August 5, 2013 at 12:32 p.m.
Hanson Lake soccer shelter nearing completion
Hanson Lake soccer shelter nearing completion
The club started Phase II of the construction project last month and hopes to have a finished structure ready by this fall. But project organizer Katy Dyreby said the club still has not entirely reached its fundraising goal.
"We've raised over $200,000 and are still looking to raise another $40,000," she said. "If people see that it's happening, that we're building the basic structure of it (they will hopefully help support it)."
That's up from roughly $160,000 at this point last summer when Phase I of the project began. Phase I laid the groundwork for the building with frost walls, a concrete slab, and a building foundation with plumbing. That was all the club could afford to do last year.
Now, the club has the funding to turn what was a blank slab into a complete structure.
"There will still be things to do and we've tried to cut cost a little bit so we'd at least be able to get a roof over it," Dyreby said.
Rhinelander High School soccer coach Dan Millot, who hosts two high school tournaments at the complex each year, said the lack of a shelter, concession stand and restrooms hindered what the club and his teams could do at the facility.
"We've been hosting tournaments in Rhinelander for several years, whether it be youth tournaments or high school tournaments and we've always have had the hassle of setting up temporary concession stands," Millot said. "People who have come to our tournaments year after year, even at the high school level say, 'Hey, when is the shelter going up? When's the concession stand going up?' We keep telling them as soon as we raise enough money and can go ahead with the project."
Millot said when the project is complete it could have a similar impact for the Hanson Lake Soccer Complex as the shelter that was constructed in 2011 had for Stafford Field at Hodag Park.
"It makes the facility more user-friendly," he said. "It allows you to do more with your facility and the product that you put out there for the public."
That, in turn, will mean more opportunities to host youth and high school tournaments, which could give the local tourism industry a boost.
"The positive thing about that, not only does it benefit our club, but the ability to host these tournaments brings other people into the Rhinelander community," Millot said. "Once we bring people into the Rhinelander community, now we're using our hotels, our restaurants, our stores. The benefit with this new building is far greater than the soccer club."
Millot added the club plans to hold more youth tournaments at Hanson Lake as early as next summer.
Dyreby said her husband, Dr. James Dyreby, and Dr. Dan Tvedten, both of Northland Orthopedics, have helped push the project forward.
"Dan Tvedten has done a great job getting donations for us," Dyreby said. "My husband broke his hip last fall and had three months where we couldn't work. So he was writing letters to the community and that outpouring of support helped us push the green button and go ahead with (Phase II)."
According to the Rhinelander Soccer Club's website, Northland Orthopedics has donated more than $50,000 to the project. The Tvedten and Dyreby families have each also made personal donations of over $10,000.
The project has also received donations of $5,000 or greater from architect Daryl Dean, JPS Incorporated, Oettinger Excavating and Septic, Rhinelander GM and Toyota, Aspirus, Barkus Plumbing and Heating, Bruso Electric, Cleary Foundation, Dave and Eileen Cattau, Rhinelander Cafe and Pub, Spine and Sport, Tom and Gerry Van Harpen and Wisconsin Public Service.
Dean, JPS Inc., Oettinger Excavating, Barkus Plumbing and Bruce Electric made in-kind donations, volunteering their time and services to the project.
"So many people have worked extremely hard on this project for a number of years that it's finally great to see it come to fruition," Millot said.
Donations can be mailed to Rhinelander Soccer Club, P.O. Box 624, Rhinelander, WI 54501. Online donations can be made at the club's website, www.rhinelandersoccer.com.
Dyreby said plans are in the works for a dedication ceremony, for the building and the eight soccer fields at the Hanson Lake Soccer Complex, once the project is complete. No date has been set at this time.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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