Since the new ownership took over the Milwaukee Bucks, the organization has increased their commitment to the community through donations, grants, and programs. Today, the Bucks along with Johnson Controls announced that they will build a new multi-sports complex for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS).
Today, the Bucks along with Johnson Controls announced that they will build a new multi-sports complex for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). The complex will be located on the campus of Browning Elementary School and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center in Milwaukee’s Westlawn Neighborhood.
Read more below.
From the press release:
“Our partners at Johnson Controls share our vision for the future of Milwaukee and our commitment to ensuring the impact of our downtown development radiates throughout the community,” Bucks President Peter Feigin said. “Helping children flourish today is integral to the well-being of our community in the future. Together, the Bucks and Johnson Controls are committed to providing a safe haven for Milwaukee youth to put them on the path towards becoming responsible and productive citizens who will continue to carry our city forward.”
Given this focus, the Bucks and Johnson Controls are donating a $150,000 multi-sport complex to Milwaukee Public Schools, the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center and the Housing Authority of Milwaukee. The complex will include six basketball courts, one futsal court, a soccer field and additional recreation space, all contained within a 200-meter track. The courts have been configured to allow flexibility for use of other sports, such as volleyball and tennis, and will be well lit to provide a safe space for recreation during evening hours as well. The entire project will be completed before children return to school this fall.
“It has been a pleasure to collaborate with the Bucks, MPS and the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center on this project. The plans for the court and programming were developed with strong input and excellent ideas from MPS and the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, who kept the needs of the children they serve paramount,” said Grady Crosby, Vice President Public Affairs, Chief Diversity Officer and President, Johnson Controls Foundation. “Johnson Controls has a particular interest in making sure that this neighborhood has the resources it needs for its young people. Through this gift, the kids who play in this space will be able to develop athletically, and they will also receive the opportunity to connect with and learn from mentors, coaches and teammates. We are investing in this multi-use court and programming because we believe it takes all of us, working together, to keep our neighborhoods strong and healthy.”
In addition to building the athletic complex, the Bucks and Johnson Controls will commit an annual gift of $60,000 for the next 10 years towards community programming. In the first three years, two annual grants of $30,000 each will be given to Playworks, to fund programming at Browning Elementary, and to the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, to provide after-hours and weekend programming at the new complex. Together, these grants will ensure that the complex features proven programming designed to maximize the value of the space for the surrounding community.
“We are grateful that our good partners – the Milwaukee Bucks and Johnson Controls – believe in the children of our community and in providing first-class opportunities for them to grow and reach their fullest potential,” MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver said. “Ensuring that all children have top-notch recreational facilities not only provides a safe outlet for young people, it also reinforces to them that they are a vital part of the future of our city and worth the investment of the time and resources that are necessary for the construction of this multi-sport complex.”
