Eau Claire (Press Release) - After five years of struggling to find a large enough
building to house a gymnastics facility for the area's youth, Lynn Wingert,
owner of Ultimate Performance Gymnastics, will finally open her doors to the
public on Sunday, Feb. 19. The training center, located at 3213 Louis Ave Suite
I in northeast Eau Claire, will offer gymnastics instruction to pre-school
through school-age children.
Wingert, who has an extensive background as an NCAA Division 1 college gymnast,
veteran coach, and gymnastic official, plans to provide quality gymnastics instruction
in the Chippewa Valley for all ages and levels of experience, from those who
want to try gymnastics for the first time, to those who want to pursue the
sport at competitive levels.
Wingert explained that finding the perfect building to house a gymnastics
facility was the first challenge, as most commercial buildings have support
posts every 32 to 36-feet, which prevents the placement of a 42 x 42-foot
spring floor apparatus that is required for every regulation gymnastics
facility.
This left Wingert looking for larger, clear-span buildings that are rarely
found outside of industrial areas.
Wingert's break came in Oct. 2011, when a friend saw a large warehouse building
in the Chippewa Valley Industrial Park for lease on Craigslist. The building
was the perfect combination of size and clear span to house a gymnastics
school.
"When we first walked in I knew it was just right," said Wingert.
"It was a newer building with restrooms, an office, and high ceilings.
Plus it had a good location right off of Highway 53 and lots of parking
spaces."
The building owner, Mark Phillips of Phillip's Properties, was open to the idea
of having a gymnastics school in the industrial park and agreed to work with
Wingert on a long-term lease.
However, Wingert soon learned that finding an ideal location was only part of
the challenge, as at the time Eau Claire did not permit recreational facilities
in industrial areas, even by special permit.
"It literally felt like someone knocked the wind out of me," Wingert
recalled after learning about the city zoning restrictions. "It didn't
seem fair. I argued that Hoffy's Skate America was one street down in the same
industrial area, but learned that Hoffy's was built when the rules were
different."
Eau Claire City Planner Tom Reiter suggested that Wingert propose an amendment
to the zoning ordinances. In order to do that, Wingert would have to
demonstrate to the Plan Commission and City Council how her proposed use was
compatible with the city's comprehensive plan.
"My husband and I researched the industrial statutes of every medium to
large city in Wisconsin," Wingert said. "We found some surprising
facts. Cities such as Janesville, Madison, Beloit, Green Bay and Wausau have
statutes on the books that allow certain recreational uses in industrial
areas."
In Nov. 2011, Eau Claire's Department of Community Development evaluated the
request and determined that Wingert made a valid argument. Wingert's amendment
received a unanimous City Council vote on Dec. 13, allowing her to apply for a
conditional use permit.
"I was ecstatic!" Wingert said after watching the vote.
""We did the work and research, made our case and Eau Claire
listened. It's a good thing for the area and its children."
Wingert's location on Louis Ave. was approved for its conditional use permit
during the first Eau Claire Plan Commission meeting of 2012.
Next, Wingert set to work ordering new gymnastic equipment and mats, while
beginning her marketing efforts. Over several weeks, groups of volunteers
helped Wingert assemble the gymnastics equipment and paint the facility.
"Most of our marketing effort has been through the Internet and social
media," said Wingert. "We put up a website and Facebook page, blogged
and Twittered, and started a mailing list. We posted photos of work inside the
building and kept people informed. We soon had a following of several hundred
people."
"We opened online pre-enrollment to our mailing list on Feb. 11, where
parents could reserve spots, and within 24 hours several of our classes were
filled!" said Wingert.
"The response from the community has been amazing and humbling,"
Wingert said." Every day, people contact me and cars drive by to look
inside the building. These people are trusting me with their children's
emotional and physical development and I'm not going to disappoint
them."
Four months after finding her perfect location, Wingert is holding her Grand
Opening on Sunday, Feb 19, from 2 - 7 pm, followed by an open house on Mon.,
Feb. 20th through Fri., Feb. 24th from 4-8 pm & Sat. Feb. 25th from 1-6 pm.
