District 7 Candidate Stacy Smiter Announces McGovern Park Community Center Restoration Plan

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Supervisor District 7 candidate Stacy Smiter today announced a comprehensive proposal to restore community services for residents impacted by the closure of the McGovern Park Senior Center while preserving McGovern Park as public parkland.

The original senior center has been closed following severe flooding, mold concerns, and structural issues that forced Milwaukee County officials to halt operations. County leaders are currently considering a $100,000 planning study to explore long-term options for the future of the facility.

Smiter believes residents deserve more than another study.

“Residents in District 7 already know what they need,” Smiter said. “They need a safe, modern community center that serves seniors, families, and neighborhood organizations. Spending $100,000 to study the problem again does not rebuild the center. It simply delays real action.”

Smiter’s proposal – titled the McGovern Park Community Center Restoration Plan – focuses on rebuilding services for the neighborhood while respecting community concerns about protecting parkland.

Key Principles of the Plan

Smiter’s plan is built on three core commitments:

• Preserve McGovern Park as parkland: Residents have made it clear they do not want housing developments placed within the park. Smiter supports maintaining the park as a recreational and community space.
• Deliver a modern replacement community center: Instead of attempting costly repairs to the flood-damaged building, the county should pursue a long-term replacement facility designed for modern programming and long-term resilience.
• Create a funding strategy instead of endless studies: The county should begin identifying federal, county, and community funding sources that can support construction of a new community facility.

Summary of the Proposed Solution

The McGovern Park Community Center Restoration Plan includes:

• Evaluating whether a new flood-resilient facility can be built on a suitable park-adjacent location without reducing green space.
• Identifying nearby county-owned or partner-owned land on the Northwest Side for a replacement community center if rebuilding on site is not feasible.
• Leveraging federal community development funding programs such as the Community Development Block Grant, which allows funding for senior centers and neighborhood facilities.
• Coordinating county capital funding and philanthropic partnerships to support construction.

A modern community center could provide:

• Senior wellness and recreation programs
• Meal services and social programming
• Workforce and digital literacy training
• Neighborhood meeting and civic engagement space
• Health screenings and community wellness programs

Smiter estimates that a new facility could realistically be developed through a combination of county capital investment and eligible federal community facility funding.

Putting Residents First

“McGovern Park is one of the most important community spaces on the Northwest Side,” Smiter said. “Residents should not have to fight to protect their park while also losing their community center. We can protect the park and still deliver a real solution for seniors and families.”

Smiter emphasized that community input must guide the next steps.

“If elected, I will work directly with residents, senior groups, neighborhood organizations, and county leadership to ensure the final plan reflects what the community actually wants – not decisions made without them.”

A Commitment to Action

Smiter said the conversation should now move from planning to implementation.

“The people of District 7 deserve a funded plan, a clear timeline, and a modern facility that serves generations of residents. My focus is simple: protect the park, rebuild the community center, and deliver results.”

For more information about Stacy Smiter’s campaign for Milwaukee County Supervisor District 7, visit smiterfordistrict7.com.

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.