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County Executive
 

August 19, 2026

Governor Evers and County Executive Crowley Officially Reopen Clinton Rose Senior Center Showcasing Major Renovations with $4 Million State Grant

MILWAUKEE – Today, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, along with county staff and partners, officially reopened the Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive., showcasing $4 million in major renovations to the center made possible through a Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Flexible Facilities Program Grant of $4 million in 2024.

“Every older adult in Wisconsin deserves the chance to live a healthy, active, connected life, and I’m proud that my administration and I were able to support the renovation and remodel of the center with a nearly $4 million grant through our Flexible Facilities Program,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. “These spaces are critical hubs of connection, and so I also want to recognize and thank County Executive Crowley and everyone from the community for their work to fight for this project and create something that will be a bright spot for the local folks and families it serves.”

Milwaukee County’s Department of Administrative Services (DAS) project team worked with the Commission on Aging, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Aging Services staff, and Serving Older Adults of Southeastern Wisconsin to hold design sessions with senior center participants to ensure that the renovations would meet the needs of current and future generations. The team also built upon an accessibility study to improve safety and ease of use for all, including exterior restrooms that serve the greater community during outdoor recreation and sporting events in Rose Park.

"Revitalizing the Clinton Rose Senior Center, including expanding access to services and technology and with maintaining public transit options, is making a real difference in the lives of older adults in Milwaukee County,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “We will keep advancing innovative solutions that enhance the quality of life for older adults, with services and support that address social isolation, loneliness, depression, and health and wellness.”

The Milwaukee County DAS project team maximized the renovations beyond the expectations of the original project, resulting in a complete remodeling of the Clinton Rose Senior Center. Improvements were made to every space in the facility, including to the building’s mechanical systems to enhance the center’s sustainability.

More than 700 individuals will benefit from the upgrades to the senior center, including minority populations, elderly individuals, and those experiencing poverty and health challenges. In addition to renovations to the kitchen and dining room, the funding expanded the existing community center with a telemedicine room, a multi-purpose space, and a computer lab with 12 desktop computers, adding technical equipment to allow individuals greater access to updated and improved educational, vocational, and nutritional programming. 

In 2024, Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) awarded Milwaukee County a Flexible Facilities Program Grant for $3,967,737 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to assist with the renovation of the Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center. Funded through the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) Capital Projects Fund (CPF), the Flexible Facility Program grants funding for public facility expansion or improvement projects designed to provide reliable broadband access to local communities, including libraries, and community centers.

With this grand reopening, the Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center welcomes older adults throughout Milwaukee County to enjoy:

  • A welcoming entrance with automatic sliding glass doors and a vestibule
  • A lounge area with comfortable furniture, fireplace, and coat area
  • Open dining space that flows into the lounge
  • An upgraded demonstration and serving kitchen with AV equipment that opens into the great hall, lounge and dining area
  • A wellness suite with consultation space, an exam room, and bathroom
  • A modern computer lab and multipurpose lifelong learning classroom
  • A refreshed arts and crafts area with a new high-tech makers space
  • Expanded fabric arts area with a long-arm quilting Gammill
  • A new exercise and fitness area that overlooks Rose Park on the second floor
  • Open recreational space with pool tables, darts, table tennis
  • A conference room with AV equipment and a first-floor kitchenette
  • Millwork on the stage of the main hall

Throughout the building, participants will find:

  • Attractive decoration, artwork, carpeting, and painting
  • Accessible bathrooms, doors, movement, and signage
  • Access to high-speed broadband Internet
  • A public address system and AV informational screens
  • An integrated fire alarm system and HVAC controls

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