Preserve Public Parkland at the County Grounds

Judging from a recent Common Council committee meeting, the butterfly effect extends to Wauwatosa. Butterflies have a powerful hold on the popular conscience! Alderman McBride stated the obvious: No one opposes the butterflies! Overwhelming support for habitat protection was made glaring by a standing room only crowd.

Unfortunately, Mr. McBride next expressed concern for more development, which can provide needed jobs, using his daughter as an example of a job-seeker. What he did not say was just as obvious: No one opposes job creation. The issue is not whether one more development can solve Wauwatosa’s economic woes. The concern is for the uniqueness of this special location.

Wauwatosa doesn’t lack locations for economic development. One example, the long vacant Burleigh triangle comes immediately to mind. Redevelop that eyesore and we can create new jobs. But Mr. McBride hit another nail on the head when he admitted that the County Grounds are “the most valuable land in the county” that developers are “salivating” over. “Who would prefer to build an office in a decaying brownfield” someone else said, “over one that looks over beautiful parkland?”

Politicians with an unpopular agenda often invoke the "I have to listen to many constituencies" objection. I heard this when the County Board sold the land in 2009. It was repeated to the overflow crowd of habitat supporters at this meeting. Those other unnamed constituencies were at the table years ago. The Kubala-Washatko plan, a 66-acre compromise, was endorsed by the Wauwatosa Common Council. That argument is now being invoked to further compromise the original compromise. The result will be to increase the amount of development by sacrificing irreplaceable parkland.

The City of Wauwatosa is not bound by the decisions of the County Board (who passed this ball to Wauwatosa by selling 89 acres to the UWM Foundation—a development entity, not a department of the university.) The Common Council has sole authority to zone this land. The right thing to do will also benefit and distinguish Wauwatosa most: preserve the most valuable land in the county, not for a few office workers but for the public to enjoy.

Economic development is important. Preserving public parkland for future generations is also important. One goal should not be sacrificed to the other. Through carefully restrictive zoning, working with UWM, Wauwatosa can be a leader in sustainable development with minimal impact on the natural environment. With a large, intact park it can also establish itself as a destination for people to enjoy views of nature unparalleled in Milwaukee County.

There will be an opportunity for the public to speak to this issue at the Plan Commission meeting Monday, March 8, 7 pm.