Days before the proposed sale of O'Donnell Park by Milwaukee County to Northwestern Mutual is considered by the complete Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, an ad hoc group of concerned Milwaukee County citizens have written a statement urging the supervisors to oppose the park's sale. 

The statement – cosigned by 15 Milwaukee County citizens – urges the board of supervisors to reject the sale of the park in order to preserve the public's stake in the parkland. 

"If this proposed deal closes, Milwaukee County citizens and visitors will lose all rights to this land legacy, not just the structures on it," the statement argues. "The public will have no inherent say in decisions regarding the park's continued operations or its future designed use."

"The short-sighted sale of this multi-purpose park will deprive taxpayers of more than just the current amenities and views O'Donnell provides and the substantial revenue it produces," the statement later continues. "It will also rob the public of any future possibilities that visionary civic leaders and philanthropists may have for re-imagining this priceless public land."

Among those signing the letter are former school board president Tony Busalacchi; former regional parks manager for Milwaukee County Parks James Goulee; Philip Blank, president of the Public Enterprise Committee; environmentalist Cheryl Nenn; Henry Hamilton III, Esq., a member of Lakefront Development Advisory Commission and the Milwaukee County Parks Advisory Commission; and Linda Nelson Keane, AIA, professor of Architecture & Environmental Design, Art Institute of Chicago; and others.

The statement also notes the citizens' concerns about the selling of O'Donnell Park setting a precedent for selling more Milwaukee County parkland in the future. 

Many of the issues presented in the statement were also discussed and debated by supervisors and citizens during the Oct. 27 Milwaukee County Economic Development Committee's meeting, where the committee voted, 4-2, to recommend Northwestern Mutual's proposal – complete with amendments to keep current deed restrictions on the parkland – to the full board.

Proponents of the sale noted the park's current underutilized state, as well as NML's apparent intent to invest in, maintain and serve as stewards for the parkland.

The full board will review and consider NML's proposal on Thursday.