Our Board.
The Preserve Our Parks Board is a team of dedicated advocates and neighbors working to protect, celebrate, and keep Milwaukee’s parks thriving for generations to come.
Patricia Jursik
President
Patricia Jursik, POP President, has been on the Board of Directors since 2016. Before joining the board, Pat was an elected County Supervisor representing District 8 in the South Shore. She is an Emerita member of the Wisconsin Bar Association, and formerly a partner in Jursik & Jursik, Cudahy WI. Pat loves our parks and is also a board member for her beloved park, Sheridan Park serving in their Friends group. Pat is a member of numerous environmental and parks groups, and writes poetry inspired by the natural environment.
Therese Gripentrog
Vice President
Therese Gripentrog is the founder and design principal of Environmental Design Solutions, LLC. While employed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Milwaukee County Parks she designed and managed numerous projects throughout Wisconsin and the County. She enjoys many outdoor recreational activities including biking, swimming, snowshoeing, and growing mushrooms. Brown Deer Park is her favorite Milwaukee County Park and she frequently rides the Oak Leaf Trail for commuting and recreation.
Jim Goulee
Treasurer
Jim Goulee spent 33 years with the Milwaukee County Parks Department in various positions and ended his career serving 17 years as a Regional Manager in the operations division. He left the Parks Department in 2006 to take on the position of Executive Director for the nonprofit Park People of Milwaukee County until his retirement in 2017. Goulee graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1986.
Laurie Muench
Secretary
Laurie Muench became a member of the POP Board in 2008 upon her retirement from a 24-
year career as a landscape architect/park planner with Milwaukee County Parks. With an avid
interest in the history of public park design and development, she authored Milwaukee County
Parks (2007) Arcadia Publishing and was a contributor to Shaping the American Landscape
(2009) University of Virginia Press. Grant Park is her favorite Milwaukee County Park.
Eddee Daniel
Editor – A Wealth of Nature
Eddee Daniel is a Milwaukee-based photographer, writer and curator of The Natural Realm, POP’s blog about nearby nature. He is the author of "Urban Wilderness: Exploring a Metropolitan Watershed” and “The Milwaukee River Greenway: A Wealth of Nature in the Heart of the City.” His favorite park is the Milwaukee River Greenway.
Kevin Haley
Board Member
Kevin Haley, PLA is a Wisconsin-licensed Landscape Architect with 45+ years’ experience in public and private sectors, including 26 years with Milwaukee County Parks. He specializes in park planning, capital projects, real estate, permitting, and intergovernmental coordination, and serves on civic and nonprofit boards.
Charles (Charlie) Kamps
Founder & Board Member
TBD
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Mary Kamps
Founder & Board Member
TBD
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William (Bill) Lynch
Board Member
Bill Lynch is a retired attorney who specialized in civil rights. Bill has served on the POP Board since its beginning and as POP Board President. He chairs the Lakefront Development Advisory Commission and has served on the Boards of ACLU of WI, Midwest Environmental Advocates and Wisconsin Conservation Voters. He chaired the Milwaukee County Domes Taskforce.
Jeff Martinka
Board Member
Jeff Martinka joined the POP Board in February 2025. Jeff worked both in nonprofit management and in government. He retired as Executive Director Neighborhood House of MKE and has broad prior experience with Milwaukee County Parks. Jeff earned his MA and MS degrees at UW-Madison and his BA from UW-Milwaukee.
Cheryl Nenn
Board Member
Cheryl Nenn has been the Riverkeeper for Milwaukee Riverkeeper for 23 years. As Riverkeeper, she identifies problems affecting the rivers, responds to community concerns, reviews permits, patrols local waterways, and works with partners to find solutions to problems affecting local rivers. Cheryl sits on several advisory committees for the Milwaukee River Estuary Area of Concern, UWM-School of Freshwater Sciences, and MATC.
Favorite Park: Menomonee River Parkway
