County board approves plan to sell UWGB Marinette campus fieldhouse to local YMCA

MARINETTE (WLUK) — The Marinette County Board approved a plan Tuesday to sell the more than 18-acre Max E. Peterson Fieldhouse to the Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA.

The property, owned by the county, is one of four buildings which make up the UW-Green Bay Marinette campus.

In this deal, the fieldhouse would be sold for $1.

One term of the deal includes the YMCA receiving $500,000 to redevelop the fieldhouse, which would come from a $2 million state grant the county is looking to be awarded. The grant’s sole purpose is to aid the county in redeveloping buildings on the UW-Green Bay Marinette campus that are no longer seeing use.

“That $2 million is for these facilities. It isn’t like that’s money that’s going to be given to the county if we don’t give it to them to use for this facility,” said county board member Hank Novak.

Through discussions, some county board members questioned the terms of the pending deal with the YMCA.

“To donate just the buildings and the small surrounding area would make sense,” said Christopher Norton. “But to get rid of 18.63 acres is ludicrous to me.”

Others made their support for the plan loud and clear.

“Is there anyone here who can say that having that YMCA here in this area is not an asset to this community?” said Stan Gruszynski. “I mean, I think it’s time we stop being penny wise and pound foolish.”

The Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA says taking on the fieldhouse in Marinette would be more advantageous than making necessary upgrades at its current facility in Menominee, Michigan.

“We’d have to put an elevator into this location, which would come at the tune of probably a half a million dollars,” said Jenni Campbell, CEO and mission director for the Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA. “Every system in this facility is pretty much close to or beyond its expectancy.”

The YMCA says they would make an expansion of at least 17,000 square feet to the fieldhouse — and are looking to kick off a campaign to collect $4 million to fund construction.

Currently, the field house is leased out to the River Cities Community Pool Association for free by Marinette County. The group says selling to the YMCA is a welcomed outcome.

If all contingencies are met within 12 months of the agreement, the YMCA will look to start breaking ground.

Source: County board approves plan to sell UWGB Marinette campus fieldhouse to local YMCA