What started as sled hockey program has expanded to a mission to improve the HEALTH of ALL community members.

The STAR Center had its origin in the fall of 2016, when the Coulee Region “FROST” Sled Hockey was formed to address the lack of opportunities for those with physical disabilities to be able to participate in a competitive sport.  During that first season 14 young athletes experienced the impact of sport for their first time of their lives.  The organizers initially  thought sled hockey was just about a game and having fun. But these young athlete demonstrated significant gains in strength, endurance and functional skills. They became more confident, independent and developed improved skills of daily living. Their lives were transformed. They opened the eyes of the organizers how impactful exercise is to the mind, body and spirit of people.  They enlightened us to impact the lack of opportunity had on those with disabilities and the consequences on the quality of their life.   This team illustrated the impacted and limited access to physical activity in our community, and motivated the organizes to address the concept  of health equity.

To provide year round exercise for the para community, the Sled Hockey organization  expanded programs to include Wheelchair Team Handball and adaptive kayaking in association with n.a.s.a. In 2017 the larger mission prompted a name change to the Sports, Therapeutic and Adaptive Recreation (STAR) Association.  Research into the issues of health equity and brainstorming potential solutions evolved into the concept of the STAR Center and a passion to create opportunity for all to be physically active and live healthier lives. A dream of a universally accessible space that housed the adaptive equipment those with disabilities needed, and the expertise and assistance of knowledgable mentors.  The concept of community based specialized/assistive exercise, bringing the knowledge of medically based therapies to a community group exercise formate emerged. The vision of collaboration with university students to assist while they had opportunities to develop clinic skills was born.

Covid paused our story, but STAR emerged more determined to serve the disabled population. STAR pivoted to develop and offer adaptive programs without a facility.  Since 2021 STAR has quietly been growing and cultivating collaborations with national organizations, university partnerships, health organizations and the La Crosse School District.  We expanded our para sports offering, and added adaptive sports for those with developmental disabilities or muscle coordination and balance issues.  2022 saw our first full time Program Coordinator and the addition of our “Can’t Stop Me ” Parkinson’s  Disease Programming, our first disease specific programs.  Over the course of 2023 and 2024 STAR has continued to expand our program offerings, to include early dementia and older adults, in all STAR was offering 18 hours of programming per week.

In 2023 we realized we had maxed out how much programming we could offer without a facility. There were so many more who needed access to modified adaptive activity. For the past 18 month we have been planning on opening a facility which would allow us to double our programming, and expand our specialized exercise programs. We would also be able to offer adaptive aerobic and strengthening equipment that is not offered in any other community based facility. We are excited to open our doors of the STAR CENTER in February 2025. The new facility, located at 1011 La. Crosse Street, will be smaller than our original version, but contain many of the critical components of our original vision to serve the needs of our diverse population.