Preserve’s sand-bottom pool marks 50 seasons as a hidden gem

Nestled behind trees off Anderson Lakes Parkway, there’s a pool in Eden Prairie unlike any other in town – and to hear Scott Anderson tell it, that’s kind of the point.

“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s rarely crowded – we love sharing it,” said Anderson, general manager of The Preserve Association. “I feel like I don’t have enough to say about it, but it really is our hidden gem. And not intentionally – that’s just how it’s evolved.”

This summer marks the 50th season for the association’s sand-bottom pool, a centerpiece of the southeastern Eden Prairie neighborhood dating to the early 1970s.

A Beach Blast event was held July 19, and an adult poolside barbecue is scheduled for Aug. 21. The gathering is open to anyone with pool access, though attendees must RSVP in advance to help with planning and setup. Details on food – expected to include a mix of potluck dishes and catering – are still being finalized.

It’s a quieter celebration than the one held in 2022, when a weeklong slate of events marked the 50th anniversary of the neighborhood’s founding. That year’s festivities included a garden tour, cooking demonstration, 5K run, street dance, and a free day at the pool capped by a sand-sculpting contest.

One of a kind – almost

From the street, the pool – open depending on weather from Memorial Day to Labor Day – looks like a small lake ringed with sand and pine trees. A banner advertising memberships is the only clear sign the public is welcome.

“We’ve done some clearing to make it more visible,” Anderson said. “There’s a banner that says ‘(pool) memberships available,’ but we don’t treat it as a revenue source. We’re not marketing it heavily. We just want to make it available to people who are interested.”

The pool, heated by the sun, encompasses three-quarters of an acre and holds just under a million gallons of chlorinated water.

“We’re talking dump trucks full of sand,” Anderson said. “Every few years, we bring in more. No cement – it rests on a liner beneath the sand.”

Every now and then, someone stumbles across it.

“Just the other day, a man came by while helping plan a baby shower – I think for his daughter – and he said, ‘I grew up in Bloomington and I’ve never heard of this place. How could I not know about it?’ He was just looking around, amazed. Those are fun moments.”

One reason for the surprise: The pool is one of only about a dozen sand-bottom public pools left in Minnesota.

State legislation enacted in 2008 barred the construction of new sand-bottom pools, citing safety concerns such as reduced water clarity that could hinder lifeguards’ visibility. Existing pools – including The Preserve’s and others in cities like Shakopee and Minnetrista – were grandfathered in under the law.

“To me – I was born and raised (in Minnesota) – the fact that the Legislature took the time to outlaw sand-bottom pools that are filtered and chlorinated because of the risk factor doesn’t make sense,” Anderson said. “Not to make a pun, but we’re the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Most, if not all, of those lakes are more dangerous than a sand-bottom pool.”

The Preserve pool has always operated within state safety standards, Anderson said, with regular filtration, chlorination and a strict lifeguard policy.

The diving well, measuring 42 by 50 feet, reaches a depth of 13 feet and features two regulation 1-meter diving boards. It’s heated early in the season before the sun takes over.

“We will not open without a minimum of three lifeguards,” Anderson said. If the diving well is open, he added, there needs to be five lifeguards on duty, which is required for a deep-water rescue.

“The lake pool is only 5½ feet deep at its deepest, so it’s less dangerous, if you will,” he said. “Obviously, you can drown in a couple of inches of water, but when most people can stand in almost every area of the pool, it’s just less trouble. You see parents out there with their kids, and the water’s not even up to their waist while they’re playing.”

A few years ago, Preserve leaders even questioned whether to keep the pool.

“We haven’t done a survey in several years, but there was a time – maybe six or eight years ago – when the board was questioning the cost of running a pool,” Anderson said. “So we did a survey, and the two biggest things people liked about The Preserve were the pool and the fact that it had sand.”

While a few residents wondered about switching to a traditional pool, Anderson said the cost would be prohibitive.

“To build a pool that’s only about a third the size of what we have would be about a $2 million investment,” he said. “And our people aren’t looking for $2 million investments.”

Built to last

The future looks stable for the pool. Anderson said the board remains committed to investing in repairs and upkeep.

A few years ago, The Preserve spent $250,000 to replace its original sand filters. More recently, it undertook a $50,000 overhaul of leaking underground plumbing.

“We were doing that thing of, ‘Let’s repair this, let’s repair that,’ and eventually realized it would be better to just dig it all up and fix it at once rather than piecemealing it,” Anderson said. “The board agreed. We’re committed to keeping it going – keeping it beautiful and enjoyable.”

Any pool is going to have maintenance needs, he said. The association is fortunate to have a board member with extensive pool experience through his work with Life Time Fitness.

“He’s also a Preserve resident, so he has a vested interest both personally and professionally,” Anderson said. “He advises me, helps us make smart decisions, and alerts us to issues before they become problems. We’re very lucky to have him.”

The pool draws nearly 5,000 swimmers per season, according to The Preserve Association, and sits near a 1938 barn at 11221 Anderson Lakes Parkway that now serves as a community center.

A pool with deep political roots

The Preserve includes about 1,700 housing units across single-family homes, apartments and townhomes – a lasting product of 1970s “New Town” development ideals that aimed to blend suburban living with natural surroundings.

Its pool may be just one piece of that legacy, but to Anderson and others, it’s a defining feature worth discovering – even after 50 years.

That legacy includes a connection to Hubert Humphrey, former vice president and U.S. senator. As Anderson recounted, Humphrey was a friend of the Johnson family, longtime residents of the farmhouse that still stands just east of the pool.

“He stayed in that house before The Preserve was ever even considered, while he was campaigning – I believe early in his political career,” Anderson said.

According to a Preserve Association newsletter, Humphrey would often do his Washington, D.C., homework under the shade of a cottonwood tree in the area that later became the pool complex. He also spoke at the pool’s dedication in the 1970s – a symbolic nod to the neighborhood’s community roots.

“There are letters from Hubert and from Fritz (Walter Mondale, another former vice president and U.S. senator) congratulating the developers on the creation of The Preserve,” Anderson said. “That was a really special time.”

Memberships available

Memberships are open to both Preserve residents and outside visitors. Residents pay an annual fee capped by household size. Non-members can pay a daily rate – $13 for adults, $8 for kids – and visit during regular hours, seven days a week through Labor Day.

Annual non-resident memberships are available for $110 for an individual or first household member, with a $100 rate for each additional family member. Seniors 55 and older also qualify for a $100 annual rate. Members receive discounted guest passes ($5 for adults, $3 for children) and a reduced rate for youth swim lessons.

In addition to swim lessons, diving lessons are also offered, and the pool has hosted high school competitors and even an Olympic trials swimmer.

Membership cards are required for pool entry and can be picked up or reactivated at The Preserve Center. Lost cards cost $15 to replace.

---

More to read: The Preserve pool’s first manager looks back at its opening seasons.