Airport Gardens Neighborhood Celebrates Opening of New Playground at Mitchell Airport Park

MILWAUKEE, WI – On Thursday, May 8th, Supervisor Jack Eckblad joined County Executive David Crowley, Alderman Scott Spiker, and former Supervisor Jason Haas to officially open the brand-new playground at Mitchell Airport Park, marking a major milestone for the Airport Gardens neighborhood.

The new playground replaces one of the oldest play structures in the Milwaukee County Parks System. Installed in 1995, the aging equipment has long been in need of replacement. The Airport Gardens Neighborhood Association spearheaded efforts to advocate for park improvements. However, the project faced a series of complex challenges that delayed progress for several years.

Former Supervisor Jason Haas secured the funding for the project in 2020, setting the foundation for today’s success. The project then encountered delays due to the park’s proximity to a Runway End Safety Area at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. In 2022, after many months of careful coordination, county officials reached an agreement with the FAA that allowed the playground to remain in place and allowed them to move forward and design for a new play structure, complete with aviation-themed features honoring the site’s unique location.

Supervisor Eckblad, who took office last April, made completing the playground a top priority. Within his first month, he worked closely with county officials to finalize the playground design. Construction began in October 2024, and as of this week, the playground is officially open to the public.

Reflecting on the significance of the project, Supervisor Eckblad emphasized the importance of community advocacy and collaboration:

“This park is a testament to the endurance and advocacy of neighbors. Parks like Mitchell Airport Park are what bring neighbors together through easy times and hard. Neighbors told me how important it was to get this playground built, and on my first day in office, County Executive Crowley and his team heard me say that this was a priority. Folks here voted for me to get this done, and thanks to the partnership and work of the Parks Department, the foundation laid by former Supervisor Jason Haas, County Executive Crowley’s team, and especially the tireless advocacy of Airport Gardens neighbors, it is my privilege to open the brand new Airport Park playground.”

Former Supervisor Jason Haas shared his reflections on seeing the long-awaited project come to life:

“My great thanks to the Milwaukee County Parks Department, County Executive David Crowley, and Supervisor Jack Eckblad for seeing this through to completion. This represents the completion of a process I started in October 2019, when I introduced the budget amendment that allocated funding for this project. While there was some unexpected turbulence along the way here, Supervisor Eckblad helped bring this project in for a smooth landing. We now have a great new playground for our families to enjoy for many years to come.”

The Mitchell Airport Park playground now stands as a symbol of community persistence, intergovernmental collaboration, and continued investment in Milwaukee’s public spaces.

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Milwaukee County Supervisory District 4 is the beating heart of Greater Milwaukee. Its borders encompass Mitchell Airport and the Port of Milwaukee. Its County Parks like Humboldt and South Shore anchor historic neighborhoods such as Bay View, Saveland, Tippecanoe, and The Garden District.

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.