On Wednesday, the City of Milwaukee Public Works Committee recommended approving the acceptance of a grant for the development of Century City Triangle Neighborhood Park.
The $235,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Local Assistance Program would help develop the Century City Triangle Neighborhood Park at 2900 W. Hopkins St.
The Century City Triangle Neighborhood Park has already secured other grants, including $350,000 from the Burke Foundation and $165,000 from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. An application for a $105,000 grant pending for the project, which is estimated to cost $1.1. million.
The remainder of the cost would be funded by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee.
The development plan includes green infrastructure, nature-based play options, a multi-purpose court and field space and a covered gathering/event space, and other amenities.
Construction is expected to begin next spring.
The park is part of the MKE Plays initiative, launched by Ald. Michael J. Murphy in 2015.
"I want to thank the funders who have contributed to this project, and all of the MKE Plays rehabilitations over the last five years," said Murphy in a statement Thursday morning.
"Having well-maintained parks and play spaces helps support neighborhoods across the city, and this new and improved space will be a valuable community and neighborhood asset for all to enjoy."
The recommendation now moves to the full Common Council at its next meeting, Tuesday, July 7 at 9 a.m.
"I want to thank all the residents who have already provided their input on what they want to see in this park," added Ald. Khalif Rainey, in whose district the park lies.
"It takes a neighborhood effort to make a project like this a success, and to this point the engagement among neighbors has been outstanding. The rehabilitated park will be a source of pride, fun and relaxation for everyone to enjoy."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
