[0:00] (gentle music) [0:02] - The hope and dream for the new [0:04] Community Health and Wellness Center [0:05] is that it will be a welcoming [0:07] and safe place for multi-generational users [0:10] who have all different levels of skill, [0:12] interest, and abilities, [0:13] in recreation and health and wellness. [0:15] The Community Health and Wellness Center [0:17] is a $101.8 million project [0:19] that is a part of the three Bloomington Forward [0:22] sales tax projects approved by the referendum [0:24] in November of 2023. [0:26] In April, the city council approved the schematic design. [0:29] - The schematic design phase is really taking all ideas, [0:32] big and small, and putting them together on paper [0:35] and refining it from there [0:36] based on what the community has said they wanted. [0:39] - They approved the current draft design that we have [0:42] and are allowing us to move [0:43] into the design development phase. [0:45] - So there'll be aquatics amenities, [0:47] general fitness spaces and studios, [0:50] a walking track, an indoor playground and kids club, [0:54] multipurpose spaces and rooms [0:56] that are available for rentals and events. [0:58] Public health will office there as well, [1:00] so that will be a good opportunity [1:02] for members of the community seeking public health services [1:05] to come in and engage with the space as well. [1:08] - What will happen in design development [1:10] is we will further refine the drawings [1:12] and the spaces within the building [1:14] in addition to continued cost analysis [1:16] to make sure that the design is in line with the budget, [1:19] in addition to starting to choose some of the fixtures [1:22] and finishes that we might see in the final building. [1:24] - The community and what they'd like to see in this space [1:27] has really been something [1:29] that's been at the forefront throughout this entire process. [1:31] That has come from several engagement opportunities [1:34] that have been part of this whole process. [1:37] Those events will continue. [1:38] They'll be more specific in nature. [1:40] People will be able to give feedback [1:42] on more specific aspects of the project [1:44] now that we've got a better idea of what the spaces will be [1:47] and what the amenities will be [1:48] and how those will all interact. [1:50] - As we look at the next steps [1:51] in the Community Health and Wellness Center, [1:53] Creekside Community Center is preparing to close down. [1:56] Our final day of operation will be Friday, May 30th, [1:58] and then we will open up at the Logan Avenue Building [2:02] on June 16th. [2:03] 95% of senior programs will be continuing [2:06] in the Logan Avenue Building [2:08] and the Bloomington Center for the Arts during the interim. [2:10] We'll also be introducing some new programs [2:12] like our Lego Club, [2:13] and we'll be doubling the frequency of our special events [2:16] and our educational presentations. [2:17] So I've been working really closely [2:18] with our boutique leadership and our senior volunteers [2:21] to continue this into the future. [2:23] We'll be utilizing a mobile kiosk [2:25] that we can store the crafts and make sales out of. [2:27] That'll be located in Civic Plaza during the interim, [2:30] and it'll eventually move into its new home [2:32] in the Community Health and Wellness Center. [2:33] Moving forward, we're partnering [2:34] with the City of Eden Prairie Senior Center [2:36] for our wood shop. [2:37] Our participants will be able to utilize [2:39] the Eden Prairie Senior Center Wood Shop, [2:40] and the City of Bloomington [2:41] will be covering their initial fees. [2:43] So some of the programs that we have not found spaces yet [2:46] in the interim are the lapidary or the rock shop, [2:49] our billiards program, and our ping pong. [2:51] So we're actively looking for solutions [2:52] to rehome those programs during the interim. [2:54] Bloomington seniors continue to be a priority [2:57] that guides the design and construction [2:58] of the Community Health and Wellness Center, [3:00] and I'm really excited about all the new opportunities [3:02] they'll have that they haven't had before to get engaged, [3:04] participate in recreation like aquatics, walking track, [3:07] and a bunch of new fitness opportunities. [3:09] Staff have been working really hard preparing Logan Lodge [3:11] to be the interim home for our senior programs, [3:13] and I really hope you'll come join us there [3:15] to participate in some of the programs you know and love, [3:17] and maybe find some new ones that you'll love too. [3:19] - We hope to have the new Community Health [3:21] and Wellness Center open in 2027 to the public. [3:24] For updates on any of the Bloomington Forward projects, [3:26] including the Community Health and Wellness Center, [3:28] please visit the bloomingtonforward.org website.