135 & BEYOND

Where We Are Today

The Y’s history has shaped thousands of Northern Rock County lives — and our 135 & Beyond project shapes what comes next. Leadership and staff, alongside dedicated project teams, have moved from listening to action — here’s what’s happened so far. 

Here’s the biggest decision made yet: The Y is buying the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville’s side of the shared building at 200 W. Court St. The Club is moving into a new home at 925 S. Jackson St. this fall. This decision is just one focus of the Y’s plan to expand and reshape our spaces for kids, families, and the broader Northern Rock County community ahead of its 135th anniversary in 2027.

Want the next update first? Read on for how to get involved directly.

Meet the 135 Project Teams

To guide the project, the Y has assembled a network of board members and community professionals lending their expertise across six dedicated Project Teams. Each member was selected for expertise in a specific area, so the project benefits from informed guidance and best practices at every stage:

  1. Capital Preparation — readying the project financially for what’s ahead
  2. Design & Construction — shaping what the renewed spaces look and feel like
  3. Mission & Operations — keeping programs and services aligned with the Y’s purpose
  4. PR & Communication — keeping the community informed every step of the way
  5. Project Management — coordinating timelines, decisions, and next steps
  6. Real Estate Management — handling property and site decisions

Together, these volunteer leaders provide strategic guidance, industry knowledge, and a community perspective, helping to turn a bold community vision into a thoughtful, achievable plan that remains mission-focused and financially responsible.

Join the 135 Community Team

The 135 Community Team is a volunteer advisory group composed of individuals who contribute to the future success of our Ys through action. Members participate in monthly meetings, complete hands-on activities like trying out programs and classes, and share feedback from their communities and networks.

This opportunity is best suited for people who enjoy sharing ideas, following through on small assignments, and representing the Y in their circles. No YMCA membership or financial commitment is required — just a willingness to participate, engage, and provide thoughtful input.

We’ll provide the tools, directions, and access needed — including program passes when appropriate — to make participation straightforward. We meet monthly on the first Saturday of each month from 9–10 AM, with meetings rotating between Milton and Janesville.

Since launching in February 2026, the team has already surfaced real feedback shaping decisions at both campuses — from aquatics interest to wayfinding to what’s next for youth and senior spaces.

Sign up!
Q1 Report
Access 135 Community Team Hub

135 & Beyond: Shaping the future of our Y's

135 & Beyond is the YMCA of Northern Rock County’s community-guided plan to modernize facilities, strengthen programs, and expand access as the Y approaches its 135th anniversary in 2027. Along with engagement, the initiative includes a plan for financial sustainability that aligns capital investments, operating costs, and funding so improvements can be maintained over time.

Community listening, completed in September 2025, pointed clearly to what’s needed at both the Downtown Janesville YMCA and the Parker YMCA in Milton.

What we heard:

  • Accessibility and ADA upgrades
  • Child care and family-friendly scheduling
  • Community food and nutrition programming
  • Flexible youth spaces
  • Improved usability of indoor-outdoor spaces
  • Inclusive services that support mental health and neurodiversity
  • Modern aquatics
  • Senior wellness

That input didn’t sit on a shelf. It became the foundation for the Community Team, the Project Teams, and the planning decisions now in motion.

Read the 2025 Community Listening Summary

Project Planning & Community Listening

2025 was the year the Y went out and listened. 
2026 is the year that listening turned into decisions.

Early Research, 135 Project Plan, Facility Assessments, Targeted In-Person Listening (2024)

Engaged YMCA members, staff, past board leaders, and key partners across multiple sessions hosted at both campuses. These sessions were used to present initial data findings, explore strategic opportunities, and gather qualitative insights from our most connected stakeholders.

May 2025 Report
June 2025 Report

Community Listening, Membership & Community Survey (Summer 2025)

This public-facing digital outreach invited the broader community to watch a short video recap and complete an online feedback form, ensuring a greater opportunity for diverse voices to shape the Y’s future.

Strategic Planning & 135 Community Team Recruitment (Summer/Fall 2025)

This phase synthesized member, partner, and public input, prioritized possibilities, and began planning and recruiting for the 135 Community Team to help advance shared priorities, with Y leaders working transparently with the Board to define key investments and next steps.

135 Team Activation, Project Team Decision Making Initiated (Present)

The 135 Community Team officially launched and began meeting monthly, mobilizing members across both campuses to test programs, gather feedback, and represent the Y in their networks. Monthly community team reports, alongside staff input and the six Project Teams’ expertise, help the Y actively move into feasibility and concept work — assessing funding and readiness. Collectively, this work informed the first of many major project decisions, including the May 2026 Boys & Girls Club space acquisition, a key milestone on the path to 2027. Special thanks to our Finance-to-Fundraise partner, First Community Bank.

135 & Beyond Project Highlights:

Our Vision

The 135 project will align with five key priorities that support the overall Y mission:

Implement significant building changes at the Janesville & Milton campuses and green spaces.

Deploy and diversify revenue to secure sustainable programming.

Expand program offerings and improve accessibility for families of all ages and abilities on both campuses, including enhanced childcare and activity offerings.

Our renewed focus on physical, mental, and spiritual health means better support for every community member.

Foster community through purpose-driven staffing, membership and leadership.

2025-2026 Strategic Plan
2025 Impact Report
“I'd like to thank our community for staying so engaged with us as we look ahead, and an amazing staff and board for helping us plan. The Y has served this community for nearly 135 years because all those people have shaped it, and we want that to remain true. Thank you to every person making the choice to be part of this special 135 & Beyond project.”
Angie Bolson
YMCA President & CEO

Interested in joining this committee? Please contact Angie Bolson at [email protected]. 

This page will be updated regularly with new developments. (Last updated June 28, 2026.)