Ground-breaking at Johnsons Park marks official beginning of renovations in Lindsay Heights neighborhood

Pictured (from left) are: Laura Schloesser, Milwaukee County Parks; State Rep. David Bowen; Rayna Andrews, Office of the Milwaukee County Executive; County Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde; Cecelia Gore Brewers Community Foundation; Susan Lloyd, Zilber Family Foundation; and John Bernaden, Rotary Club of Milwaukee at the ground-breaking on Saturday, June 27, 2015.

On Saturday, June 27, 2015 The Rotary Club and other community organizations held a ground-breaking at Johnsons Park. The park project located at 1919 W. Fond du Lac Ave., in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood, is just the first phase of a major revitalization of the Lindsay Heights area.

The Rotary Club understands that strong communities contribute to a healthy business environment, said John Bernaden, President of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

“Rotarians want to make a difference in our communities and for the people who live in them. Poverty affects the whole community. If Milwaukee is going to grow and be the best it can be, all communities must thrive. Johnsons Park is one way we can make a difference.”

Future changes to Johnsons Park will promote a mix of passive and active recreational activities designed with building a stronger, healthier community. Planned improvements include sports fields, tree-lined pathways, benches, and a performance stage.

Bike racks, energy-efficient lighting, and a bioswale to help manage stormwater onsite will be included to conform to the county’s sustainability efforts. All improvements will be completed by the fall of 2015.

The total public-private partnership investment in Johnsons Park is $1.2 million; the park project is part of a broader $3.2 million initiative that included improvements to Alice’s Garden and the Brown Street Academy schoolyard. For more information, visit partner websites at www.resilientcities.org, milwaukeerotary.com, and www.countyparks.com or call (414) 257-PARK (7275).