WTMJ did a short piece yesterday about the overflowing trash bins in many Milwaukee County parks as a result of people, you know, actually using them over a holiday weekend. As myself and others have predicted, the impact of slashing the parks budget and staff in the last several years is starting to become apparent, and not in a positive way. The video is here.

Even when people use trash bins to properly dispose of their garbage there simply aren’t enough parks staff around anymore to keep them clean. Year after year the parks have been on the receiving end of a “hold the line on taxes” policy which has cut it’s budget and shrunk it’s workforce by hundreds all while some in the area have been plugging their ears and humming a tune of “Everything is fine in the parks, they just mow lawns la-la gold medal!”.

The result is predictable and saddening. Worst of all, there’s no quick fix in sight as election year politics will only make things worse for the Milwaukee County Parks and those of us who enjoy spending time with our families in them celebrating national holidays like Memorial Day.

In the meantime do what you can and either dispose of your garbage in the bins throughout the park or pack it out yourself. You’ll have the thanks of those of us who may be using the picnic areas within our parks after you!

Nice piece in the paper today about the resurgence of Milwaukee’s Bradford Beach:

Thousands flocked to the beach, especially on Sunday, and the crowds were so big that traffic came to a standstill on Lincoln Memorial Drive and caused Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. to close the street for a time. Four people were arrested for fighting.

Clarke said Tuesday that a traffic stop Monday evening near the beach led to the arrest of a man for carrying a loaded concealed weapon. Clarke noted that because of the increased crowds there’s a strong visible presence of law enforcement to ensure a safe time.

Those trying to get to the beach on a beautiful, sunny day this week found that parking was impossible, and many complained about the garbage and litter left on the beach.

I’ve noticed myself over the past two years some of the problems they’re bringing up in the article. It’s impossible to find parking anywhere along the lake on weekday afternoons and anytime on a weekend, which leads to large numbers people parking in the neighborhoods “above” the bluffs and causing some issues there. A lot of people who visit don’t respect the park or beach itself, whether that’s expressed through them bringing glass, grills or causing trouble.

It’s good the Sheriff has more deputies on patrol in the area, but it’s going to take more than the flashing “Disorderly conduct prohibited” sign parked along Lincoln Memorial Drive to get people to change some of those negative behaviors.

On the whole though having lots of people visiting Bradford once again is a good “problem” to have. I know that even five years ago a lot of people didn’t feel it was safe enough or clean enough to take their families to. Hopefully people start to respect the beach and park so all the hard work people have put in to change the perception of Bradford Beach doesn’t go to waste.

On a completely unrelated note, check out the second comment in the JSonline.com article for a perfect example of the kind of morons that still live in and (more than likely) around Milwaukee: “I just love how political correctness is ruling the day here. It is obvious that the blacks coming to Bradford are causing the problems.“. It’s a prime example of how the “comment” feature for articles in the newspaper has quickly devolved and become nothing more than a place for people to post trash like that anonymously.

It’s not the kind of development envisioned, but at least they’re going to be doing something to make the barren desert of development known as the Park East corridor a little less of an eyesore:

Part of the vacant Park East strip, on downtown’s northern edge, might be getting a green touch as it awaits development.

The Department of City Development has been talking with officials from Milwaukee County, which owns the land, about planting some trees around the perimeter of two tracts between W. Juneau and McKinley avenues, and N. Old World Third and N. 6th streets.

It’s interesting that the City is approaching the County about cleaning up it’s act. The tract of land directly north of downtown Milwaukee has been sitting vacant for over 7 years now as the County has failed time and time again to develop it. It’s embarrassing to be honest.

Meanwhile, the city owned tracts of land have been developed and are producing property tax revenue (Flat Iron condos, aLoft Hotel, the North End condos).

There’s been a rash of vandalism in south side parks lately, one of the worst examples was an entire playground set on fire at Wilson Park recently resulting in area families losing their playground as well as their sense of security.

Milwaukee Buzz has a good article up today on the subject and what’s being done to stop it.

It’s been a long comedown for the Milwaukee County Parks Department. In 1980, perhaps the system’s heyday, when the construction projects of the 1960s and 1970s were still new, the county enjoyed 1,327 full-time parks employees. Today, the number has shrunk to about 220, and some say having fewer employees in the parks is driving up vandalism.

County Supervisor Gerry Broderick, chair of the parks committee, says vandalism “is a direct result of not having workers in parks to intervene in those types of situations.” – MilwaukeeBuzz.com

I’ll admit to being one of the sources in the “some would say” line above. It’s an absolute fact that when you have fewer authority figures in and around parks (or any public resource for that matter), vandals and thugs are going to move in. Milwaukee County Parks has about a sixth of the workforce it did 15 years ago and as a result vandalism, graffiti and other deviant behavior is in the rise.

