Our Parkway Is A Neighborhood Value

 

In May of this year Residents Change for Neighborhood Association met with  Milwaukee County Engagement Manager Tony Giron  at the request of RFCNA to discuss the Lincoln Creek Parkway Project.  As a neighborhood, the attendee's of the meeting  expressed how this neighborhood parkway plays a crucial part in the physical and social structure of a community. It connects individuals with one another and with essential community facilities such as schools, shopping, and hospitals, more importantly it conveniently connects the residents to their most important assets, which are our families and homes.

The Lincoln Creek Parkway plays a vital role in our daily lives and is an integral part of our neighborhood's character. It is not merely a street but a valued space that promotes connectivity, enhances walkability, and promotes a sense of community. This closure will force residents, including children and elderly individuals, to take longer, inconvenient detours. This would not only lead to increased traffic congestion on other streets, but also pose potential serious safety hazards. Closing the Lincoln Creek Parkway would also hinder emergency response times. Quick and efficient access from emergency vehicles, including fire engines and ambulances are crucial to the safety and well-being of our residents. This parkway was also used as a valuable detour for the city bus line during the construction of surrounding streets.

 Instead of the closure, we encourage the city to explore an alternative solution that takes into account the needs of area residents while preserving the essential functions this street offers our community.

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Save The Lincoln Creek Parkway Goals

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• Build community support for opposing the conversion project of the Lincoln Creek Parkway.

• Retain safe and convenient access to neighborhood assests.

• Receive separate budget information for both conversion projects. 

• Get information of possible tax increases.

• Have community input on project design.

• Develop an alternate solution of this matter.

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Active Street Conversion Locations

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• Lincoln Creek Parkway from N 23rd St to N 27th St (.3 miles)

• Little Menomonee River Parkway from W. Mill Rd. to W. Appleton Ave. (.8 miles)

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Why the Lincoln Creek Parkway Was Chosen For Trail Conversion

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According to Tony Giron, the Milwaukee County Community Engagement Representative, the Lincoln Creek Parkway was identified because it did not connect people driving to the residences, which is totally not true as was stated earlier. This parkway has always been a valuable part of this community.

It was also stated that speeding and reckless driving was an issue in this particular Parkway, there has never been a speed limit posting for the parkway,  so it will be hard to determine if a vehicle is 2 - 5 miles over the speed limit. If speed is an issue, it should be recognized that car accidents have also been at a very low percentage on the Lincoln Creek Parkway.

It was also stated that the Oak Leaf Trail is routed on this particular parkway, but it is a fact that the Oak Leaf Trail is at a minimum, 9 blocks away from this particular project, which is at a minimum 3 times distance of the proposed conversion.

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Timeline

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Planning and Intake: January 2023 - April 2023 
Community Engagement: May 2023 - August 2023
Design: August 2023 - November 2023 
Procurement: January 2024 - February 2024 
Construction: January 2024 - September 2024 
Closeout: September 2024 - December 2024

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RFCNA Outreach and Neighborhood Notification

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During the month of July, members of the Residents for Change Neighborhood Association went door-to-door in our community to inform residents and gather feedback regarding the Milwaukee Active Streets, road closures, and suggested trail conversions of the Lincoln Creek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout this campaign, we successfully initiated a petition and collected 300 signatures opposing the parkway closure. Each resident shared a similar negative sentiment regarding this project. It was discovered that many area residents were unaware of the proposed conversion, as they believed the road closure was merely for basic maintenance on the parkway. These residents strongly believed that the Lincoln Creek Parkway is a valuable asset to our neighborhood and couldn't comprehend why the project's funds couldn't be allocated to improving the streets in our area instead and monitoring the traffic surrounding this area. Furthermore, the installation of barricades on June 9th caused significant inconvenience and difficulty for the residents, making it challenging to move around in their own neighborhood. The residents and religious groups of this area alike, strongly feel that this clean and useful asset to this community should not be compromised for the construction of a four-block bike trail, it will be a considerable waste of space, and taxpayer dollars to this community. 

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