Any neighborhoods on the west side of MSP have swimming pool? (Minneapolis: apartment complexes, HOA)

[4baldtires]

Looks like we'll be moving to MSP soon and we would really like to find a neighborhood that has it's own swimming pool. It's a great way to meet new people and entertain my wife and daughter during the summer. I've heard good things about the Maple Grove & Plymouth area. Any suggestions/comments? Much appreciated.

[mn55110]

Plymouth and Maple Grove are both great suburbs, some of the best in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Unfortunately, there are really not a lot of master planned communities in Minnesota. At least not those with the community swimming pool, the clubhouse/ community center with a part room or fitness center or walking/ rollerblading paths; MSP certainly has the fewest I've seen of all the Metro area's I've lived in. This is unfortunate given the expense of homes in the "Twin Cities". Ammenities in housing developments whether they be single family houses , townhouses or apartments in MSP are very few.

Your best solution would be to join either the Plymouth Community Center in the 3600 block of Plymouth Boulevard or the Maple Grove Community Center at 12951 Weaver Lake Road. Both facilities have Indoor/ Outdoor swimming pools and water parks, indoor ice arena's used by the local high schools, full health club facilities run by "Lifetime Fitness", outdoor amphatheater's/ stage for summer concerts and "movies in the park".

The Plymouth Community Center Pool and diving well is used by the Wayzata High School (Trojan's)varsity swimming and diving teams.

Your monthly due's for a family membership to either of these two facilities would be cheaper than the extra fee for your homeowners' association dues at any of the few master-planned housing communities in the area. Also, being a resident of that particular suburb may entitle you to a discount at either of these two city-taxpayer funded facilities.

[QuietBlue]

Originally Posted by mn55110

MSP certainly has the fewest I've seen of all the Metro area's I've lived in. This is unfortunate given the expense of homes in the "Twin Cities". Ammenities in housing developments whether they be single family houses , townhouses or apartments in MSP are very few.

If I had to guess why this is, I'd say that it's because most municipalities in the Twin Cities area have pretty good city-run amenities already (as you note with your examples). Although it does seem like a lot of apartment complexes have them in the suburbs, though not many townhomes and almost no single-family homes.

For me, while I can see where it would be nice to have these things a few things from my front door, I also don't see a need to duplicate what I'm already paying for with my property taxes anyway. My HOA dues are high enough as it is just to cover the basics.

[4baldtires]

Thanks for the responses folks. Leaving the south with great neighborhood pools (with swim teams) will be very hard for us. They are a great place to meet people, hang out and great for kids to grow up with. I will certainly look at joining the Community Centers as a way to meet people, get out of the house and get some exercise as well.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by 4baldtires

Thanks for the responses folks. Leaving the south with great neighborhood pools (with swim teams) will be very hard for us. They are a great place to meet people, hang out and great for kids to grow up with. I will certainly look at joining the Community Centers as a way to meet people, get out of the house and get some exercise as well.

Because most of the year here is not outside swimming weather, you will find Swim Schools with indoor pools that will host the various swim teams--and many have produced Olympic caliber swimmers. Many developments might have a pool though. I know several in the southern suburbs do. If your kids are younger than kindergarten age, make sure you sign up for the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs. They are simply wonderful and a great way to meet people.

[Beenhere4ever]

Minnesotans like to go to lakes. YMCA and YWCA have pools. Northeast Park in NE Mpls has one. But this is not "pool country". I come originally from the west coast where there were few lakes. But pools were everywhere.

[ocsid]

St. Louis Park has a huge outdoor aquatic center. Minnetonka has a city-owned indoor pool, but the notion of neighborhood pools simply doesn't really exist in Minnesota.

[Beenhere4ever]

Typically no. Winter's for snow sports and summer is for lounging at a lake.

[Noni KW]

The Ashling Meadows neighborhood in Minnetonka has their own community pool.

[1stpontiac]

Maple Grove Community Center has great indoor and outdoor swimming pools. There are some pretty new developments very close by, too.