WIS 175 divides historic Washington Park. We can finally heal harm of racism, crime | Opinion
While most Badgers don’t know it, Frederick Law Olmsted, the famed designer of New York City’s Central Park, also loved Milwaukee. Invited by Christian Wahl, Olmsted created a system of parks and parkways to benefit Milwaukee residents and visitors. One of those great parks was Washington Park.
Over 50 years ago, Washington Park and the neighborhoods around it were devastated and divided by the intrusion of Wisconsin Highway 175. What was once one of the most popular spaces in the city — a favorite place for ice skating and family gatherings — became a dreary and often crime-ridden space.
Now, as the city, county and state reimagine the future of WIS 175, there is a real chance to right that wrong. This is not just a roadway removal exercise. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine 175 and revitalize Washington Park, recently named a County Historic Landmark.
Freeway creates disconnect between neighborhood, Washington Park
The depressed freeway, with grade-separated interchanges, creates a monstrous disconnect between neighborhoods with a lack of adequate pedestrian, bike and bus access. What was once a viable and thriving neighborhood has fallen victim to a depressing lack of public and private investment, with an exodus of jobs and accessible housing.
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Removing the current WIS 175 and creating an at-grade boulevard, as Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has suggested, can bring people together, create community and spur investment. A boulevard can prioritize returning park space to the people. It can expand the city and county’s ability to develop community amenities as well as housing compatible with the Washington Heights neighborhood. It can accommodate vehicles, transit, bicycles and pedestrians safely.
Other states are pursuing boulevards to advance equity and community health — and Wisconsin can too. It would be tragic to undertake a costly capital improvement that fails to ensure that residents in the western neighborhoods of Milwaukee enjoy the same restorative and healthy green park spaces as their wealthier neighbors to the east.
Neighbors deserve access to restorative park spaces
Officials have outlined the goal of strengthening neighborhoods. But right now, too many options take more parkland from the people. And a number of the proposals take additional parkland, thereby degrading public access and use on the north end of the park. Experts on Olmsted design and landscape architecture should be invited to offer input as the city rethinks the spur. Unless other options are explored, the same communities that have borne the brunt of racism, pollution and inequitable investment will be victimized once again.
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By pursuing a thoughtful at-grade solution, the city, county and state can have a win-win situation — regaining more green space, creating opportunities for homeownership, connecting residents to nature and to each other and protecting and reinvigorating Milwaukee’s extraordinary Olmsted park.
Anne Neal Petri is president and CEO of the Olmsted Network, a national champion for Olmsted parks, places and principles. Phil Schultz and Wyman Winston are Milwaukee area board members of the organization. Based in Washington, DC, the Olmsted Network includes hundreds of parks and friends groups, including Central Park Conservancy, Bok Tower Gardens, Belle Isle, Biltmore, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Louisville’s Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Atlanta’s Linear Parks. Learn more at www.olmsted.org.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NYC Central Park created Milwaukee’s Washington Park. We can revive it
