Lincoln Creek Parkway Trail Conversion

This project involves converting an under-utilized and difficult-to-maintain parkway segment to a walking and biking mixed-use trail to provide enhanced recreational amenities, reduce maintenance costs, reduce reckless driving and speeding, and encourage active lifestyles and healthy activities. Specifically, the Parks Department proposes to convert the Lincoln Creek Parkway from N 23rd St to N 27th St (.3 miles) to a dedicated walking and biking trail with no motor vehicle through access. This segment of the parkway was identified because it is considered a redundant road with nearby streets like Villard and Fairmount providing alternatives, the roadway is in poor condition, reckless driving is an issue for park users and staff safety, and the Oak Leaf Trail is routed on this parkway. Similar projects have been converted in Greenfield Park and along Underwood Parkway and have added value to the Park's system and neighbors in the process.

With this project, maintenance for these segments is estimated to be reduced by 50%. The expected lifecycle of trails is 25 years. It is estimated that the maintenance reduction will save $12,000 of 52 hours worked per year in asphalt patching and road plowing. These savings could be realized financially or reallocated to other needs in the parks system.

This project aligns with Milwaukee County's goal to become the healthiest county in Wisconsin by achieving racial equity by bridging the gap when it comes to health disparities.

Milwaukee County Parks has funding for design and construction.

Active Streets Update

Parks staff is testing out this trail conversion project by installing barricades on each end of the project site. As of June 9th, the barricades have been installed at 23rd St. and 27th St. on Lincoln Creek Parkway. Motor vehicles cannot use this section of the parkway, but people walking and biking are encouraged to use it. Active Streets - Lincoln Creek & Little Menomonee Parkways | Milwaukee County, WI (mkecountyparks.org)

Summary of Community Engagement

Milwaukee County Parks alongside GRAEF facilitated a public open house on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 from 5:30pm-7:00pm at Lincoln Park Blatz Pavilion (1301 W Hampton Avenue, Glendale, WI). The public meeting was promoted via the County website, in-person door-to-door invites, social media, and yard signage that was posted in the neighborhood. The intent of the public meeting was to provide a summary of project goals, existing conditions, past engagement efforts, and overlapping City/County/State projects. The open house also included exhibit boards that included conceptual trail layouts, trail feature image preferences, and street crossing image preferences. Approximately 16 people attended the public meeting (this number is based on those participants who signed in; the actual number of attendees was slightly higher).

Attendees were able to peruse various display boards with project information, maps, data, precedent imagery, chat with County and consultant team staff, and write down ideas and comments on post-it notes. Attendees were also able to fill out blank comment cards with feedback (only 5 comment cards were received).

Timeline

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

Outreach Update

Between June 6th and June 8th, Parks Engagement staff knocked on 148 doors in the Lincoln Creek Project area to inform neighbors about the Active Streets road closure and proposed trail conversion as well as gauge their general feeling towards the project. See the map below to see which homes were visited.

Of the 148 homes visited, staff had conversations with 66 (44.5%) people. Of those 66 people, 46 people expressed positive sentiment towards the project, 17 were neutral or didn't care, and 3 were opposed to the project.

In early November, Parks Engagement staff knocked on doors throughout the Lincoln Creek Project area to invite residents to the November 14th public open house, as well as to ask for additional feedback related to this project.