State Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez
Press Release

Supervisor Ortiz-Velez Urges County to Apply for State Funds to Repair Mitchell Park Domes

 

By - Sep 30th, 2021 10:17 am

MILWAUKEE – Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez is calling on Milwaukee County to apply for funding from Governor Tony Evers’s Neighborhood Investment Fund grant program to address critical capital projects at the Mitchell Park Domes. The governor announced the Neighborhood Investment Fund on August 24, specifically noting that local governments can apply for funding for “new and improved facilities.”

“The Neighborhood Investment Fund grant program could have a dramatic impact on the backlog of local projects and help launch innovative new programs for underserved communities,” said Supervisor Ortiz-Velez. “For Milwaukee County, it is imperative that we consider all available funding options for restoring and improving the Mitchell Park Domes, including this grant program.”

The County Board formally established that it is Milwaukee County’s policy to repair and preserve the Domes in 2016. Based on this policy position the County Board created the Domes Task Force, which recommended a restoration plan in 2019. The County Board has not formally adopted the task force’s restoration plan.

Because of Milwaukee County’s revenue crisis, finding viable long-term funding sources for the Domes is urgently needed. The Neighborhood Investment Fund grant would be a step towards completing the urgent repairs needed at the Domes.

Securing funding for the Mitchell Park Domes could help the County make progress on its goal of achieving racial equity and becoming the healthiest county in the state. The Domes are a unique cultural amenity that contributes positively to the mental health and overall wellness of visitors as a place of respite and reflection.

Many visitors to the Domes are from the surrounding Clarke Square Neighborhood, which has a population that is 70% Latinx, a 42% poverty rate, and has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Mentioned in This Press Release

Neighborhoods:

Comments

  1. NieWiederKrieg says:

    “The Domes” are one of the crown jewels of the City of Milwaukee. It is one of many attractions that draw millions of visitors to Milwaukee from all over the State and all over the world.

    Three cheers for Supervisor Ortiz-Velez…

Leave a Reply

You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. Learn more.

Join now and cancel anytime.

If you are an existing member, sign-in to leave a comment.

Have questions? Need to report an error? Contact Us