Kylie Balk-Yaatenen kbalkyaatenen@gazettextra.com August 14, 2023
JANESVILLE
The Friends of the Woodman’s Center has received a $1 million anonymous donation for locker rooms at Mercyhealth Arena to be used by Janesville and Milton high school sports teams.
The MercyHehalth Arena would be part of the $50 million planned Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center ice arena and multi-sports complex at the Uptown Janesville mall on Milton Avenue.
According to a press release Monday, the locker rooms will serve as a home base for local high school teams and welcome visiting teams. They will be complete with core, shell areas, advanced mechanicals, and showers, and teams will have the opportunity to personalize their lockers.
“This unexpected gift is overwhelming,” Christine Rebout, co-chair of the Friends of the Woodman’s Center said in the release. “To our anonymous donor, your kindness amplifies the Friend’s mission, showcasing the deep support and spirit fueling the project. Thank you.”
“We are grateful for the donation that will be dedicated to building the locker rooms for our high school hockey team,” Janesville School District Superintendent Mark Holzman said in the release. “We strongly believe that investing in our young people--in this case student-athletes--is economic development that helps make Janesville a great place to live, work, learn, and play.”
“The generous gift speaks volumes about the support behind the Woodman’s Center project and our local young athletes,” Jeff Spiwak, athletic director at Milton High School, said in the release. “We’re excited for what’s ahead and grateful for a community that champions its youth.”
“At the heart of this project, we aim to create spaces that meet the needs of the community and create a sense of belonging. Including the varsity team wing is one way we are showing our commitment to local schools and our warm embrace of all athletes and visitors,” Janesville City Manager Kevin Lahner said in the release.
Earlier this year, the Friends group set a goal to raise $7 million. Currently it has raised just over $9 million. Even as the project nears its 2024 finish, the release said, the group will continue to raise private funds through personal donations, pledges, sponsorships, and grants.
Mike Payne, the city of Janesville’s public works director, said at Monday night’s city council meeting that the city is still waiting for the state to release the process for pursuing state funding, to help close the remaining project funding gap.
Payne if state funding is secured a next step would be demolition of a former Sears building on the site.
Read the article here.