It’s one of the primary reasons that I’ve been such a big opponent of those elected officials – like my own County Supervisor, Lynne DeBruin – who want to slash the workforce within the Parks Department. These are our parks! The last thing that should be on a parents mind when they bring their kids to the park is, “Is the park a safe place for my family?”

It’s also no coincidence that the massive growth in the number of “Friends Groups” has taken place over the past 10 years as concerned residents try to protect their parks in the face of reduced numbers of park staff or because of crime concerns. Outside of contacting your elected representatives to voice your opinion about things like staffing levels, getting involved in a park watch or friends group is the best way to keep your park out of the hands of thugs and as a place where families can enjoy our parks in a safe and secure environment.

To find a Friends Group for your park or to learn how your neighborhood can start one up, visit the Park People website for more information.

If like most people you couldn’t make one of the three listening sessions for the 2011 budget that Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker held during the day over the past week, you can now give your feedback online as well.

If you go to http://www.milwaukeecounty.org/CountyExecutive7711/2011RecommendedBudgetSurvey.htm you can fill out the same form that  people who attended the sessions could, the feedback asking your opinion about the upcoming budget for Milwaukee County which will be proposed by the County Exec. later this year.

I honestly don’t know what happens to the feedback, but if you’d like to let the County Exec. know how you feel about a service like parks, transit or the Courts, send this form in! Every bit helps!

This is something I’ve been correcting people on since the Milwaukee County Parks Department won the NRPA “Gold Medal” for best managed park system. Managed being the key word.

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Supervisor Gerry Broderick is responding to recent comments from County Executive Scott Walker regarding the Milwaukee County Parks system.

“Based on comments made last week to senior citizens and repeated in his weekly newsletter, Scott Walker continues to believe that we have the best parks system in the United States. In fact, the gold medal award was presented to Milwaukee County for its parks management, but this award does not mean that our Parks are in the best of shape,” Supervisor Broderick said. “If cutting dozens of County parks workers and deferring parks maintenance to a backlog of $276 million is his contribution, it’s not a positive one. The public needs to be made aware that his claims are fraudulent.”

Parks Director Sue Black and her team have done an amazing job in managing our parks system, and the Gold Medal award recognized their creativity. But, Supervisor Broderick believes that Scott Walker’s continued claims that Milwaukee County has the best park system indicate the County Executive’s clear misunderstanding of the nature of this award.

“Our parks are currently running on fumes rather than fuel, and the County Executive has opposed the sales tax, a dedicated funding stream endorsed by the public in a November 2008 referendum, which might have salvaged our parks. In its absence, our parks have a bleak future,” Supervisor Broderick added. “The quality of our parks is going to hell. Pretty soon, we’ll look like Gary, Indiana. Sure, Gary might have lower taxes, but who wants to live there? – Wispolitics.com

Sup. Broderick is the Chair of the Parks, Energy and Environment Committee and his press release is spot on.

There remains a lot of confusion about the staffing changes coming to the par 3 golf courses within Milwaukee County Parks. Here’s some facts about the par 3 system that didn’t make it into the paper or the breathless press releases from politicians trying to make an issue out of this.

I’ve verified the following information with Parks Director Sue Black, hopefully it will clear up some of the confusion.

In 2009 the Par 3’s brought in the following Revenues

• Noyes    $23,797
• Madison    $32,936
• Zablocki    $57,766
• Lake    $61,423
• Doyne    $28,644

· Traditionally courses do not open until the beginning of May. The Rangers allow revenue collection during the earlier months of March and April and the late season months of October and November.

· During league play, outings, and peak times the courses will be staffed.

· There will be no decrease in upkeep at these courses. They will be maintained as in the past.

· The program will be evaluated closely throughout the season and adjusted to make sure we maximize our revenue.

· During times when the iron rangers are collecting fees the courses will be monitored daily to check compliance.

· Iron ranger or self – pay stations are used currently at our dog parks, boat launches, and at other State and County run Parks and Trails.

UPDATE: I’ve gotten more details about the par 3 courses, including revenue figures here.

As has been documented here and elsewhere, some Supervisors are trying to score political points by criticizing the Milwaukee County Parks department for cutting staffing at par three courses (Doyne, Lake, Noyes, Zablocki & Madison Parks) even though they themselves have voted time and again for cutting park worker positions and cutting the Parks Department budget.

