Ronald McDonald House plans to double its size

The Ronald McDonald House last week received approval from the Milwaukee County Board to purchase 3.5 acres of land that will allow for doubling the size of the facility that houses families of seriously ill or injured children.

"We plan to add 37 rooms in addition to renovating existing kitchens in the pending expansion," said Ann Petrie, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House, 8948 Watertown Plank Road. "We also plan to add new common rooms including a music room and a study room."

The goal is to break ground in early 2013 dependent upon weather and finalizing the construction plans, she said.

The land being purchased for 675,000 adjoins the four acres the house sits on, which is leased from the county.

The house has been operating at full capacity for more than four years and the last expansion came in 2003 when 13 long-term guest rooms were added. The growth and expansion of services offered by Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is fueling the demand for lodging at the house, Petrie said.

"Last year alone, we turned away over 800 families," she said. "The expansion will allow us to continue fulfilling our mission of being a home away from home and serve more families in the future."