Tag Archives: Grobschmidt Pool

May 29, 2015 · 11:47 pm

Big Investment In Grobschmidt Pool

Update: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more on the Oak Leaf Trail improvements.

The investments continue in South Milwaukee’s county park assets.

The latest: several significant upgrades to Grobschmidt Pool, improvements that give this longtime local attraction — on and off the Milwaukee County budget chopping block over the years — a bright future.

Among them:

Installation of a new pool liner membrane;
Conversion of the pool water supply channel system to one using floor inlets; and
The addition of new stainless steel hand railings for the pool steps.

The pool, like all county pools, opens June 20. Details here.

I want to again thank Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, the Parks Department and County Supervisor Patricia Jursik for their support of this and all the investments coming to South Milwaukee’s parks this year and beyond.

All in, more than a million dollars is headed to parks in South Milwaukee in 2015.

And those investments are coming to life right now. Among them:

Beach volleyball league play opens this week at Grant Park.
Work is now underway on Ferch’s Beachside. Its owners are planning a mid-June opening.
The Sprecher Brewing Traveling Beer Garden comes to picnic areas 5-6 from June 17-28.
And the Oak Leaf Trail repaving project is set for this summer.

We also continue to make progress on a much-needed Oak Creek Watershed restoration plan.

More than 20% of South Milwaukee’s land mass is parkland, and what’s good for our parks is good for our city. That’s why it’s hard not to be excited about this.

8 Comments

Filed under Grant Park, Parks, South Milwaukee

Tagged as Grobschmidt Pool, South Milwaukee

September 26, 2013 · 3:26 pm

Grobschmidt Pool On Budget Chopping Block — Park Patrols, Too

Update: Or is Grobschmidt Pool not on the chopping block? The updated Journal Sentinel story says it might not be. I’ll try and get to the bottom of this. From that story … “Abele said the indoor pools were aging, expensive to maintain and not heavily patronized. Interim Parks Director John Dargle said earlier the budget would include closing outdoor pools at Grobschmidt and Jackson parks. But those closings were not listed in Abele’s budget.”

It’s official — South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool is on the budget chopping block. Can it be saved?

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more details on County Executive Chris Abele’s proposed budget. From the story …

County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic said the tax levy freeze needed to be evaluated in light of the county’s huge service needs, as well as substantial deferred maintenance on county buildings.

“There needs to be a balance” between the goals of providing necessary services and freezing taxes, she said. The board added $4 million to the tax levy over what Abele proposed for this year’s budget.

She called Abele’s plan to close both of the county’s indoor pools and replace them with a skate board park and splash pad “basically offensive.” Abele wants to shut down pools at Noyes and Pulaski parks, as well as outdoor pools at Grobschmidt and Jackson parks.

Abele said the indoor pools were aging, expensive to maintain and not heavily patronized. Dimitrijevic said the more than 50,000 residents using the indoor pools indicated they are well used and said she’d gotten numerous phone calls and emails of concern since Abele’s pool plan was first discussed last week.

Just as concerning for South Milwaukee and our police department — the proposal to put park patrols in the hands of local departments. In a city where more than 20 percent of our land is parks, that’s a big deal, especially when I have my doubts there will be proper funding for this mandate.

Abele also released more details of his public safety budget, including a $1.2 million program to have local police departments patrol county parks. The City of Milwaukee would get the lion’s share — about $1 million for patrolling the lakefront and other parks in the city. Off-duty cops would handle the patrols and get paid overtime, if the city agrees to the plan.

The same idea was rejected last year by the County Board and opposed by Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., who requested 100 new deputies for 2014.

I’ll keep you posted.

1 Comment

Filed under 2014 Budget, Milwaukee County

Tagged as Chris Abele, Grant Park, Grobschmidt Pool, Milwaukee County, South Milwaukee

September 17, 2013 · 9:27 pm

Report: South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool Targeted For Closure

South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool is one of four Milwaukee County pools the new parks director is eyeing for closure in 2014, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Here is the story. From it …

Indoor pools at Noyes and Pulaski parks and outdoor pools at Jackson and Grobschmidt parks all have relatively high costs and low attendance, Dargle said.

