County Executive Chris Abele
Press Release

Amani Neighborhood and Milwaukee County to Celebrate Grand Re-Opening of Moody Park

A $2 million investment, the design of the new Moody Park recognizes the intergenerational diversity of the surrounding neighborhood and seeks to weave together different assets to foster community cohesion.

By - Aug 19th, 2015 11:19 am

MILWAUKEE – County Executive Chris Abele will join Amani neighborhood residents and community partners on Thursday, August 20th to celebrate the grand re-opening of Calvin Moody Park, located at 2200 W. Burleigh St. This renewal of an important community asset will be celebrated with a day of family activities from 2:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. County Executive Abele will offer remarks and participate in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:40 p.m, with a concert performance by AhVantSoul immediately following the ceremony.

“I am humbled by the role Milwaukee County has been able to play in enhancing community ownership and togetherness in the Amani neighborhood,” County Executive Abele said. “The new Moody Park is a physical representation of the hard work that residents have put in to successfully build a greater sense of community in Amani.”

The County Executive initially proposed this revitalization in his 2013 budget as part of Milwaukee County’s Urban Parks Initiative, an ongoing community investment that replaces old, abandoned, and costly facilities with multiple features that are more responsive to the needs of the community. Many more residents will use and enjoy the new Moody Park, which replaces the former Moody Pool, a long shuttered and underutilized facility that was a drain on resources and an eyesore along Burleigh St.

A 2 million dollar investment, the design of the new Moody Park recognizes the intergenerational diversity of the surrounding neighborhood and seeks to weave together different assets to foster community cohesion. In addition to a new community building, features of the revitalized park include areas for active and passive recreation that cater to all age groups.

Active spaces are composed of a colorful splashpad with spray elements, three basketball courts, a Helios multi-gym exercise structure, open space for field-sport practice, walking paths, a multi-use open-air shelter, and shaded seating in the splashpad area. Additionally, a portion of the park’s green space is being set aside for a community garden, which will allow neighbors to grow healthy food.

“The new Moody Park is the latest example of the approach we take to building quality of life in the community,” Abele said. “By working with the community and engaging in disciplined decisionmaking, we were able to produce a park that honors the legacy of Calvin Moody.”

Throughout Thursday’s grand re-opening festivities, families will enjoy carnival games, art activities, and learning about health and safety from Spriggy and Dr. Cleo, mascots from Children’s Hospital and Molina Health Services respectively. A chess tournament will also be taking place in the park. Free hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn will be available while supplies last. At 6:00 p.m., AhVantSoul, led by Jon Pierre Gee and Kat Webb, will take the stage to perform a mix of classic soul, jazz-funk, R&B, and Latin music.

Milwaukee County’s redevelopment of Moody Park was made possible through the input and support of Amani United, Auer Avenue School, the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program, COA Goldin Center, the Dominican Center for Women, Friends of Moody Park, and other community leaders. Milwaukee County will continue to partner with the community to ensure that the park always provides the value that residents deserve.

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:

Recent Press Releases by County Executive Chris Abele

Milwaukee County Passes Ordinance to Advance Racial Equity and Improve Health Outcomes

Milwaukee County leaders commit to eliminating institutional racism by addressing County polices, practices and power structures through a racial equity lens

Milwaukee County Officials Order All Municipal Polling Places Closed

County Officials Implement Gov's Order to Protect Public Health

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