with amenities and other fees pushing the total cost to $8.5 million. However, soil and stormwater issues have pushed overall costs to potentially $11.9 million. Staff expect to know by June if the City will receive $6.5 million from the State Legislature this year to help soften the blow. The city is planning on using tax abatement bonds to cover any remaining costs, which will increase property taxes. Lorraine Park Splash Pool will be open this summer for swimming and lessons. That facility is also nearing the end of its useful life, and the new pool will incorporate its elements, effectively creating a single aquatics facility that will serve the city for years to come. Construction bidding is slated for this fall.

“After more than 70 years, the Northview Community Pool is more than ready for an update,” said South St. Paul Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Young. “This new pool will bring safer features, better access, and far more ways for our community to enjoy the space. It will give residents a place to gather, stay active, and spend time together for years to come. It builds on a long-standing community tradition while creating space for new memories.”

Other park projects happening this spring include:
Summit Park, 1073 15th Ave. N. – A new playground was installed last year and improvements will continue this summer. Work includes replacing the basketball court and creating a trail connecting the playground and tennis court.

Lorraine Park, 756 3rd Ave. S. – The old playground will be replaced with a new nature-themed playground featuring play structures for children of all ages. More trees will also be planted and trail improvements done. Work will kick off in June and is expected to be completed in September. The City was awarded a $184,000 matching grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to support the project.

Dog Park, 800 Bryant Ave. – Work recently wrapped up to repair the fencing at the 6.3-acre dog park.
Kaposia Park, 1028 Wilde Ave. – The ballfield infield will be regraded to restore proper drainage and overall playing conditions.

City Council news:
Indoor family recreation facility
The South St. Paul Economic Development Authority is expected to approve a development agreement with Kingdom Consulting in May, placing one of the final pieces of the puzzle to sell the former city-owned library at 106 3rd Ave. N. to Minneapolis Gymnastics for conversion into a 12,000-square-foot indoor family recreation facility. The preliminary purchase agreement signed earlier this year has a purchase price of $250,000, less than half the estimated market value of $639,800 as determined by Dakota County. However, the building needs substantial work to be ready for redevelopment. If approved, the sale will likely close in July and the city is expected to provide the developer with a $2.3 million forgivable loan to repurpose the building. The amount will cover all the big-ticket items found in the city’s library adaptive reuse feasibility study completed three years ago. Notably, the preliminary agreement states that the repurposed building must have an area dedicated for city-programmed uses.

Residential parking permits
The City is poised to repeal its residential parking permit program this year. The program was established in the 1980s but has been identified as a defunct “zombie” program and somewhat of a sham, according to city documents. The program isn’t managed by any one department. Rather, city staff simply hand out permit stickers to any resident who provides proof they live within one of the three permit parking zones – they’re located around the high school, McGuire Field at Lorraine Park and McMorrow Field. A handwritten record is made in a 3-ring binder kept in a filing cabinet near the front desk at City Hall. There’s no charge for permits or follow-up of any kind. However, some residents living near the permit parking zones frequently call the police to report vehicles without permits parked in the zones. The police then spend time tracking down the vehicles’ owners. The three zones together cover less than 10 city blocks and no longer face the parking pressures they once did. City staff garnered community feedback on the issue in 2024 and 2025, and the city council is expected to make a final decision in the coming weeks. If the permit parking zones are repealed, signs reading “2 hour parking, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon.-Fri.” or something similar will be installed to help regulate parking in the areas.

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