After years of planning and strong community support, construction on the Bradley Jordan Memorial Community Gymnasium at Washington Island Schools is set to begin early this spring.
Excavation for the new facility could start as soon as mid-March, weather permitting and dependent on the thawing of frozen ground. An informational meeting for families and staff is scheduled for early March to outline construction logistics and how school operations will adapt during the build. A formal groundbreaking ceremony is expected to take place in April.
“We have a community use agreement in place,” said Timothy W. Verboomen, Washington Island Schools District Administrator. “This gym was not built just for the students in our school. It was built for the entire island, as a place for wellness, recreation, and community gatherings well into the future.”
The gym will be attached to the east end of the school, providing students with safe indoor access for physical education classes and indoor recess. Designed as a true community space, the facility will feature an indoor walking track and areas for pickle ball and volleyball, with use protocols being developed to ensure broad accessibility.
For island athletics, the gym represents a major milestone. It will include a regulation-size basketball court, permanent spectator seating, and a lobby and concessions area. The new facility will also allow Washington Island to host the Great Lakes Islands Basketball Tournament, with the community scheduled to host the event in December 2027.
“That’s the big one,” Verboomen said. “Many in the community would love to host the tournament this year, but 2027 will be our year.”
Construction funding has been secured through the Bradley Jordan Foundation and a $2.5 million matching gift from anonymous donors. While the building itself is fully funded, additional fundraising continues to outfit the gym with equipment, sound systems, and long-term maintenance resources.
“The box has been built,” Verboomen added. “Now we just have to fill it.”
