LAKE MINNETONKA
LAKE MINNETONKA
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2023
Minnetonka ’ s beloved Marsh
Health and wellness play a significant part in the lives of the residents of Minnetonka . So when The Marsh was set to close in 2022 , community members and city officials rallied to “ save ” it .
The Marsh is a balance and fitness center located in Minnetonka at 15000 Minnetonka Blvd . It was founded by Ruth Stricker , an icon in the spa industry , nearly 40 years ago . According to The Marsh website , “[ Stricker ] integrated Eastern and Western practices in this unique center . Creating a liberal arts approach , Ruth offered that health and fitness are not the chief goal , but rather the potential to be good citizens of the earth .”
The center provided care for patients with a variety of needs and conditions . After Strickler ’ s passing in 2020 , The Marsh was offered as a gift by Stricker ’ s family to the YMCA .
According to the website , “ The pandemic brought extraordinary challenges , including changes in membership behavior and a significant reduction in Marsh membership . While we explored opportunities on how to support the community and operate The Marsh in a financially viable manner , we have determined we need to close The Marsh and transition services and operations primarily to the Ridgedale Y [ MCA ]”. Minnetonka residents responded to this news with surprise and despair , but quickly turned their feelings into actions . At the risk of losing the unique and specialized care facility many Minnetonka residents depended on , community members reached out to city officials and nearby businesses to try to prevent this closing .
Merz Physical Therapy , which is located inside The Marsh , held a meeting on Nov . 3 , 2022 to discuss potential options for the center , with over 200 attendees present . Christopher Warden , owner of Merz Physical Therapy in Minnetonka , shared with the group the potential to purchase The Marsh and preserve it .
“ The Marsh is , I think you could call it a cornerstone of the Minnetonka community , if not the western suburbs , if not the Twin Cities ,” Warden said at the time . “ There is a very passionate , energetic base of members that love this place , love what it represents in terms of holistic health and healing . They are of the opinion , and I agree , you can ’ t just close it down .”
After much discussion of various ways to save the historic Marsh , the Minnetonka City Council announced in January a tentative agreement with the Minnetonka YMCA of the North to purchase the building .
The facility partially opened after the purchase was made , with city officials saying that a full reopening of operations would occur in early May 2023 .
Community Guide 2023 | LAKE MINNETONKA | 31