Upgrading Milwaukee's Parks & Playgrounds
The City of Milwaukee has 96 Play Areas, allowing residents ample opportunity for recreation, outdoor activities or just relaxing in neighborhood green spaces.
One of these – the Lewis Play Field in Bay View – has just undergone a major renovation as part of a team effort that brought together the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Schools, and the Friends of Lewis Play Field, headed up by Angie Tornes.
Some of the improvements include replacing old equipment with new play structure, repairing asphalt areas, installing new benches for families, and adding 'green' features like planted trees, a rain garden and an improved catch basin.
The Lewis Play Field now provides all children, regardless of physical abilities, better accessibility, safety and a greater variety of play experiences.
Teaching Kids the Importance of Math and Science
Last week I visited Riley Elementary School on the Southside to participate in a Science in the School event with more than 90 4th-graders. The program, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is designed to engage kids in math and science. The children had fun participating in a spirited design and racing competition, and the event allowed each child to unlock their imagination. Events like these can spark a child's interest in these critical subjects, and I strongly support them.
Recognizing a Milwaukee Icon
Milwaukee is proud to be home to America's Black Holocaust Museum, founded by Dr. James Cameron in 1988.
Dr. Cameron was inspired to create the museum to educate the public of the injustices suffered by people of African American heritage, and to encourage people to rethink their assumptions about race and racism. He himself could draw upon his own experiences as a target of racism and violence, having barely escaped lynching as a teenager in Indiana.
I was proud to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Cameron, who passed away last year, by renaming the stretch of North Avenue from King Drive to 7th Street as Dr. James Cameron Drive. The honorary street signs will provide a permanent reminder of the importance of peace, justice and equality.
Milwaukee Earns National Recognition for the Arts
According to the readers of American Style magazine, Milwaukee is a Top 25 Arts Destination for 2007. The publication recognizes that Milwaukee understands the value of arts in our community, and salutes both our City's efforts to promote cultural institutions, and our dedication to a vibrant arts scene.
Making Downtown More User Friendly
Who has eight quarters on them? How about 20 dimes, or 40 nickels? That's what you need to pay for two hours of parking in downtown Milwaukee.
Now, what if you could pay for parking at any meter – with coins, your debit card or a credit card? And what if you could get a receipt with the expiration time of the parking meter to remind you?
That's exactly what the City of Milwaukee is introducing with LUKE, the next generation of parking meters that will replace the single-space meters.
Requested by the business community and the parking public to make paying for parking easier, the City is investing $1.3 million for the first phase of a three phase project to replace the single-spaced meters in the downtown area.
The LUKE meter is easy to use and has an aesthetically pleasing design enhancing the streetscape of downtown Milwaukee. More importantly, this is an important investment by the City to make your downtown experience more convenient.
Mayor, City of Milwaukee
Sincerely,