Bucks and Johnson Controls Open $150,000 Multi-Sport Complex at Browning Elementary School

MILWAUKEE (September 7, 2017) – The Milwaukee Bucks and Johnson Controls today held a grand opening ceremony for a $150,000 multi-sport complex on the campus of Browning Elementary School and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center in Milwaukee’s Westlawn neighborhood. The project was initially announced in May and construction had been ongoing in the months since the announcement. Today was the first chance Browning Elementary School students had to play in the new space, which includes six basketball courts, one futsal court, a soccer field and additional recreation space, all contained within a 200-meter track. The complex, which has Bucks and Johnson Controls branding, has 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.

Bucks legend Sidney Moncrief, Johnson Controls Chairman and CEO George Oliver and Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Grady Crosby, Bucks President Peter Feigin and Bucks Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Alicia Dupies were joined by more than 100 Browning Elementary School students at today’s grand opening.

“This space is something that we imagine will be used for years and years to come,” said Dupies. “Perhaps the most important aspect is that we know that sports of all types can directly contribute to positive youth development. The programming that will be provided by both Playworks and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center will ensure that children are engaged in active learning and have opportunities for skill building and to foster cultural competence and healthy and safe play. With literally hundreds of kids in the Westlawn area, coupled with those who attend Browning Elementary and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, we are thrilled to know that the play that will take place here will be enhanced through supportive relationships and programming.”

“We are excited about the grand opening of the multipurpose court because it elevates the neighborhood around it,” said Crosby. “But we are even more excited about the years of programming that the Bucks and Johnson Controls are funding. We recognize that coaching and mentoring have the potential to be transformative. We are not investing in a playground. We are investing in the youth of this neighborhood. For more than a year, Johnson Controls has had a special focus of engagement with this neighborhood. This multi-sport complex is our latest project, but we have invested more than a million dollars in the last 15 months in 21 non-profits with programs serving Havenwoods, Westlawn Gardens and Thurston Woods neighborhoods. This investment will continue. Our goal is to make a measureable impact on the trajectory of lives in the neighborhood.”

This new complex is a part of a larger commitment from the Bucks and Johnson Controls that includes 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, as well as the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, which will 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.

About Johnson Controls:

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and multi industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries. Their 120,000 employees create intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next generation transportation systems that work seamlessly together to deliver on the promise of smart cities and communities. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. They are committed to helping our customers win and creating greater value for all of its stakeholders through strategic focus on its buildings and energy growth platforms. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow them @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.