Milwaukee's Swing Park, long sitting dormant under the Holton Street Bridge, is poised to swing back into action with a city unveiled plan that's set to infuse new life into the previously violence-stricken greenspace. In a presentation this week, Milwaukee officials showcased renderings of what could soon be known as The Landing at Tannery Row, a refreshed park equipped not just with a playground to delight the kiddos but also a thoughtfully-designed terrace complete with picnic tables, bike racks, and a river theater, as reported by CBS 58. This comes after a period of closure due not only to bridge reconstruction work but also an upsetting series of violent events which raised concerns among local residents and leaders alike.
Let's not forget the park's storied past, initially springing to life in 2006 courtesy of architecture firm La Dallman and spruced up in 2012 with guerrilla urbanism swings that caught the city's eye—and eventual ownership—in 2014; meanwhile Swing Park was simultaneously grappling with incidents that spotlighted safety shortfalls, a closed Swing Park doesn't just signify a missed spot for leisure but also symbolized a broader disconnection in the city's urban tapestry. The Department of Public Works is earnestly seeking public opinion through the EngageMKE platform until September 20, making clear their intention to make the park a safe and welcoming link among the neighborhoods, according to Urban Milwaukee.
A local advocate for revitalizing the park, Madeleine Balkonis, shared her vision of transforming the space into a hub for community programming and art, an initiative stemming from efforts to steer clear of the crime activities that had tainted the spot. Over the past years, the park has witnessed acts of violence including a non-fatal shooting in August 2023 and more deadly incidents dating back to 2018. "We've had some significant challenges, some including violent incidences, some including cars driving recklessly, some other really bad activities," Ald. Jonathan Brostoff explained the need for transformation to WISN, expressing a united desire to pivot away from its checkered reputation towards something "much more positive and much more family-friendly."
From what's been divulged so far, it looks like The Landing at Tannery Row could be the very refurbishment Milwaukee needs to bridge the gap, transforming a once sidelined space under a city bridge into a magnet for positivity and playful occupation. With public engagement and transparent consultations in play, and a final proposal on the horizon the city could indeed swing into a new era for urban space rejuvenation; it's a work-in-progress worth keeping an eye on, especially for those who've yearned for a slice of tranquil interlude in the pulsing heart of Milwaukee's east side precincts.
