The Century Parks of Bay View, Sheridan and Grant Must Be Protected

Supervisor Patricia Jursik today called on the mayors and common councils located within the South Shore cities of St. Francis, Cudahy and South Milwaukee to immediately act on clarification of the zoning for our venerable lake shore parks of Bay View Park in St. Francis, Sheridan Park in Cudahy and Grant Park in South Milwaukee, all which have been parks for over 100 years and have been set aside as legacy parks within our county park system. Additionally Greene Park in St. Francis also needs to be protected.

In 2007, I left a successful law practice to run for County Board because then-County Executive Scott Walker and an unnamed but hand-picked candidate chosen by the Executive advocated for the sale of a lakeshore park in the 8th District (Warnimont Park). Anyone who has followed my term in office knows that I have been first and foremost an advocate of our public parks. During my term, I have successfully advocated for much needed improvements along these parks, including replacement of very old sections of the Oak Leaf Trail. As I looked to retirement, I felt this part of my advocacy had been successful.

I was shocked, shocked to see these venerable parks were not properly zoned and left unprotected from future developers eyeing virgin land along vistas of our Great Lake for some lucrative development. There are old cities and largely land-locked. A scenario in which developers capture sufficient aldermen dedicated to their development vision in the guise of saving money is not a wild conspiracy theory, as I harken back to 2007 when 8th District citizens saw such a scheme attempted which would have sold park land.

As perhaps a final act in office, I shall work with our elected mayors and aldermen to once again protect these legacy parks. I appreciate the leadership of the Chairman of the County Board in his efforts on this issue, but I do not intend to sit back and wait for various levels of governing, including the ICC (Intergovernmental Cooperation Council) to kick this around for many months. Our citizens in District 8 will demand the protection of these parks, and I will happily make the leadership for this issue as a final act in office. All elected leaders of St. Francis, Cudahy and South Milwaukee are called on to bring this zoning issue before the body and ensure the designation of Parks Zoning. I have already begun the necessary contacts to accomplish this act, and call upon our citizens to advocate for their parks and contact their alderpersons for protection of our parks.

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.

Recent Press Releases by Patricia Jursik

O’Donnell Property Agreement with the Milwaukee Art Museum is a WIN/WIN.

Mar 8th, 2016 by Patricia Jursik

In late 2015, not satisfied with the plan negotiated by the County Executive, the County Board chose to reimagine the O’Donnell plaza and garage proposal.

The Century Parks of Bay View, Sheridan and Grant Must Be Protected

Jan 28th, 2016 by Patricia Jursik

Sup. Jursik Calls for Zoning Protection for South Shore Parks

Sup. Jursik: Softball, Baseball Diamonds in South Shore Parks Suffer Under County Executive Abele

Nov 5th, 2015 by Patricia Jursik

She Says South Shore Diamonds Could Have Been Repaired With $300,000 Surplus in Parks Revenue