"A bold conversation:" Fresh discussions to begin on the future of downtown lakefront and O'Donnell Park

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, along with Supervisors Gerry Broderick and Patricia Jursik have unveiled a new vision for Milwaukee’s lakefront that builds on the success of the historic War Memorial/Milwaukee Art Museum agreement through discussions of an innovative public-to-public partnership.

A resolution initiating discussions between Milwaukee County and the Milwaukee Art Museum on O’Donnell Park was introduced Tuesday, March 24th and will go before the Parks, Energy and Environment Committee on Thursday at 8:15 a.m., prior to the full County Board meeting. The full Board may take up the resolution at Thursday’s meeting.

“This will be a bold conversation on O’Donnell Park and the future of Milwaukee’s downtown lakefront,” Dimitrijevic said. “These talks will move us forward beyond the impasse on O’Donnell Park. Because the Milwaukee Art Museum is our community partner, we look forward to creating a public-to-public partnership. While the talks are exploratory, we want to engage in robust conversations about what O’Donnell Park will look like in the future.”

Jursik said the discussions could bring new ideas for the future of O’Donnell Park.

"As the Chair of our County Board’s Economic Development Committee and as a Trustee on the Milwaukee Art Museum Board of Trustees, I hope to be a good liaison for both boards in this public-to-public solution,” Jursik said. “The Director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Dan Keegan, is a visionary and could help to provide a world-class solution to activating the public plaza."

Broderick said he was confident that the conversation between the County and the Milwaukee Art Museum would end up benefiting both parties as well as the region.

“The Milwaukee Art Museum is a regional asset with a world-class reputation,” Broderick said. “These discussions promise to enhance opportunities for the Museum and the region. They can bring about a bold and creative vision. I look forward to the outcome of these talks as we look for the best ways to benefit the entire community.”