Maplewood Forward

A long-term investment in community and public safety

Maplewood is a place that values safety, health, and access to high-quality amenities. To meet the needs of a growing community, the city must reinvest in several essential public facilities.

Strong Public Facilities Support Maplewood’s Community

Maplewood Forward is a long-term investment plan focused on strengthening three key public amenities – the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility, Maplewood YMCA Community Center, and Afton Heights Park. Each plays an important role in supporting community wellbeing, but aging infrastructure and evolving needs mean they no longer fully meet today’s demands.

Challenges Facing Our Facilities

A review of these three facilities found shared safety, infrastructure, and accessibility challenges that require reinvestment to ensure they continue serving the community effectively.

  • The East Metro Public Safety Training Facility serves more than 25 agencies supporting over 600,000 residents but lacks the space, technology, wellness support, and site capacity needed for today’s training demands.

  • The Maplewood YMCA Community Center faces aging infrastructure, visible deterioration, outdated systems, and inadequate space that limit programming and require coordinated repairs and updates to better serve residents of all ages.

  • Afton Heights Park is a hub for athletics and community gatherings, and proposed improvements would expand trails, open space, and multi-use recreation while adding a community building and parking to meet increasing usage.

Funding Sources for Maplewood Forward

The total cost of the proposed investments is $81 million.

In the spring of 2026, the City of 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 Maplewood Forward projects were well-received in both the House and Senate, a divided legislature was unable to reach consensus and did not advance any local sales tax requests during the 2025-26 legislative session.

The legislature did not approve any local sales tax bills; therefore, the city will continue evaluating funding options for these improvements, working closely with the City Council and engaging residents.

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

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