![[YMCA of Northern Rock County LOGO SQ]](https://recliquecore.s3.amazonaws.com/imgs/ymca_logos/named_y/aqua_blue.png)
![[YMCA of Northern Rock County LOGO FULL]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/recliquecore/imgs/ymca_logos/named/aqua_blue.png)
We're glad you're here.
Welcome to the 135 Community Team hub — your home base for shaping what’s next at the YMCA of Northern Rock County as we count down to 135 years in 2027.
Each month, you’ll join one in-person meeting, complete a simple Ask, and share feedback that helps guide improvements at the Janesville and Milton Ys.
No membership required. No cost. Flexible to your schedule. You can join the team any time in 2026.
Next meeting: Saturday, November 7, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Janesville YMCA
No membership required. No cost to participate. Asks are flexible to your schedule. You can join the team any time throughout 2026.
This is the original home of the Janesville Y, 221 Dodge St. It’s been part of this community since 1895 and was built to be transitional housing for young men. In the late 1980’s, the 3rd and 4th floors became unusable because repairs were too costly. The building has not been fully operational, except for the lower, half, ground, first and second floors since the 1990’s.
Then & NOW
What it costs to keep
Maintaining this building costs the Y about $650,000 a year. Over 5 years, that is over 3.2 million dollars that does not go toward programs, staff, or the people this Y serves.
Five paths forward
On Oct. 3, our community team toured the building and looked at five real options, all with costs to the Y, being weighed for its future:
- Tear it down.
- Sell it to a developer.
- Keep it and pursue funding to reactivate the unused floors.
- Bring in mission-aligned partners to use and invest in the space.
- Hold and take more time before deciding.
The cost involved with any of the above-noted options deserves careful consideration. Equally important is this building’s history and what it means to this community.
No option will be decided without member and community input. Whether you were at the Oct. 3 meeting or not, we want to hear from you.
Tell us what you think by Nov. 6.
135 Project Updates
We’ll keep this section current with news, but also so you can see how feedback connects to action with decision-makers.
What we heard:
Team Toolkit
- Contact info: Johanna Adams at [email protected]
Use only the materials provided. Team members should share and distribute only the YMCA-approved items given to them. Please do not edit, recreate, redesign, or combine materials in any way.
Do not alter YMCA branding or messaging. Logos, wording, visuals, and formats must remain exactly as provided to ensure feedback is collected consistently and accurately.
Represent the Y accurately and neutrally. When asking for feedback, present the materials as-is and avoid adding personal opinions, interpretations, or explanations beyond the provided guidance.
Share Your Feedback by November 6
Online preferred for tracking. Paper forms are available at the front desk.
What We're Listening For
As you participate each month, keep these community priorities in mind. Your experiences and feedback help us understand what’s working, what needs attention and what would better serve Janesville and Milton.
- Accessibility and ADA upgrades
- Multi-generational and family-friendly scheduling
- Wellness and nutrition programming
- Flexible workout and class spaces
- Improved usability of indoor-outdoor spaces
- Inclusive services that support mental health
- Modern aquatics
- Senior wellness
- Special events and new programming
- Support and resources
- Information sharing and community engagement
- Story collection! We want to hear your Y stories!
Ask Activity Calendar
Monthly in-person meetings are encouraged and will take place on the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m., unless *rescheduled to the second Saturday due to a holiday weekend. Meeting locations will alternate.
- October 3
- November 7
- December 5: Year-in-Review Power Hour