Investing in the Future of the Lincoln-King Neighborhood

The City of Racine, in partnership with the State of Wisconsin, is making a historic $65 million investment in the Lincoln-King neighborhood to build a new community center, a community health center, and to support housing improvements.

At the heart of this investment is the new King Community Center—strategically located near Julian-Thomas Elementary School. The new facility will offer expanded amenities, including a gymnasium, classrooms, recreational areas, and other features shaped by direct community input. These resources are designed to address long-standing health, wellness, and social disparities in the neighborhood and across the city.

The existing King Center has long served as a trusted space for connection, learning, and recreation. The new building will honor this legacy while creating new opportunities for future generations. Community involvement remains essential to the design and development process, ensuring the new center reflects the needs and values of those it will serve.

Key facts

• The Lincoln-King project represents a $65 million public-private investment to construct a new, modern facility for the King Community Center and a community health clinic. This includes a $1 million commitment from Ascension Health.
• Racine remains the largest city in Wisconsin without a federally qualified health center (FQHC)—a critical resource for residents with low incomes or limited access to health insurance. This project will change that.
• All current programs and services offered by the King Center will continue without interruption during the transition to the new facility.
• The new King Community Center will be significantly larger than the existing facility, potentially twice the size, and will include an integrated Community Health Center, adding tens of thousands of square feet dedicated to medical and wellness services.
• Convenient, accessible parking is a top design priority, especially for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Timeline

• October 30, 2024: Groundbreaking Ceremony
• August 8, 2024: Racine Common Council Approves Development Agreement and Funding Plan
• March 29, 2023: Kitchen Table Style Community Conversation with Youth Basketball Players, 27 participants
• March 15, 2023: Kitchen Table Style Community Conversation, 16 participants
• March 4, 2023: King Center Open House, 45 participants
• February 22, 2023: Kitchen table conversation – Community members and Julian Thomas families
• February 14-28, 2023: Black History Month Art Activity, 160 entries
• February 10-11, 2023: City of Racine Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Basketball Tournament, 229 survey respondents
• January 12, 2023: Family Night at Julian Thomas Elementary School, 50 respondents
• December 13, 2022: Community Conversation at the King Center, 77 participants
• December 8, 2022: Community Conversation with King Center Staff, 4 participants
• December 8, 2022: Jammin’ with Santa at Julian Thomas Elementary School, 50 respondents
• November 29, 2022: Julian Thomas Community Advisory Board Meeting, 8 participants
• November 16, 2022: Racine Bounces Back Job & Resource Fair, 70 respondents
• November 9, 2022: Community Conversation at the King Center, 35 participants
• November 4, 2022: Julian Thomas Community School Partnership Meeting, 10 participants
• September 20, 2022: Racine Common Council votes to award architectural contract to SmithGroup
• March 11, 2022: Governor Tony Evers announces that the state will contribute $20 million to the Racine Community Health Clinic development
• May 1, 2019: City announces Racine Community Health Clinic

Community Engagement and Input

Here is a sample of the input that the city and design team have received through the community engagement process:

• Youth programming: including space for children to play, do homework, and participate in music, art, and theater
• Comprehensive health services: including medical, dental, and mental health care, social-emotional learning, and conflict resolution
• Inclusivity: services and facilities specifically catered to people who speak Spanish and people with disabilities
• Participants also expressed a desire for amenities such as arts education, flexible hours, smart technology, fresh food options, outdoor green space, and athletics
• On December 8, 2022, students from Julian Thomas Elementary School shared their ideas for the new King Center, including games such as basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, gymnastics, ballet, soccer, and space for playing with dogs and siblings. They also requested healthy fruit, more food, and party rental space.