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The Kletzsch Park improvements will expand critical ecological connections between the northern Milwaukee River and greater Milwaukee Estuary, improve public access to the Milwaukee River and perform vital repairs to the dam. The project includes:
This project is a key to unlocking the health of our waterways. As well as improving water quality and habitats in the immediate area, the project provides an historic opportunity to secure federal funding from the EPA.
View Proposed Timeline & Budget
View Proposed Illustrations
View Proposed Site Plans
View Project Summary
View FAQs
June 17 at 4:30 p.m., project team members presented an ONLINE meeting, sharing information about the Ravine Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Topics discussed included the project scope, work to date, historical considerations, and schedule for final design and construction of the bridge. Project work has been funded through a $2M Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
View Project Description
View Meeting Agenda
View the Video of the Online Meeting
View the Meeting Presentation (pdf)
Consultants recently completed an engineering study of the McKinley Flushing Channel, which is in a state of significant deterioration and in need of rehabilitation. The channel currently serves as a navigation way, provides dockage and serves boating operations at the Milwaukee Yacht Club.
A project team is developing plans for reconstructing the channel walls, envisioned as primarily steel sheet pile with a concrete cap and railings. A portion of the historic channel walls will be reconstructed to tie into the headwall of the channel reconstructed by MMSD in 1996. A walkway along the west side of the channel will provide a connection to the McKinley Marina walkway system.
View the presentation (coming soon!)
Submit comments on the project (coming soon!)
Beginning in late June/early July of 2020, the northeast corner of Washington Park will be regraded and reseeded to address drainage issues and to improve the area for soccer fields or other field activities. The seven-acre area is the location of former baseball fields and is currently used for soccer. The majority of work on the project is scheduled to be completed in Fall 2020, but the area will remain out of service well into 2021 to allow the new turf to fully develop.
The completely reconstructed playground will feature new swings (including an adaptive swing), ADA access, poured-in-place surfacing and two play structures — one for ages 2-5 and another for ages 5-12. The improvements to the play area will also include new bike racks, benches, trees and an asphalt walkway. Completion is planned in late 2020, weather permitting.
As part of continued upgrades to Shore Shore Park, all of which are designed to improve water quality, four design concepts to move the South Shore Beach have been proposed. Consultants will complete their report and will complete construction drawings and specifications in 2019.
View Proposed Designs
View Project Update (12/02)
Upgrades to McKinley Marina are scheduled to take place from August - November 2019.
The project, supported in part by grants from Fund for Lake Michigan and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, will include a new entry and marina drive configuration with dedicated turn lanes onto Lincoln Memorial Drive; reconstructed parking lots; new walkways; enhanced stormwater management through the use of permeable pavers and bio-infiltration basins; installation of new lighting, trees and native landscaping; and upgrades to gas and electrical utilities.
Construction will take place in three stages to keep entry open to the marina boat-launching and parking areas during the project. One entry lane and one exit lane will remain in place throughout the project. However, parking capacity will be diminished over the course of the project.
This phase of the project will not impact the existing boat launches and piers, boat trailer parking, the fish cleaning facility or dry boat storage; those elements will be part of future phases of construction. The 2019 – 2020 construction is Phase 1 of a planned three-phase project to fully upgrade the marina facility.
View Phase I Details
Milwaukee County Parks is reviewing proposals for small cell or wireless facilities. The streamlined application process allows the department to ensure limited negative impact to parklands. Use the links to see locations of project proposals that have been reviewed.
View the Full-Screen Map App
Request a Project
A former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) storage building in Whitnall Park, constructed in 1937, was identified as a serious health hazard in 2014. The facility, which was suspected to contain PCBs and lead paint, had been unoccupied for many years and was infested with rodents and black mold. The structural integrity of the entire building was severely compromised due to water infiltration.
The Milwaukee County Facilities Condition Assessment Unit visited the building in 2014 and recommended it for demolition at that time. The service contract for demolition was initiated in 2017. The process of disconnecting utilities continued through 2018-19 and demolition occurred in early 2020.
A marker currently exists at the site. This marker will be updated to match similar to markers at other former CCC sites in the park system. Efforts will be made to increase the visibility of the sign to maintain awareness of its historical significance.
The health and safety of park visitors and staff is always our top priority.
The Dineen Park Stormwater Detention and Park Improvements Project, led by the City of Milwaukee, consists of a 7-acre stormwater pond, improved walking paths, a new community playground, a 16- by 28-foot picnic shelter, a reconstructed 350-foot baseball field, a redesigned 18-hole disc golf course, improved fishing overlook, updated pedestrian lighting, and native plantings and new trees throughout the park.
The majority of the project is scheduled to be complete in November 2019 with some minor landscape work carrying over to spring of 2020. During the fall, vegetation is being established, so for the best possible outcome of site restoration, measures are being taken to keep foot traffic off the site. Bridge work is also being done within the project boundaries, and fencing will remain in place until about November.
Lagoon dredging and channel stabilization are expected to begin in November, with the lagoon and area to the east fenced off until work is complete in spring.
For the safety of the local residents and workers, access is restricted to most of the park during construction. Temporary traffic signs are in place as needed, and construction vehicles use city streets.
Access to the community room, splash pad, and basketball and tennis courts on the west side of the park will remain open during construction.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has begun work on a project to revitalize the Kinnickinnic River through Pulaski Park. The project will remove the concrete river bank and widen the channel. A new children's playground and a futsal court will be added as part of the project.
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9480 W. Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226 (414) 257-PARK (7275)