April 9, 2018 at 4:43 p.m.
'Generations': Campaign launches for new all-ages community center
'Generations': Campaign launches for new all-ages community center
By Abigail Bostwick-
"It is no secret that the Lakeland area is dominated by the 55 and older sector," board member Dan Sullivan said. "Our seasoned citizens are one of this community's greatest resources and deserving of a gathering place which matches their vitality. That now is about to happen."
The center, which serves Arbor Vitae, Hazelhurst, Lac du Flambeau, Lake Tomahawk, Minocqua and Woodruff, was established in 1977. It currently operates at the Hiawatha Mobile Home Estates Park in Woodruff.
"We're looking to fill a void, where people can keep social, have a place to go, and things to do," board president Brian Nerdahl said.
The $2.3 million building fund campaign sets in motion a new center next to the Howard Young Medical Center and One Penny Place Senior Housing with a hopeful 2018 groundbreaking goal, noted executive director Janelle Schroeder.
Generations has been granted a land donation from Howard Young Medical Center/Ascension and the plans and blueprints for Generations are nearly finalized by Keller Architects of Wausau.
"The proximity of the new facility to Howard Young Medical Center and One Penny Place will be an advantage for all those involved," said Judy Smolarek, chair of the Ascension Wisconsin North Region Board of Directors. "This is another example of our local leaders working with community agencies to develop partnerships for the benefit of our entire community."
The center is projected to be twice as large as the current facility and will allow for a more convenient location with a host of new amenities, Sullivan said. That would include easy parking and fully handicap accessible facilities with indoor and outdoor walking tracks, café, indoor gymnasium with pickleball courts, high end retail shop, arts and crafts, club meeting rooms, office rental space, wellness/fitness room, entertainment area, dining, commercial kitchen, social common area, classrooms, service offices and a nail clinic.
There also will be a large auditorium that can be rented by the entire community for receptions, reunions, dances, birthdays education/health forums and other local events, said Schroeder.
"We are excited to support the Generations Center and this exciting project," said Sandy Anderson, president of Howard Young Medical Center, part of Ascension. "This new facility will serve as a hub of activity and will provide the opportunity for collaboration that will improve the health and well-being of our community."
The main focus of the upgraded center would be Lakeland's ever-growing population of those 50 and older. But it also means to attract younger and middle age families looking to relocate to the area, Nerdahl said.
"We wanted to broaden the scope of age ranges," he explained. "There can be a problem in the area of attracting younger families with families. They want things to do. With this center, we can offer many different activities for a variety of ages."
"I am hopeful for the new center to become a place of beginnings, renewals and stability," board member Holly Dionne noted. "The new building will attract a broad cross-section of the community and offer unique activities and new programs, along with existing programs that have been popular and beneficial for years."
The community has waited with anticipation for a new center, Nerdahl said.
"We wanted to be sure to have patience and make sure everything was just as it needed to be," he said. "We are appreciative of the patience in the community."
"We wanted a building both for now and the future," Schroeder added.
The all-volunteer board has worked hard to ensure the center will be a community asset at all levels, Schroeder said.
April 1 marked the kickoff fundraising campaign. Donations of all levels are being collected as up-front gifts, multi-year pledges and in-kind funds. Gifts at all levels are encouraged and appreciated, Schroeder said.
"Everyone is really excited," she said. "We hope the community will contribute to our campaign. It's through the support of the community that will help us bring this to the community."
Visitors to the center currently partake in card playing, dominoes, pool, exercise and square dancing as well as picnics, art, writing, field trips, potlucks and quilting. There also is assistance with income taxes, education, housing, benefits, veterans, elder law, grief support and local transportation and nutrition. All of that will continue.
"Built for now and the future, the primary goal of Generations is to reach out to groups ranging from young retirees to sage elders," Sullivan said. "Making this happen won't be possible without support from both residents and businesses in the Lakeland area. Though not an easy task to complete, this active and creative center is destined to equal the vibrancy and uniqueness of our community. And, of course, Generations will be yet another reason to choose to grow older and wiser here in the Northwoods."
To learn more about the nonprofit Lakeland Retirement Foundation and the Generations project, contact the office at 715-356-9118, visit lakelandretirement.org or visit them on Facebook. A Go Fund Me Page is expected to be started soon as well.
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