A proposed pool closing plan would include reinvestment of savings for other amenities at those parks, Dargle said in an interview and comments before the County Board’s parks committee Tuesday.

He said costs greatly exceeded revenue at Noyes and Pulaski pools each year, in response to a question by Supervisor Khalif Rainey on whether Abele would propose their closure.

“We are losing some money at those” pools, Dargle said. “They are old pools.”

Noyes Pool is at 8235 W. Good Hope Road and Pulaski is at 2701 S. 16th St.

The two pools need a combined $4.2 million in repairs, the report said. That includes nearly $1 million in electrical work and more than $700,000 for heating and cooling system upgrades.

In the interview, Dargle added Jackson and Grobschmidt to the potential closure list. The Jackson Park pool is at 3500 W. Forest Home Ave. Grobschmidt pool is at 2600 16th Ave. in South Milwaukee.

An Abele spokesman said full details of his 2014 budget won’t be released until next week. Any potential changes with pools Abele may propose would be better described as offering supervisors “options to open amenities that get more use by the public” and cost less, said spokesman Brendan Conway.

This is really disappointing news and thankfully far from the final word. As this debate continues, please make your voice heard … and let’s work to save this community amenity.

As County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimtrijevic put it: “I don’t understand this philosophy of eliminating public amenities.”

Instead, let’s invest in them to make them viable. What a concept.

1 Comment

Filed under Community, Milwaukee County, Parks, South Milwaukee

Tagged as Grobschmidt Pool, Milwaukee County Board, South Milwaukee

June 6, 2013 · 8:34 am

Is Summer Here Already? South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool Opens June 15

It’s a bit chilly these days, but it will be warm soon enough — and time to dive into Grobschmidt Pool behind South Milwaukee City Hall.

The pool opens Saturday, June 15, weather permitting. Hours are 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Learn more here.

1 Comment

Filed under Milwaukee County, Parks

Tagged as Grobschmidt Pool

July 16, 2012 · 11:37 am

Beat The Heat: Grobschmidt Pool Hours Extended

Update: Here is more information on what could be 19 heat-related deaths in the state since July 1, including one one in South Milwaukee.

As temperatures soar to near 100 degrees and a heat advisory kicks in, South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool will be open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

Learn more here.

This is in addition to the pool’s normal hours: 12:30 t0 4:30 p.m. daily and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

See all pool hours here … and don’t forget to check on the elderly and others who are susceptible to the heat. Consequences can be tragic.

Beating The Heat In South Milwaukee

With the heat advisory issued for Thursday – and the heat index expected to soar into the low 100s – please be careful as you head out. Stay cool.

Here are a few local notes on the heat …

The South Milwaukee Downtown Market will occur as scheduled, from 3 to 7 p.m., on Thursday. But we have cancelled the outdoor music.
The South Milwaukee Public Library and Grobschmidt Senior Center are cooling sites for South Milwaukee and are open to the general public in a health emergency. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The senior center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Those hours may be extended if necessary.
The Grobschmidt Pool is open from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 :30 p.m. Thursday.

Remember that the elderly, infants and young children, persons with chronic health problems and people on medication for mental health conditions are most susceptible to heat-related health effects. Please pay special attention to people who may be isolated or unable to recognize the effects of extreme heat.

Here are additional tips from the Milwaukee County Heat Task Force, of which South Milwaukee Health Administrator Jacqueline Ove is a member.

Stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous outdoor activities and seek cooling in buildings with AC. Basements are also generally cooler than upper floor of buildings.
Showers, baths and cool rags can also provide relief.
Drink plenty of water and avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine (2-4 glasses per hour).
Wear loose-fitting light colored clothing.
Check frequently on elderly relatives and neighbors or those individuals homebound or isolated.
Do not leave young children or pets in cars for even a few minutes.

I’ll keep you posted when I get more updates.

Extended Hours For South Milwaukee’s Grobschmidt Pool

With highs in the 90s expected, Milwaukee County is extending the hours of a number of pools this week.

That includes Grobschmidt Pool in South Milwaukee, which will now be open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday this week. The pool is already open on Tuesdays and Thursdays during that time, as well as 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Learn more in this Journal Sentinel story on the Milwaukee County Parks website.