Bentzin Family Makes $1M Donation to Town Square

The Watertown Redevelopment Authority (RDA) recently received a $1 million gift from the Bentzin Family for the construction of the city’s new Town Square. Given as a continuation of the Bentzin’s family legacy of generosity and civic-engagement, this donation puts the fundraising committee at the edge of its goal of raising $3.7 million.

In 2017, the RDA and City embarked on a program to revitalize its main street district which included plans to build a town square in the civic heart of the city next to the Rock River. Designed by SmithGroup of Madison, the one-acre, multi-purpose gathering place features four flexible spaces: the Library Plaza, Community Plaza, Performance Plaza, and the Rock River Plaza and dock. Scheduled for completion in mid-2022, the Square will be actively managed and programmed year round. Amenities include an interactive water feature, a performance stage, a curbless street for expanding surface area to accommodate festival crowds and food trucks, and an ADA accessible platform for visitors to interact with the river and paddlers to launch and dock boats.

Serving as a catalyst for economic activity and growth, the Square has already attracted well over $$ million of economic development including an 90-unit multi-family apartment complex to be built to the south of the Square by T. Wall Enterprises of Middleton. In addition, the main street business district is alive as multiple developers purchase and renovate historic buildings with the intent of attracting new business and residents to the downtown in advance of the completion of the Square.

“Watertown has a unique and rich history full of innovative thinkers,” said Barton Bentzin, representative for the Bentzin Family, “My father Charles often reminisced about his home in Watertown…he loved the community, its people, and its history.” To honor the city’s past and reflect what the future holds for Watertown, the Bentzin Family will make an additional contribution to fund the design and installation of a permanent public art piece to commemorate Watertown’s history.

Watertown’s current Mayor Emily McFarland joined Rob Marchant, RDA chair, to thank the Bentzin Family. “On behalf of the City of Watertown and the RDA, we are humbled and honored to accept this generous gift,” said Mayor McFarland. “The Bentzin family is demonstrating its respect for Watertown’s history and its future - a vibrant future in which the Town Square plays an essential role in attracting new activity and development to the heart of the city.”

“With the Bentzin family gift, we are able to incorporate some impactful design and infrastructure features on the Square,” said Alex Allon, RDA Executive Director. “One addition will be electrical outlets for use by food trucks at the upper plaza and along Water Street. At Barton’s recommendation, this addition will eliminate the need for vendors to use gas powered generators which are both noisy and emit a lot of CO2. The addition is another testament to the forward-looking design of the Square.”

The Bentzin family is currently considering Town Square naming options and ways to create a lasting legacy for the Bentzin family, Watertown’s history, and the City itself. Charles Bentzin’s 2020 obituary states, “Charles’ hometown was always kept near and dear to him.” Working with Barton Bentzin, the RDA and City hope to fulfill Charles’ passion for Watertown.