Bay View Neighborhood Association and Milwaukee Recreation have teamed up to create a so-called “wheel spot” to Beulah Brinton Playfield at 2555 S. Bay St. in Bay View.
Wheel spots are designed for skateboarders, BMX bikes, scooters and roller skates.
According to a BNVA press release, construction on the project, adjacent to the Beulah Brinton Center, will be begin, “once the project’s fundraising goals have been met.”
Although the release did not cite a total cost projection, it said that $75,000 remains to be raised.
“I am proud to have this project slated for our neighborhood,” said Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic. "The construction of the new wheel park will be a major victory for both the BVNA and the community. This initiative has been in the works for over 10 years.
“Neighbors are in the final stages of raising funds for the wheel park.”
Part of those efforts is an event on National Go Skateboarding Day, June 21. Details will be announced on BVNA’s Facebook page.
“We are thrilled to finally have a location for this much needed recreation activity in our neighborhood,” said Nichole Williams, wheel park advocate, and former BVNA president. “This is a great place for our young people to skate, meet new people, and have fun.”
The work will also include improvements at the adjacent basketball courts and landscaping.
“The Bay View Neighborhood Association is to be commended for the fundraising done to date and staying the course to bring this project to reality,” said MKE Recreation Director Lynn Greb.
“The plan to bring a wheel park to the Beulah Brinton Playfield was also the catalyst for Milwaukee Recreation to initiate upgrades to the basketball courts.”
For a history of the Beulah Brinton Center, check out this Urban Spelunking story.
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.
