Formerly known as O’Donnell Park, Museum Center Park has transformed what had been a misused space into one that connects the community and also generates revenue for stakeholders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It showcases was it can mean to fully realize the potential of a space for stakeholders and entire communities.
O’Donnell Park Becomes Museum Center Park
Overlooking the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), the O’Donnell Park garage and the 9-acre O’Donnell Park above the garage we not being properly managed by Milwaukee County. Facing millions in deferred maintenance and future costs, in 2017 the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) took ownership of the space to completely transform it.
As part of this transformation, existing pieces like The Calling by Mark di Suvero were newly highlighted. What had been empty greenspace was transformed into plaza areas and walking paths, providing the community with an entirely new way to access and engage with the space. This transformation has further enabled the installation of temporary pieces of art that are a major part of the Sculpture Milwaukee tour.
The mutli-level parking garage that the space contained has helped resolve a parking issue that MAM had been facing while enabling a totally new source of revenue. The economic and cultural impact that this transformation has enabled showcases what it can mean to fully realize the potential of a space.
A Newly Engaged Community
Museum Center Park has been able to redefine the identity of a space that always had tremendous potential but had previously been underutilized. This transformation is connected to the location of MAM and its iconic Calatrava but is about so much more.
Some relatively simple adjustments, as well as an effort to create literal and figurative space for the community to engage with one another and the area itself, has resulted in the creation of a landmark that has become popular enough to be featured in maps and guides to the city. It has become a hub of activity for what is a newly engaged community, enabling benefits that can be further expanded in a way that makes sense for everyone.
