Summerfest today offered updates on two construction projects that will change the face of the festival in 2018.
A new North Entry Gate and Community Plaza – which was designed by Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) – is underway, and when it is finished, there will be twice as many ticket windows.
At the moment, the ticket building has been enclosed and the exterior will soon get some red metal wall panels.
A canopy is in place above the turnstiles and it will include new technology and security components, including digital displays, lighting and a public address system, according to Milwaukee World Festival officials. There are more turnstiles at the gate now and there will also be a new first aid station.
Finally, the Community Plaza area – which will be a public space open to all – has been rough graded and utilities are in place. The next step will be the installation of the final components, including accessible benches and seating areas, bike parking, interactive, music-themed play structures, eco-friendly landscaping and interactive lighting effects.
Meanwhile, just a bit south, upgrades to the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage, another EUA design, are also underway.
The foundation and walls for the new stage – which has been moved to the east side of the seating area – are up and the steel beams for the stage roof are being installed now.
A new stage sign – which will include cell phone charging stations at its base – has been installed along the main walkway. More charging stations will be included in benches along the lakefront.
The are will be able to accommodate more patrons and the stage and production areas will be enlarged to accommodate larger acts.
There will be a 25-foot LED video screen – the largest at the Henry Maier Festival Park – an open-air backstage loft for meet and greet events and artist interviews, along with VIP hospitality access for patrons and winners of contests.
MWF officials also announced today that Briggs & Stratton has donated and installed a 60kW commercial standby generator, equipped with an industrial grade engine for reliable back-up power to power the north end of the Summerfest grounds, from the North Gate to the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.
"These projects are truly an example of how our sponsors continue to contribute to this world-class facility and enhance our fan’s festival experience," said Don Smiley, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. president and CEO, in a statement.
"In light of the donation of the new generator by Briggs & Stratton and the North Gate and Community Plaza project, made possible by American Family Insurance, and U.S. Cellular’s brand new Connection Stage, we would like to sincerely thank our sponsors for continuing to reinvest in Henry Maier Festival Park. We are excited to debut these amenities in the coming months."
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.
