We Must Protect Milwaukee County Parks
Historical Context
The nationally recognized Milwaukee County Parks System was designed with a clear mission: to provide public parks and green space for all. For more than a century, these parks, parkways, trails, preserves, and beaches have been part of the region’s vitality—places where people connect with nature, with one another, and with their community.
​
This system is more than recreation. It safeguards watersheds, woodlands, and natural corridors, helping protect against flooding and building climate resilience. It also sustains human health—offering safe, affordable places for physical activity, mental well-being, and social connection. The pandemic underscored what many already knew: parks are not a luxury. They are essential community infrastructure.
Parks are also living examples of democracy in action. They are common ground where everyone—regardless of income, neighborhood, race, or background—holds an equal stake. They are public treasures that cannot be replaced once lost.
​​
Guiding Principles
To protect the value and functionality of the Milwaukee County Parks System, and to honor more than a century of public investment, we call for renewed commitment to the following principles:
​
-
Stable, Dedicated Funding: Parks require consistent public investment to sustain the legacy we’ve inherited and ensure future generations have access to safe, vibrant green spaces.
-
Public Stewardship: Parks must function as a unified system under transparent governmental oversight. Fragmentation risks deepening social and economic inequities and diminishing public access.
-
Responsible Partnerships: Collaborations with private entities can add value only when they conserve public assets, enhance stewardship, and maintain equal access. Partnerships must supplement—not replace—public responsibility.
-
Accountability for the Greater Good: Non-park or exclusive private uses of public land undermine equity and erode trust. Our parks should always serve the broad public interest, not narrow agendas.
Looking Forward
Milwaukee County’s parks are one of its greatest treasures—places that strengthen public health, protect natural resources, and reflect our shared values of fairness and access. Protecting them is not just about resisting short-sighted threats. It is about building a future where every neighborhood has thriving, welcoming green spaces. County leaders and residents together have the capacity to invest in solutions that secure these benefits for generations to come.