Demolition begins for YMCA expansion
Several houses in Wisconsin will be either torn down or moved this week to make way for a new YMCA/Boys and Girls Club facility.
"A total of five houses will be demolished or moved during Thanksgiving week," said YMCA Executive Director Greg Giles. "All of the houses are on the west side of Military Road between Western Avenue and Second Street. The demolished area will become a major portion of the new parking lot."
Spokesmen for both agencies said they are excited about this initial step.
"We are thrilled to see the houses come down, because this is the first physical sign of progress," Giles said. "This is not the ground breaking, but it will start to show the community the open space that will be created for the project."
However, this doesn't mean that construction of the new facility is just around the corner.
"When the initial campaign was announced in March, we knew it would take a good 18 months to two years to raise the support needed," Giles said. "The fundraising is on target, and great strides and strong support is being made."
Success in the initial fundraising can be attributed to a large extent to the campaign chairs, Shelly Stayer, Adam Stone and Dr. Bill Mauthe.
For Mauthe, this is the third time he has assisted with fundraising efforts for the YMCA.
"When I was young, I was at the Y four out of five nights after school and then again on Saturdays," Mauthe said. "I lived at the Y and my dad did before me. I'm not even going out of my way to help — it's a part of how I was brought up and it's the least I can do."
Mauthe said that it is important for children to have a safe and inviting place to go after school and the collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club will provide just that.
"Because of this collaboration, kids will be able to benefit from developing healthy minds through the Boys & Girls Club academic programs and healthy bodies through YMCA programs," said Boys & Girls Club Chief Professional Officer Stan Kocos. "Having this all within one facility also fosters family involvement."
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