For decades, the Jim Lupient Water Park has been a summertime gathering place for Northeast Minneapolis families. It’s a place where children learn to swim, neighbors connect, and lifelong memories are made. On Thursday, July 2, that tradition entered a new chapter as community members gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the park’s newly renovated bathhouse and changing facilities, a project designed to create a safer and more welcoming experience for every visitor.

The renovation, made possible through a partnership between the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, and generous philanthropic support from Barbara Lupient, reflects a shared commitment to investing in both people and place. The project renovated the existing men’s and women’s changing rooms and added a new common changing space with individual all-gender changing stalls and family-style changing rooms with showers, including one with an adult changing table. Throughout the changing room area, interior finishes and infrastructure were replaced or repaired, including flooring, wall finishes, lockers, plumbing, and toilet fixtures and accessories.

The project also included improvements to staff and life-guard spaces, including new windows, flooring, a kitchenette, and an accessible restroom. Additional upgrades to the building include updated signage, a new outdoor shower tower, and a full roof replacement.

For Barbara Lupient, the project is deeply personal. Her late husband, Jim Lupient, grew up in Northeast Minneapolis, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for the neighborhood’s close-knit community and public parks. Together, Jim and Barbara helped support the water park through a significant philanthropic gift in the early 2000s. After Jim’s passing, Barbara continued that commitment, advocating for improvements that would serve Northeast families for generations.

“I felt strongly that families deserved a facility that was safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone, especially those who might be more vulnerable,” Barbara said. “I’m delighted to see it become a reality, and I know it’s going to make a real difference for the families who use the water park.”

As Minneapolis Parks Director of Aquatics Sarah Chillo shared at the ribbon cutting on July 2, the facility’s accessibility and family-focused improvements are an important response to the wide range of needs the water park serves, “As a mother of four, including triplets and a child with special needs, this facility, and Barbara’s vision for it, reflects the diverse needs of the families we serve every day. We are so grateful for her dedication and commitment to improve this space ”

For Barbara, the renovation extends beyond improving a building – it reflects her belief in the important role parks play in the life of a city. “The parks are such an incredible resource for our community,” she said. “When you think about quality of life, our park system contributes so much. It’s one of the things that makes this city such a wonderful place to live.”

Jim Lupient Water Park hosts pay-what-you-can swim lessons each morning before opening to the public, helping children build confidence in the water and gain life-saving skills. As Barbara reflected on Northeast Minneapolis’ long history as a home for first-generation families, she spoke about the importance of making sure children have access to swimming lessons and safe places to learn in a state where water is such a central part of life. “If kids are at the water park, taking swimming lessons and spending time outdoors, they’re doing something positive and healthy,” Barbara said. “That’s a win for the children, a win for their families, and a win for the whole community. I love seeing kids use the space, grow up with it, and make it part of their lives.”

The bathhouse renovation continues a longstanding Lupient family commitment to Northeast Minneapolis and its parks. Barbara said she hopes the improvements will help ensure the Jim Lupient Water Park remains a joyful and welcoming place for children and families for many summers to come. “It’s meaningful to be able to pay it forward and make a positive difference. Supporting the water park has been a wonderful way to give back to a community that means so much to our family.”

Images below from the July 2, 2026 Lupient Bathhouse Grand Opening event at Jim Lupient Water Park, courtesy of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.