CURRENT PARK ISSUES

POP is standing up for Milwaukee’s parks—championing public access, advocating for funding, and protecting the green spaces that bring our community together. We’re committed to ensuring these parks remain vibrant, welcoming, and treasured for generations to come.

FEMA Funding for Flood-Damaged Parks

Milwaukee County’s recent flooding left many parks and public spaces with significant damage. Federal assistance is available through the FEMA Public Assistance Program, which helps local governments and eligible nonprofits recover costs for repairs and emergency measures.

On this page, you’ll find information and resources to help parks and community partners understand the application process, determine eligibility, and take the next steps toward securing critical funding.

For full program details, visit FEMA’s official site:

FEMA Public Assistance Program.

McGovern Pk_Where the Wild Things Are copy.jpg

Residential Housing in Parks?

In 2024, a proposal was introduced to allow Jewish Family Services (JFS) to build a multi-story senior housing complex on parkland within McGovern Park. The plan would have required a long-term lease of public land, displaced the thriving McGovern Park Senior Center, and set a dangerous precedent of turning parks into real estate for non-park development.

Preserve Our Parks strongly opposed this proposal, raising concerns that:

Housing and other private developments are incompatible with public parkland.
The project offered no financial benefit to Milwaukee County Parks.
The process lacked transparency and excluded public input.
Ample vacant land across Milwaukee could have been used without sacrificing park space.

A Community Win

Through community organizing, public awareness efforts, and effective advocacy, POP and our partners rallied neighbors, park users, and supporters from across the County to stand up for McGovern Park. On July 25, 2024, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted 10–7 against the proposed development, affirming that parks must remain for public use.

Why It Matters

This was an important win for Preserve Our Parks and the Milwaukee community. It demonstrated that when residents raise their voices together, we can protect our shared green spaces from privatization. It also reaffirmed a core principle: parks are public treasures, not development opportunities.

POP’s success at McGovern Park highlights our ability to:

Organize communities around issues that matter.
Effectively advocate to decision-makers.
Raise awareness to ensure transparency and accountability.
Stand up for future generations by keeping parks public, accessible, and welcoming to all.

OnGoing Parks Funding

The Challenge in Milwaukee

Milwaukee County’s park system has been disadvantaged for years by political battles and budget cuts. Operating and capital budgets have been slashed, leaving hundreds of millions in deferred maintenance. The results are visible: crumbling facilities, shuttered amenities, and a growing risk that shrinking the system will accelerate its decline. Without meaningful change, the legacy of a world-class park system—built to serve everyone—faces an uncertain future.

What Other Cities Show Us

Across the country, cities like Boston, Chicago, Madison, Minneapolis, and Seattle have invested in dedicated funding streams and strong public-private partnerships. Those commitments have fueled thriving parks, restored historic spaces, and supported programs that strengthen health, equity, and community connection. Milwaukee, by comparison, lags behind. Our parks are funded mainly through non-dedicated tax-levy allocations and earned income from fees and concessions. While helpful, these are unreliable, unsustainable, and insufficient to meet long-term needs.

What’s at Stake

Parks are not “extras.” They are essential public infrastructure that protect our watersheds, strengthen climate resilience, and promote human health—physical, mental, and social. During the pandemic, Milwaukeeans flocked to parks for safe gathering and relief, underscoring just how vital they are to community well-being. But without a stable funding base, those benefits are at risk.

The Way Forward

Milwaukee County voters already voiced their support: in 2008, they approved a referendum for a dedicated sales tax to fund parks, transit, and emergency services. The Legislature failed to act, but the public will was clear. Now more than ever, we need to revisit that call.

To truly protect and revitalize our parks, Milwaukee must secure dedicated, sustainable funding. Other cities have shown it’s possible—and the payoff is clear: healthier residents, stronger neighborhoods, and a more vibrant, competitive region.

The path forward is not just about resisting decline. It’s about building a park system worthy of the next generation.

Saving the Domes: Milwaukee’s Win & What Comes Next

The Mitchell Park Domes have long been beloved — and increasingly at risk. Decades of deferred maintenance left them showing serious damage: failing glazing, cracked concrete, outdated HVAC systems, and frequent closures. Without intervention, demolition was even being considered.

But there’s hopeful news. In July 2025, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $30 million commitment to support the Domes Reimagined plan, with funds distributed in $5 million installments over the next six years.

This victory matters. The Domes’ restoration isn’t just about saving an iconic landmark — it’s about proving that Milwaukee values its parks enough to invest in their future.

Why Funding Like This Is Critical

Sustainable stewardship: Only with reliable, committed funding can the Domes and similar park assets avoid slipping back into disrepair.
Equity and access: These spaces serve all communities. When funding is uncertain or piecemeal, neighborhoods with fewer resources often suffer first.
Preventing decline: Once landmarks like the Domes are lost—or scaled back drastically—it’s almost impossible to reclaim their cultural, environmental, and health benefits.
Tying into broader park health: The Domes’ success should set a precedent: Milwaukee County parks overall need dedicated, predictable funding sources so they can thrive, not just survive.