Royal CU Foundation Makes $500K Gift to Freedom Park Center

NEW RICHMOND, Wis- The Royal Credit Union Foundation (RCU Foundation) made a $500,000 gift dedicated to the construction of Freedom Park Center in New Richmond, WI. The 17,400-square-foot facility will include three major sections - the Veterans Center, the Senior Center, and the Community Event Center and will offer a commercial kitchen, a concession stand and meeting rooms for public use. Freedom Park Center will be located on Hatfield Lake and will help enhance the surrounding walking trails, picnic areas, and city soccer and football fields. The project is a public/private partnership between the City of New Richmond and VFW Post 10818 New Richmond/St. Croix County.

“The Freedom Park Center is not only going to make a difference for veterans. It’s going to contribute to the seniors who built this community and to our future, our youth. It impacts everyone,” shared Dave Green, Chair of the Freedom Park fundraising committee.

"The RCU Foundation saw how Freedom Park Center will be a valuable asset to the New Richmond community,” said Jim Zajkowski, Mayor of New Richmond and member of the Freedom Park Center planning committee. “They stepped up and believed in the project, which will benefit veterans, seniors and youth in our community. They hit a home run for New Richmond."

Construction for Freedom Park Center is already underway. The project was accepted by the United States Department of Defense for inclusion in an Innovative Readiness Training Program. The program is designed to provide military support for community building projects as part of their training. Freedom Park Center offers soldiers a real-world construction project where they can cross-train on the core competencies involved in the building trades, preparing them for future careers. Earlier this year, 300 soldiers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota worked on installing sewer, water, and electric connections as well as the footings for the building. It is anticipated that 1000 active-duty military personnel, both men and women, will contribute to the construction of Freedom Park Center.

“Every dollar of the RCU Foundation’s donation will be used to provide materials for the soldiers to complete Freedom Park Center,” explained Ken House, Chair of the Freedom Park Center building committee. “This is the largest military construction project ever attempted in the state of Wisconsin.”

“The RCU Foundation has history of supporting community centers like Freedom Park Center. We recognize that having spaces in a community where people can come together to learn, to recreate, and to build connections is vital to fostering relationships and creating a vibrant community for everyone,” said John Sackett, RCU Foundation President. “With this gift, the RCU Foundation will secure the naming rights to the Community Event Center inside the facility. We are honored to have our name attached to an area in the building that will provide an opportunity for residents in New Richmond and St. Croix County to gather and collaborate for generations to come.”

Freedom Park Center is scheduled to be completed in 2023 and open to the public in 2024.

About RCU Foundation

The RCU Foundation (Foundation) was established in 2012 to support organizations and initiatives in communities where Royal Credit Union operates in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota.  The Foundation focuses on large-scale, capital projects that help build community and create the spaces where people come together. Focus areas include education, health, and the arts. The Foundation hosts the annual Rock the Riverfront-Charity Classic event in Eau Claire. Currently, it has awarded more than $7 million in grants. Contact foundation@rcu.org for more information.

About Royal Credit Union

Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 270,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology built on a strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Counties served in Wisconsin include Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood. Counties served in Minnesota include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona and Wright. A complete list of Member eligibility requirements is available on the Royal Credit Union website. To learn more about Royal, visit rcu.org or call 800-341-9911.