The city of Milwaukee is seeking proposals to develop youth soccer fields off Canal Street in the Menomonee Valley, beneath the 35th Street viaduct.
The site, at 212 S. 36th St., was always intended to become a community park, but so much other work related to economic development needed to be done in the valley first, said Corey Zetts, executive director of Menomonee Valley Partners Inc.
“Now that the park is nearly complete, it seems like the right time to finish the original vision,” Zetts said. “The hope is that these fields will be used by the community, and the youth in particular.”
The city’s redevelopment authority issued a request for proposal this week for a developer to build, operate and maintain the soccer fields. Proposals are due by April 14.
The chosen developer will lease the land from the city’s redevelopment authority for a “nominal fee” for three years, with an option to extend for an additional two years.
The 1,200-acre Menomonee Valley has been a success story for the City of Milwaukee.
Over the past 15 years, the valley has been transformed from an area of disinvestment to a national model for economic development and environmental sustainability.
Brownfields have been developed and 39 companies have moved in, creating more than 5,000 jobs and 1 million square feet of green buildings. More than 60 acres of trails and park space have also been built and 45 acres of native plants have been installed.
