The Aldrich Arena improvements project includes building maintenance such as a new roof, a new fire suppression system, a LED lighting upgrade and renovated restrooms, as well as parking lot repaving and stormwater management features. This project is a partnership between the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and Ramsey County that will improve the quality and reduce the volume of stormwater runoff that reaches Wakefield Lake.
Project background
Aldrich Arena, built in 1961, has many different uses in addition to hockey. The facility hosts a variety of events such as concerts, rodeos and graduations. The parking area has a farmers' market, community waste collection and drivers education parking. Over the years, the parking lot configuration has been redesigned, leaving areas of pavement that are in excess of what is needed for aisles and parking stalls. This project will repurpose these areas in order to construct stormwater management features using the requirements set forth by the city of Maplewood. Drive aisles and parking stalls will be realigned to optimize the use of the lot. The project will enhance the landscape of the county campus with rainwater gardens, prairie restoration and tree replacement.
Wakefield Lake, located downstream of Aldrich Arena, is currently listed on the State of Minnesota's Impaired Waters List for excess nutrients (phosphorus). The RWMWD has determined that a significant non-point source of phosphorus pollution within the watershed district is from large tracts of impervious surface, such as the parking lot of Maplewood Mall and Aldrich Arena. A large-scale retrofit stormwater improvements project was constructed at Maplewood Mall from 2009 to 2012. Now, the RWMWD will retrofit the parking lot of Aldrich Arena.
Project status
Construction at Aldrich Arena has begun and is expected to last through November 2019. Building updates will be worked around events that have been scheduled at the arena throughout the construction timeline to minimize impact to visitors. The parking lot will be completed in multiple phases to allow for event parking.
Timeline
- Building maintenance projects – June 2019 - November 2019.
- Parking lot pavement and stormwater infrastructure – July 2019 - November 2019.
- Plantings installed – spring 2020.