MINNEAPOLIS — V3 Sports has opened their doors for north Minneapolis residents. The long-awaited community center has the goal to bring together families for health, wellness and education.
“It's going to make a big difference. There's more that's needed but this is a start,” V3 founder Erika Binger said.
Binger first began the V3 athletic program in 2007. It was a way to train students athletically in track while promoting leadership and education. Now, her former students are able to see her goal become a reality in the new 40,000-square-foot facility.
“Within a 15 minute walk from here, there's over 12,000 kids, it’s the most densely populated area in the state. So, to think we’re going to be able to provide youth programs to them and their families, it's amazing,” Binger said.
There are dozens of local north Minneapolis programs partnering with V3 to help operate their aquatic center, childcare facility and restaurant. The gym and swimming pool are ready for use, and a childcare center for parents to bring young ones will open in a week. The restaurant, run by local chefs, is opening in July.
The project first took root when V3 purchased the property in 2017 and started fundraising, taking a yearlong pause during the pandemic. They broke ground on the building located off of Plymouth and Lyndale Avenue in 2022.
Phase 2 will include the 50-meter Olympic pool, used during the 2021 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, making it a space that serves as a regional attraction, while serving as a resource for employment for the surrounding communities. Phase 2 fundraising is still underway but once complete, they will build the 200,000 sq foot facility by 2027.
For more information, visit the website here.
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