Cupertino Park - Lincoln Memorial Drive update

Project Description

The park road segment within Cupertino Park is considered to be an extension of nearby Lincoln Memorial Drive. The road has fallen into disrepair and was last rated a 46/100 in 2024, with conditions continuing to deteriorate. The presence of 2 parallel roads connecting S Shore Drive to E Russell Ave creates its own safety challenges and encourages cut-through traffic in a park that should be used as a place for respite. A decision has been made to close this section of road and convert it to turf with construction planned for 2026. Options for amenities that could be installed in the area where the road is located include expanding the community gardens, adding picnic tables, and planting additional trees.

Barricades were installed before the winter season to remove this section of road from Park's list of snow removal locations. Coordination with the City of Milwaukee regarding modifications to E Russell Ave/S Lincoln Memorial Drive to accomplish full removal of the road connection and continuity of the sidewalk will be managed within the project, as will associated design elements. City of Milwaukee Engineering was consulted on the traffic flow changes that would result from the street closure.

At a public input meeting on October 28th, residents primarily in the next-door Bay View Terrace expressed concern over a loss of 22 parking spaces and increased traffic on South Shore Drive. They requested that the barricades be removed until the start of construction, which the Parks Department agreed to do.

Since the pavement is located on parkland rather than a public right-of-way, Parks is coordinating closely with our partners at the City of Milwaukee to continue discussions around parking resources and traffic calming options.

Milwaukee County Parks has undertaken a campaign throughout the entire park system to reduce the amount of pavement that we maintain and to better balance the needs of walkers, bikers, and other modes of transportation with the access that cars have historically enjoyed. Whether through the installation of temporary barriers or the permanent removal of this section of road, Parks is taking action to improve the safety of non-motorized park users in every area of Milwaukee County. Maintaining closure of this section of road to cars supports the County’s Safe Streets for All campaign, the City of Milwaukee’s Vision Zero campaign, and Parks own campaign to improve trail access and increase safety.

The reasons below explain why the Parks Department needs to remove the road.

Why Roads Are Expensive to Maintain

• No dedicated transportation funding
  Roads and parkways maintained by Milwaukee County Parks don’t receive dedicated transportation funding like County highways do. Instead, Parks must compete for limited capital dollars against other pressing park needs — like playgrounds, facilities, and trees.
• High ongoing maintenance costs
  Maintaining 99 miles of paved park roads and parkways consumes roughly half of the Parks budget. Asphalt requires frequent patching, plowing, resurfacing, and crack sealing — all of which are labor-intensive and costly.
• Road reconstruction costs far exceed available funds
  Building or repaving a road is five times more expensive than restoring the same area to a natural surface such as grass or plantings. Even small repair projects can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to material, equipment, and contractor costs.
• Aging infrastructure is unsustainable
  Many park roads were built decades ago and have outlived their design lifespan. The cost to bring them up to modern standards — including drainage, curbs, and subgrade repairs — exceeds what the Parks Department can sustainably fund.
• Reduced pavement lowers long-term costs
  Removing or narrowing pavement means fewer surfaces to plow, patch, and repave in the future. Turf areas require minimal maintenance by comparison and can be managed as part of routine groundskeeping rather than capital repair.
• Illegal dumping and maintenance labor
  Parkways often attract illegal dumping, which costs Parks an average of $1,778 and 115 staff hours per cleanup. Converting low-traffic roadways to grass helps reduce dumping opportunities and frees up staff time for other priorities

Fiscal and Environmental Benefits of Turf Conversion

• Less pavement = lower maintenance
  Turf surfaces don’t crack, crumble, or require resurfacing — drastically reducing recurring costs for materials, equipment, and contracted services.
• Stormwater and heat reduction
  Grass and planted areas absorb rainwater, reducing stormwater runoff and drainage costs. They also help cool the surrounding environment by eliminating heat-retaining asphalt.
• Supports sustainability and stewardship goals
  Converting underused pavement to turf aligns with Milwaukee County’s Strategic Plan for environmental sustainability and fiscal responsibility — turning high-maintenance pavement into self-sustaining green space.
• Better use of taxpayer dollars
  Investing once to remove deteriorating pavement creates long-term savings, allowing Parks to redirect funds toward recreation, conservation, and community improvements.

At the north end of the existing road, Parks is planning to make safety improvements to the trailhead of the Oak Leaf Trail, which can only be facilitated by a roadway that is closed to cars.

Oak Leaf Trail Modernization | Projects | Milwaukee County Parks

The Parks Department is working to more clearly communicate this process to the residents of the neighborhood, and this includes hosting public meetings. Please register to this page for more updates as the project progresses.