The University of Wisconsin-Superior is poised to welcome a new wave of renovations with two projects that could become beneficial for the campus and community.

“The potential Belknap and 28^th Street Projects explore how UW-Superior can work with partners to create community assets and revitalize underutilized areas on campus,” said Jenice Meyer, senior government and external relations officer at UW-Superior. “If successful, the project will further create a campus that is attractive to current and future students, enhancing their curricular and out-of-classroom experiences, while simultaneously responding to external community and regional needs.”

The goals of the Superior Plan include adding to the UW-Superior experience by increasing student access to rewarding academic, athletic and recreation facilities. The plan will also help meet regional needs of the Superior community; breathing new life into the expanding University District of Belknap Street, which already serves as a main thoroughfare in the city. The hopes are that this will aid tourism, recreational facility options for youth, housing demands along with potential hotel and retail needs to create a community and campus asset that serves all for generations.

The project, with partners from UW-Superior, University of Wisconsin System, City of Superior, Superior Amateur Hockey Association, School District of Superior, the Development Association, Essentia Health, Superior Douglas County Family YMCA, and Duluth FC, includes two potential areas of development near campus.

The nearly 8-acre Belknap site includes the potential redevelopment of the former Ole Haugsrud Stadium and surrounding area to include an indoor turf field. This project is already anchored by the Superior Choice Credit Union Stadium, scheduled to open in 2024, which will serve as the home of the Yellowjacket men’s and women’s soccer teams and the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams. In addition to UW-Superior’s intercollegiate athletics programs, the facility will also benefit academic courses, campus intramurals, and the Superior community at large and include health care and child care facilities, student housing, hotel and business opportunities.

The 28^th Street Project involves the possibility of an expanded Siinto S. Wessman Arena with multiple hockey rinks and outdoor competition fields on its nearly 15 acres. Its location across Catlin Ave. from Superior High School would complete the current athletics corridor between UW-Superior and the high school.  

The Superior Plan project still has several more hurdles before coming a reality, but has been met with positive feedback at each step.

“When broken down, we are really looking to build facilities through partnership that will strengthen UW-Superior, the Superior community and our broader region,” said Meyer. “This type of partnership approach is complex; however, it is the right step to designing facilities that can be used and enjoyed by generations to come.”