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Parks safety and ranger team reports 2024 activity: parking citations, community events and expanded pool patrols
Summary
The parks safety, security and training manager reported year‑end 2024 data showing expanded patrol hours, a roughly 11% increase in fee‑compliance revenue, 22,199 dog‑park permits sold and nearly $302,000 in additional revenue collected after parks took over parking‑citation processing.
The parks committee received a year‑end report from the department’s safety, security and training manager summarizing Milwaukee County Park Rangers’ 2024 activity, enforcement and community engagement.
Manager Top Sarski said rangers recorded approximately 83,000 miles in department vehicles and expanded pool‑deck patrols to 836.5 hours through the aquatics season. The unit received 559 calls for service during 2024, 58.7% of which occurred in summer months; patrols and responses were concentrated between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with a high volume between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sarski said parking‑related complaints made up a large share of calls (77 calls in a cited chart), and that the unit had taken over parking‑citation processing on Jan. 1, 2024. By handling citations directly the parks team said it improved collection options for patrons and captured additional revenue; the report showed more than $302,000 in revenue tied to the new process.
Other highlights included sales of 22,199 dog‑park permits, 1,966 disc‑golf permits sold, and numerous community events and public‑safety collaborations (including joint planning with the sheriff’s office and Office of Emergency Management). Sarski also noted Narcan training for full‑time rangers and work with natural‑resources staff to better manage preserved areas.
Sarski invited supervisors to ride along in summer months and said 2025 goals include offering conversational Spanish training for rangers, increasing fee compliance revenue, seeking grants for safety equipment and expanding recruitment of seasonal and full‑time staff.
Why it matters: the report highlights how rangers balance enforcement (parking and permit compliance), event coverage and public‑safety work across the county’s park system and how administrative changes (taking over citation processing) can affect revenue and service delivery.
Next steps: rangers will continue training and outreach efforts, pursue grant opportunities for equipment and schedule summer ride‑along opportunities for supervisors.
