Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the improvement of Red Arrow Park on Water Street.
The RFQ, according to the announcement, "seeks qualified professional firms that specialize in urban space design, specifically firms with knowledge on landscape architecture, public park design, civil engineering, and complementary expertise in ice rinks and four-season activation to lead the re-design process for future improvements to Red Arrow Park."
The upgrading of accessibility and connectivity of the centrally located park, directly across from the Marcus Performing Arts Center, was mooted as part of the recently adopted Connec+ing MKE: Downtown Plan 2040, which included conceptual renderings and recommendations for park enhancements.
The plan noted the importance of improving the park, "as an active public space with year-round programming, improved park edges with more seating, places for protests and performances, and a large sculpture on the upper terrace.”
The plan also suggested redesigning Water Street between Kilbourn and State to, "make Red Arrow Park more accessible, better connect pedestrians to a variety of destinations, including the Riverwalk, City Hall Square, the North End neighborhood, Wisconsin Avenue, and support the Water Street Entertainment District.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for the project team to work with qualified design professionals to develop alternatives that further enhance Red Arrow Park as one of the most important places in Downtown’s public realm,” said Matt Dorner, economic development director for Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21.
“We look forward to the dynamic solutions that will be generated through a robust public engagement process.”
The goal is to break ground in early 2025 on the the Red Arrow Park improvement project, which organizers say will include "extensive public engagement and stakeholder outreach."
RFQ submissions are due by 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. They must be sent via email to RedArrowParkRFQ@milwaukeedowntown.com.
For details on the Request for Qualifications, visit milwaukeedowntown.com/do-business/red-arrow-park-redesign-rfq.
Read the full Connec+ing MKE: Downtown Plan 2040 here.
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.
