Speakers representing Preserve Our Parks, neighborhood groups and the Milwaukee Domes Alliance urged the county on Oct. 27 to adopt long‑term funding strategies for Milwaukee County parks and to preserve neighborhood senior centers that have been closed because of storms and floods.

Preserve Our Parks board members pressed the board to create a time‑limited task force to draft enabling legislation for a parks district with a dedicated revenue stream such as levy authority or a share of regional taxes. “We can't continue to treat parks like a luxury,” said Patricia Jersic, president of Preserve Our Parks. Speakers argued that regular, short‑term budget cuts have led to deferred maintenance and rising repair costs.

McGovern Park senior‑center users and advocates described displacement after flood damage and asked for funding to repair and reopen the senior center. “We are all truly devastated by the closing of McGovern Park,” said Roxy Touchstone, a displaced senior, who asked to be part of the planning process and requested transparency about reopening steps.

Separately, Milwaukee Domes Alliance speakers thanked supervisors for the county’s commitment to the Domes Reimagined Project and for placing an initial $5 million in the proposed 2026 budget toward a larger $30 million plan. “This project does not just put the domes back the way they were, but creates a new sustaining future for the domes,” said Beverly Smiley, president of the Domes Alliance.

Ending: Park advocates asked supervisors to adopt a study and a near‑term plan to create sustainable revenue for parks and to prioritize repairs to community senior centers; Domes supporters urged continued county support for the Domes Reimagined capital project.