By Jena Emmert
Edgewood College has publicized plans to build a new athletic campus in Fitchburg, but the state has yet to approve the plan.
Approval will take up to 16 months after it’s submitted in January.
In a guest column on Wisconsin State Journal, interim President Sister Mary Ellen Gevelinger referred to “promising discussions with Fitchburg officials” about purchasing 40 acres of land to build an athletic campus.
But while administrators have been quick to promote the facility, they are unable to begin detailed planning until they receive approval from the state.
The property has not been purchased yet, although the college has presented a tentative offer to the landowner, according to Edgewood Vice President for Business and Finance Michael Guns. He said administrators are not ready to publicize the price of the offer at this time.
Planning and process
At the end of October, the city of Fitchburg agreed to add the facility to their 10-year comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan will be sent for review in January to the city of Fitchburg Plan Commission and ultimately the city of Fitchburg Common Council.
From there, Guns said it could take between 12-18 months to receive approval or denial. Guns said the entire process has been “very politically charged.
Because of the political hurdles, Edgewood has struggled to move forward with plans and fundraising. “There really aren’t very many logistics at all,” said Al Brisak, director of athletics.
If the plan is confirmed in 2021, the school will begin a step-by-step planning process that will take between two and five years to complete.
Until the plan has been approved, Edgewood cannot move forward with fundraising. The college plans to primarily look to benefactors to fund the project and will start campaigning for funds as early as next summer, said Guns.
The school has drafted a master plan although Brisak said it is “completely incorrect.” The plan was created to demonstrate what the college would do with the property and is subject to changes as administrators further determine what is best for the property.
“The reality is, we’re a long ways away from anything coming to fruition other than drawings,” said Brisak.
Use of facility
The new athletic campus would host all sports except volleyball and basketball, which are held in the Edgedome. The preliminary master plan includes baseball and softball fields; a soccer stadium and 8-line track; tennis courts; and high jump, pole vault, long jump, shot put, and discus areas for track and field.
The current plan also includes 386 parking spots and five bus parking stalls. Brisak said a shuttle could take students to the primary campus, giving the college extra parking opportunities.
Enrollment efforts
The athletic campus announcement comes at a time where school administrators are seeing a sharp drop in enrollment. Guns said he believes that the investments in sports would “considerably increase the student body.”
Gevelinger agreed. “This investment will spur enrollment, particularly in our track program, according to our analysis,” she said.
Because of limited facilities, certain teams cannot operate like other varsity teams at a college level. The college hopes to expand sports like track and field, which has only a fraction of a full roster of 40 athletes.
Edgewood College has also added both men’s and women’s lacrosse teams and men’s volleyball. The lacrosse teams alone could attract up to 54 extra students.
Environmental Studies
The proposed plot also includes a large wetland area which the college intends to provide for environmental studies. Jacob Griffin, chair of the Environmental Studies Department, said the program could use the area for teaching classes, conducting research, and working on education and community projects.
Griffin, like other faculty and administrators working on this project, does not have solidified plans yet. “We have not been involved in any of the discussions, planning, or proposals to date and only recently learned of this effort and the talks with the city of Fitchburg,” he said.
Edgewood is hopeful for the opportunity. “Fitchburg wants to have a relationship with us,” said Brisack. “They want to be able to call us their college.”
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