You may recall, as part of the 2011 Lake Bluff settlement, the city was given lakefront acreage to maintain for public use going forward — the former Northwest Barrel Superfund site.
I must admit, I had kind of forgotten about that part of the deal, in part because I didn’t realize the full potential for that land. I do now … and I’m excited about what might happen on that site.
What’s changed? A new $59,000 federal matching grant — $29,500 from the city and $29,500 from the federal government — the city just received through the state to study that property’s future, perhaps as a public park.
The funding was officially announced this week as part of $1.4 million in total grants through the Department of Administration “to protect or restore our valuable water and coastal resources.”
The property (pictured above) is 18.5 acres with approximately 400 square feet of Lake Michigan frontage, located just south of the Wastewater Treatment Facility and north of a former marina. The views are magnificent, and the walk down to the shoreline is remarkably easy, as many of the steep cliffs were removed during the cleanup process. The beach also has potential.
The grant will include site planning, as well as planning for protection and restoration of coastal wetlands and ravine stabilization and protection. Here is the resolution the South Milwaukee City Council passed on this in May.
I’m glad we’re undertaking the study because of the huge potential of this land. How often does 18.5 acres of lakefront property come open for a project like this? In a county where most lakefront land is spoken for with development or existing park land, not often.
That’s why it’s important we don’t squander this opportunity, this chance to figure out a way forward for a property that can be a real community asset for current and prospective residents and visitors.
I encourage to swing by the property and check it out. You can access it off Marina Road, heading into the Lake Bluff Apartments, east off 5th Avenue. Let me know what you think.
South Milwaukee Blog 