Milwaukee County Parks Completes Washington Park Lagoon Bridge Project

MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee County Parks is proud to announce the completion of the Washington Park Lagoon Bridge Replacement Project. The new bridges are now open, restoring key walking paths and reconnecting areas of the park that had been inaccessible for the past 16 months during construction.

“Washington Park serves as a gathering place for residents, families, and children. Community-driven projects like this ensures the park will remain accessible, welcoming, and vibrant for everyone in our community,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “Investing in our parks means investing in public health, neighborhood connection, economic growth, and the quality of life for our residents. These values define Milwaukee County’s vision to become the healthiest community in Wisconsin, and I’m proud we are keeping our promise to building a bright future for our parks.”

Washington Park was designed more than 125 years ago by the Frederick Law Olmsted firm, the same landscape architects behind New York’s Central Park. The park’s curving paths, scenic lagoon, and open meadows reflect the firm’s signature design approach, creating natural, restorative spaces for all to enjoy.

“This project honors Washington Park’s historic design while modernizing its infrastructure to meet today’s accessibility and safety standards,” said Guy Smith, Executive Director of Milwaukee County Parks. “We’re proud to reopen these bridges for everyone to enjoy and to continue investing in our community’s park system.”

Construction began in spring 2024 following years of planning, public input, and engineering review. The project replaced two deteriorating lagoon bridges with new concrete structures that echo the character of the 1938 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era stone bridges, while incorporating modern safety and accessibility improvements. Additional upgrades include new path lighting, replacement of deteriorated asphalt walkways, and landscape restoration with native plant species. Milwaukee County Parks is working with the Urban Ecology Center to restore larger areas near the bridges, clearing overgrown trees and invasive vegetation to open views and improve ecological health.

“These bridges literally represent connection within Washington Park between the residents, visitors and business partners in the area,” said Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Sky Capriolo. “They were sorely missed while under construction and I know people exploring the beautiful park will appreciate having them back in use. Big thanks to the teams involved, who made sure they were built soundly so we can all enjoy them for many years ahead!”

Milwaukee County Parks thanks the community for its patience and support throughout the project and looks forward to welcoming everyone back to explore Washington Park’s renewed beauty.

About Milwaukee County Parks
Milwaukee County Parks is dedicated to enriching the lives of the community by providing safe, enjoyable, and affordable recreational opportunities while preserving the natural and cultural resources of the parks. Spanning over 15,000 acres, the Milwaukee County Park System includes more than 150 parks and parkways, over 100 miles of trails, numerous community centers, golf courses, botanical gardens, beaches, and hundreds of playgrounds, athletic fields, and picnic areas. Committed to sustainability, health, and equity, Milwaukee County Parks continues to strive towards a vision where everyone, regardless of background, can enjoy the benefits of green spaces and recreational facilities.

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.