Milwaukee Harbor Project Soon to Become Reality

Milwaukee Harbor Project Soon to Become Reality 

          Milwaukee—Mayor Barrett today encouraged the City's Public Improvements committee to move forward with the long awaited Milwaukee Lakeshore State Park project when the committee meets this week.  "A park situated on Milwaukee's harbor near the Summerfest grounds will be the first new state park in more than two decades," stated Mayor Barrett.  The project includes a 22 acre state park that includes a walkway to provide year-round public access, small beach, over night boat dock and place to launch small boats, kayaks, and canoes.  The state park also includes a new breakwater that will protect the new Pier Wisconsin development, the Schooner Denis Sullivan and docking facility for cruise ships.  Lakeshore State Park will eventually connect to the Hank Aaron recreational trail in the Menomonee Valley.  "The benefits of Lakeshore State Park are tremendous," stated Barrett.  "The outcome will expand public access to the lakefront allowing residents and visitors to enjoy a fishing pier, paved trails for walking or bicycling and recreational activities on Lake Michigan."  
          Lakeshore State Park is an island made of rocks and boulders from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's deep tunnel project.  The island is connected to the shore on its south end by a small parcel of land just south of the Summerfest grounds.
          Plans to build Lakeshore State Park were first announced in 1998 and since then the project has garnered support and praise from numerous groups including the Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Wisconsin
Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Harbor Commission, Pier Wisconsin, Historic Third Ward Association, Milwaukee Art Museum and Italian Community Center.  "Pier Wisconsin is very excited about Lakeshore State Park," stated Chuck Ward, President of Pier Wisconsin.  "It'll be a great asset to everyone who enjoys the lakefront.  We are also very excited about having a new safe harbor for the schooner Denis Sullivan and the new Pier Wisconsin Center to ensure our continued programs for the community.  We have worked hard to make this a reality with all our neighbors."
          "I commend the neighbors of Lakeshore State Park for sharing my vision and seeing the potential the state park has to offer the community.  This is a win-win situation for everyone involved," said Barrett.
          Lakeshore State Park has received about $14 million in local and state funding.  While serving in Congress, Barrett and Congressman Jerry Kleczka secured $3 million for the project.  "The Lakeshore State Park project involves state, local and federal funding as well as public and private support.  The end result will be great because of the cooperation involved," stated Alderman Robert Bauman who serves on the Harbor Commission and is Chairman of the Public Improvements committee.
          "Milwaukee's lakefront is one of the City's greatest gems.  A state park on the harbor will make the City shine like no other in the country.  I am hopeful the Improvements Committee will approve this long awaited and much anticipated project," stated Barrett.
The City's Public Improvements committee meets on Wednesday, December 8th. 

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