Ever since a fallen chunk of concrete caused the temporary closure of the Mitchell Park Domes back in 2016, the question of how to save the beleaguered Milwaukee landmarks has been discussed, studied, and discussed again. When the issue came up last summer, things looked dire. Demolition was on the table.
But at a meeting of the Milwaukee County Board’s Committee on Parks and Culture on Tuesday, advocacy group Friends of the Domes, along with representatives from Milwaukee County Parks and preservation and revitalization group The Alexander Company, presented an optimistic case to repair and subtly “reimagine” the Domes.
Phase 1 of the plan, as presented by Friends of the Domes Executive Director Christa Beall Diefenbach, would total $107 million. Thirty million dollars, roughly 28% of the total, would come from Milwaukee County, spread out over six years. Thirty-five million dollars would come from private philanthropy. The remaining percentage would come from a combination of as-yet-unsecured federal and state historic tax credits, and other federal and state grants and funding.
The plan would place the Friends of the Domes in charge of Domes operations, and would remove the facility from the County’s ledger. The County would not be on the hook for any further expenses.