Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your questions about the Maplewood Forward Plan, proposed projects, and funding process.

Questions about the Plan

  • Maplewood Forward is a long-term investment plan focused on improving the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility, the Maplewood YMCA Community Center, and Afton Heights Park. The City of Maplewood is exploring funding sources that would invest approximately $81 million in improvements to these amenities.

  • The City conducted public meetings, stakeholder sessions, various resident surveys, community events, and social media outreach to hear from many voices. Now, thorough facility assessments and evaluations by building experts are helping guide the City’s decisions about which improvements are most urgent.

  • The City began by connecting with residents to better understand what residents need and how they benefit from these facilities. As planning continues, residents will continue to help shape decisions.

  • Residents can provide input to the City by using the Connect form and learn more by attending upcoming community events. Maplewood is evaluating future funding options to support the Maplewood Forward plan and will work closely with community members through the next steps of the process.

Questions About the Costs and Financing Plan

  • During the 2025–26 legislative session, Maplewood was one of over 35 communities across Minnesota seeking legislative approval to bring a local sales tax proposal before voters to fund community investments.

    While the City’s plans were well received in both the House and Senate, a divided legislature was unable to reach consensus and did not advance local sales tax requests for any city during the 2025-26 legislative session.

    Maplewood’s priorities remain focused on investing in community spaces, amenities and infrastructure that support residents today and into the future. Planning efforts and discussions about funding sources are ongoing and continue to reflect community input, long-term needs and opportunities to strengthen the city.

    The City will continue evaluating funding options, working closely with the City Council, coordinating with the legislature and engaging residents to determine the best path forward.

  • A local sales tax would allow the City to share the cost of these projects with visitors who shop, dine, and participate in activities in Maplewood, rather than placing the full burden on property taxes.

  • A half-cent sales tax adds about 1 cent on a $2 purchase, 5 cents on $10 or 25 cents on $50. The local sales tax would not be permanent. The tax would expire after 20 years or when enough funds have been collected to cover the approved projects’ cost, whichever comes first. If approved, the half-cent sales tax would cost the average resident about $3 per month, or $36 per year, based on 2023 data.

    Local sales taxes include a wide range of exemptions for essential goods, including groceries, clothing, prescription drugs, and baby products. That’s important because exemptions help limit the impact of a sales tax on families and people living on fixed incomes.

  • The City of Maplewood is committed to finding a long-term, fiscally responsible approach to fund these community investments.

    The City is evaluating future funding options to support the Maplewood Forward plan and will work closely with the City Council and community members as next steps take shape.

Questions About Each Project

The East Metro Public Safety Training Facility

  • The EMPSTF plays a critical public safety role, providing a shared training facility where firefighting teams build skills and prepare for real-world emergencies. The facility serves more than 25 agencies that provide emergency services to over 600,000 residents, but now, this 10-year-old building no longer fully meets the needs of our first responders. Specifically, it lacks:

    • Adequate spaces and resources for cross-functional training and collaboration

    • Dedicated areas to support first responder wellness and mental health

    • Modern technology and realistic scenario-based training capabilities

    • Sufficient parking and site access for first responders and specialized vehicles

  • Expanding the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility would allow Minnesota to bring police, fire, EMS, social work, and mental-health training together in one location, creating a purpose-built campus that supports better coordination, higher-quality training, and stronger long-term support for those who serve. The City proposes renovating and expanding the EMPSTF to:

    • Support modern, scenario-based simulation training

    • Provide updated classroom, training, and wellness spaces

    • Reduce scheduling constraints and increase training capacity

    • Create dedicated space for joint training, collaboration, and de-escalation practice

  • Together, these improvements would advance Maplewood Public Safety’s goals by strengthening partnerships, improving recruitment and retention, and providing more comprehensive support for first responders throughout their careers.

  • This investment would significantly strengthen the future of first responder training throughout Minnesota’s metro area, contributing to improved recruitment and retention, a more stable and representative workforce, fewer career-ending injuries and burnout, and ultimately, safer and better-served communities.

  • The public safety facility is in high demand, which limits the frequency and amount of time each partner agency can conduct the training they need. Waiting to make these investments could lead to higher costs down the road while limiting opportunities for police, fire, EMS, social work, and mental-health professionals. Investing now allows us to keep up with demand and provide the modern, evidence-based training opportunities that benefit emergency response in Maplewood and around the Metro.

The Maplewood YMCA Community Center

  • Aging infrastructure, visible deterioration, and outdated systems are limiting the programs, services, and amenities residents want.

    • Years of heavy use have led to visible wear and underlying infrastructure issues, especially in high-traffic and high-moisture areas inside and outside the building.

    • Roof damage, cracking floors, drainage problems in the gym, and corrosion in pool areas point to aging HVAC and filtration systems that need updating.

    • Beyond repairs, there is an opportunity to rethink how space is designed and used, with more flexible layouts that would better support more programs and activities.

    • A comprehensive approach that pairs needed repairs with thoughtful updates would strengthen the center and help it serve more residents now and in the future.

  • Investments in the community center would:

    • Upgrade aging mechanical systems and safety features to meet current building and code requirements.

    • Make immediate repairs to stairs, roof drainage, and foundation issues to prevent further water damage and structural deterioration.

    • Fix underlying pool-area issues by improving HVAC airflow and humidity control, allowing corrosion repairs, restoration of damaged areas, and refreshed interior finishes.

    • Renovate banquet, meeting, and fitness spaces to better match how residents use the facility today.

  • After decades of use, key systems at the community center are reaching the end of their useful life. The leaks, outdated HVAC and pool filtration systems, and inefficient spaces create ongoing operation issues that are expensive and unresolved. Acting now allows the City to manage costs by moving forward before construction expenses rise further and tackling these problems at the source.

Afton Heights Park

  • Connections to the rest of the interconnected park system need to be improved and accessibility enhanced to ensure one of our most popular parks is welcoming for all visitors and able to connect residents with their desired amenities and spaces. Additionally, there is a need for a building that supports rentals, gatherings, game-day amenities, and restrooms and provides resident-desired flexible, multi-use spaces that can be accessed year round. Afton Heights Park also lacks sufficient parking for the volume of visitors it receives.

  • The City is proposing a new community building to further support gatherings, family rentals, and game-day amenities, along with added parking and improved trail connections to other Ramsey County parks. Investments in the park would expand access to open space, trails, and active recreation in South Maplewood, strengthening how the park system serves both residents and visitors.

  • The park already serves as a hub for athletics and family-friendly gatherings, and its intentional expansion in Maplewood responds to growing demand for flexible, multi‑use recreation space.

  • The Afton Heights Park is a major draw for free family-friendly recreation in Maplewood. Investing in improvements now allows the City to continue contributing to the regional park system, an amenity that makes Maplewood a wonderful community to live and play. Acting now, before construction expenses rise further, helps the City keep costs manageable.

Provide feedback or ask questions