Port Washington’s Common Council on Nov. 4 declared Oakland Green (425 W. Oakland Avenue), a 1.85‑acre parcel, surplus and approved an agreement to transfer title to Ozaukee County to support a Mineral Springs Creek restoration project.

City staff, Parks Director John Crane and Ozaukee County representatives told the council that the transfer is tied to grant funding and to long‑standing county‑city work on Mineral Springs Creek. County staff said the corridor has received more than $1.3 million in improvements since 2012 and that stream restoration reduced flood erosion in a 2025 storm compared with a 2018 500‑year event. The restoration work aims to protect city infrastructure — including sanitary sewer lines that were exposed in earlier storms — and to improve riparian habitat and fish passage (first county remarks: 01:51:58).

Grant terms and active recreation

County staff and city officials said grant conditions call for native habitat restoration — in this case prairie and riparian plantings — and the county noted that transfer of Oakland Green was a condition tied to some of the funds. City staff said the city negotiated maintenance protections, including a blanket easement over the property to preserve existing utilities and to retain an approximately 80‑foot strip along the west edge as maintained turf for neighborhood recreation.

Neighbors’ concerns and the city’s response

Nearby residents told the council they were frustrated by the perceived lack of transparency and by the timing of county work on the property (spraying vegetation) that preceded extensive neighborhood notification. Several speakers stressed that the park had been used for decades by local families and that the public had little opportunity to comment before herbicide application and county work. Staff and county representatives said they had coordinated with city staff and noted that county and city staff later worked to find a compromise that preserves a maintained area for local users while allowing restoration along the creek corridor.

Next steps

Council approved the surplus declaration and the donation agreement, and authorized staff to record the deed transfer and the county’s easement provisions. Staff said the county will continue restoration under grant requirements and that the city will retain easement rights for utilities and the sidewalk along Division Street.

Ending

City and county officials described the transfer as a partnership to protect infrastructure, improve habitat and comply with grant terms. Neighbors asked for continued communication and for city staff to monitor the restored area and maintain the agreed open strip for recreation.