While traditional news sources have been unable to get a reaction from Parks Director Sue Black on this issue because she’s on vacation, I was able to speak with her today about this issue surrounding the cuts at the par three courses. When we spoke, she was unhappy the way the message is being presented by park detractors and people like Sup. DeBruin.

“This isn’t to limit the potential for income at par three golf courses, but to enhance it.” she told me.

The point Director Black is making that if it’s a rainy weekday in June or August, why should she pay someone to sit out at the par three courses? Instead it makes more sense to put rangers out at the par three courses on days which are nice and will generate income and fall back on the “iron rangers” to collect fees when that isn’t the case.

“If it’s a sunny hot day in the middle of July, of course we’re going to have a ranger out at the courses to collect fees” she said. “But if that’s not the case, it makes sense for me to redirect my staff to the places where they can be most effective”.

I’d have to agree with Director Black on this one. She and her staff have done an incredible job over the past several years with fewer and fewer resources. This latest move is just the latest in a trend of “doing more with less” and making sure her Parks Department is running at it’s most efficient. She also indicated to me that it may be time to institute some ordinance so County workers can ticket those who are using the facilities without paying the fees, much like we

One of the new "iron ranger" collection boxes

already have at State Parks.

For the record I was out at Doyne Park this afternoon to see what the new “iron ranger” collection boxes looked like since there was some concern about theft from the unmanned pay stations. Here’s a picture of one, and let me tell you, this sucker isn’t gonna budge. It’s solid iron and bolted into the cement.

As I said, I think that some Supervisors are trying to make political hay out of this. The rumors have been out for months that this might happen, but when you have elected officials in Milwaukee who put in part time hours for full time pay, what else can you expect?

Director Black and her staff have done a heck of a job pulling rabbits out of hats for the last several years, and they deserve the thanks and backing of every Milwaukee County resident who supports our parks. I know she has mine.

On a side note, I’ll be on Fox 6 tonight during their 5, 6 and 10pm newscasts to talk about this subject. Tune in!

From the “politicians who say one thing and do another” file: Milwaukee County Supervisor Lynne DeBruin (my supervisor) put out a press release today bemoaning the fact that the par 3 golf courses in Milwaukee County parks won’t be staffed this summer. The Journal Sentinal’s Steve Schultze dutifully copy and pasted her press release into a “news” item:

A new honor system of payment at Milwaukee County’s par-three golf courses aimed at saving money was criticized Monday as setting up the courses for failure.

Under the new system, the $7 adult fee for playing the courses on week days will be dropped into a black deposit box at the courses and those venues won’t be staffed Mondays through Fridays. Pavilions with rest rooms also will be closed at the par-three courses on week days, but portable toilets will be brought there.

Supervisor Lynne De Bruin said the change will likely lead to frequent instances of non-payment and run the risk of theft of the deposit boxes.

“We cannot base the county’s revenues on the honor system,” De Bruin said. “Everyone knows the best way to close a county facility is to depress its revenues.”

This new found outrage is convenient and utterly dishonest at the same time.

Back at the November 2009 meeting of the Milwaukee County Board when the issue of staffing for the Milwaukee County Parks system was on the line, Supervisor DeBruin sided with the County Executive and Supervisors Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelipp and Schmitt to get rid of four “Parks Maintenance Worker II” positions. (Amendment 1A063) Now she’s suddenly outraged that the Parks Dept. doesn’t have enough staff to man it’s par three courses!

It’s unfortunate that the par three courses are going to have be to on an ‘honor system’ this summer, there’s no doubt about that.

What’s even more unforuntate however is that an elected public servant would have the audacity to complain about the same staffing cuts to the Parks Department that she had no problem supporting a mere six months ago.

Over the weekend a story appeared in the Journal Sentinel outlining some potentially exciting changes in store for Milwaukee’s lakefront and specifically, McKinley Park.

The shorter version is that there are some plans being floated which would alter – and I believe would dramatically improve – the lakefront area in and around McKinley Park. The connecting bridge from Brady Street would be extended, a raised walkway which would provide better views of the lake and a circular open air performance pavilion right on the lake.

While the funding needs to be worked out before anything moves forward, it is a spectacular plan to be sure and a step in the right direction to improving and capitalizing on Milwaukee’s lake front.

I was able to get my hands on some of the conceptual renderings of what the results may look and have shared them below. They weren’t included in the JS article and really provide an important visual representation of what’s being proposed.

Aerial view of McKinley Park today

Proposed improvements

Proposed changes, different angle

As you can see from some of the proposals, the changes look impressive. While the funding questions need to be answered, it looks like some exciting changes for Milwaukee’s lakefront and it’s public parks are in store that everyone should be able to get behind!