Design Services RFQ Issued for Red Arrow Park

MILWAUKEE (August 28, 2024) – Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have taken a step forward in the efforts to improve Downtown’s Red Arrow Park. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been issued, seeking qualified professional firms that specialize in urban space design, specifically firms with knowledge on landscape architecture, public park design, civil engineering, and complementary expertise in ice rinks and four-season activation to lead the re-design process for future improvements to Red Arrow Park.

The accessibility and connectivity of Red Arrow Park, one of Downtown’s centrally located and most significant parks, was a focal point of the recently adopted Connec+ing MKE: Downtown Plan 2040. Conceptual renderings and recommendations for enhancing the park and its surrounding streets were first unveiled as part of the comprehensive plan update.

The plan states that it is important to “improve Red Arrow Park as an active public space with year-round programming, improved park edges with more seating, places for protests and performances, and a large sculpture on the upper terrace.” It also recommends redesigning the adjacent section of Water Street to “make Red Arrow Park more accessible, better connect pedestrians to a variety of destinations, including the Riverwalk, City Hall Square, the North End neighborhood, Wisconsin Avenue, and support the Water Street Entertainment District.”

The project team has identified a series of goal and parameters to help shape the RFQ for the redesign services.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the project team to work with qualified design professionals to develop alternatives that further enhance Red Arrow Park as one of the most important places in Downtown’s public realm,” said Matt Dorner, economic development director for Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21. “We look forward to the dynamic solutions that will be generated through a robust public engagement process.”

The Red Arrow Park improvement project is slated to kick off in early 2025 and will include extensive public engagement and stakeholder outreach. RFQ submissions must be sent electronically to RedArrowParkRFQ@milwaukeedowntown.com by 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. To read the full Request for Qualifications, visit www.milwaukeedowntown.com/do-business/red-arrow-park-redesign-rfq.

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.