Twelve Milwaukee playgrounds in need of serious restoration will undergo major facelifts over the next three years under a new program dubbed “MKE Plays.”
The program was conceived by Milwaukee Common Council President Michael Murphy, who hopes the redevelopment of city playgrounds will act as a “building block” for further neighborhood revitalization work.
Murphy charged the Department of Public Works with assessing all 64 playgrounds owned by the city and identifying the 12 parks in greatest need of repairs.
The selected sites are: 67th and Spokane, Long Island and Custer, 21st and Keefe, Fifth and Randolph, Snails Crossing Park, Buffum and Center, DeBack Park, 17th and Vine, Foundation Park, 34th and Mount Vernon, Arlington Heights Park, and Trowbridge Square.
To support the transformations, Murphy is working to raise $1 million from private supporters, including banks and foundations.
MKE Plays is already backed by a $500,000 commitment from the City of Milwaukee, a $300,000 donation from the Zilber Family Foundation, and another $25,000 grant from the Fund for Lake Michigan.
