Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

AQUATICS AND VOLLEYBALL SWIMMING

Sandventure is Shakopee’s only park based outdoor swimming opportunity. The Community Center hosts a popular indoor pool that provides swimming lessons, other programs, and open swim. Sandventure’s sand bottom pool is one of a handful in the state and the nearest similar facility is on the north side of Maple Grove at Elm Creek. Sandventure was a one time a highly innovative facility and remains the community’s most loved facility, as identified in the community survey completed for this master plan. The swimming pool has remained popular despite the lack of investment in new/upgraded equipment and amenities. This is likely because Sandventure provides a needed service and lower cost recreation opportunity for families. This is notable in light of Valleyfair’s Soak City that provides a higher number of water experiences that are much more contemporary. Investment in Sandventure should be strategic and capitalize on it’s niche, while updating the facility similar to other regional precedent facilities - Cascade Bay in Eagan was brought up several times. Programming and adding facilities that complement and help utilize the space are important. The city should complete a business plan for Sandventure specifically that will help guide investment and programming decisions. VOLLEYBALL Shakopee currently has five beach volleyball courts in it’s system. This master plan is recommending the court at Memorial Park be decommissioned as a part of the larger vision for Memorial. Additionally, this plan recommends moving the sand court at Lions Park to fit inside the fence of Sandventure, providing an additional facility at the beach. This would leave only three courts in the system. Shakopee should consider adding volleyball to Quarry Lake Park as it is an excellent accompanying activity to picnicking and large group gatherings. Volleyball is important to many changing demographic groups, but the sand court is less important as many groups will bring a net and set it up in flat turf areas.

system vision

152 SHAKOPEE PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN | SYSTEM VISION