Business

Big donation given to Trane Park playground project

Published

6 years ago

May 3, 2019

Brad Williams

La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat and other supporters celebrate an $85,000 donation to the All-Abilities Trane Park project

The corporation that owns the Trane Company has put substantial money behind a project with the Trane name on it.

The Ingersoll Rand Foundation donated $85,000 Friday to development of an All-Abilities playground at Trane Park on La Crosse’s far south side.

Former city councilman Fran Formanek, one leader of the playground project said the facility for people of different abilities is “not a want, but a need.”

The donation is said to mark the first time Ingersoll Rand is donating money for a physical structure, instead of for an activity.

Ground was broken for the inclusive playground project back in October, and an old shelter at Trane Park is being remodeled now.

The new donation will pay for “respite pods” in the park, where visitors can rest while not using the playground equipment.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.