Leveraging Park Improvements Through Public Engagement Milwaukee, WI Jonatan Zuniga, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Stephanie Mercado, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers

Our Neighborhoods The Southside of Milwaukee Silver City, Burnham Park, Layton Park and Pulaski Park 53215 Zip Code: Population of 60,953 63% Hispanic or Latinx 66% under the age of 18 Kinnickinnic River Watershed: Most densely populated watershed in Milwaukee Residential Home to more than 1.5 million people Concrete impervious Talk about organizations and neighborhoods Overall Southside/53215 Zip Code

Burnham Park Owned by the City of Milwaukee and managed by Milwaukee Public Schools Quality of Life Plan identifies Burnham Park as a catalytic project 2013 - Burnham Park Task Force (BPTF) is created to prioritize improvements and implement recommendations 2015 - BPTF, LBWN and partners install public art and new garbage cans

Pulaski Park Kinnickinnic (KK) River Flood Management Projet Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Construction begins 2018 Feedback, outreach, and engagement. 2013 KK River Neighbors in Action were formed Leveraging KK River Flood Management Project investment Partnerships Community voice 13-16th St. Green Space

Pulaski Park 13th-16th St. Green Space

Lessons Learned Community ownership Organized group of engaged neighbors Relationship building Communication Keep the momentum going Leveraging investments Lessons learned/Challenges Community Ownership (talk about the plans) KK River Neighbors in Action BPTF Bureaucracy of government Communication with residents (changes to original plans) (relationship building!) Keep the momentum going Leveraging funds “How park improvements can be used to impact resident leadership, community safety, environmental education, and attracting additional investment” Catalytic Projects

Contact Information Jonatan Zuniga Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Community Outreach Manager jonatan@lbwn.org www.LBWN.org Stephanie Mercado Sixteen Street Community Health Centers Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator smercado@sschc.org www.SSCHC.org