Public invited to review preliminary Red Arrow Park redesign alternatives at City Hall Rotunda open house

Community review of early concepts

Milwaukee residents and downtown stakeholders are being asked to weigh in on preliminary redesign alternatives for Red Arrow Park during an open house-style public engagement session at City Hall’s Rotunda. The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The session is structured to collect comments on early design directions rather than present a final plan. Organizers have described the effort as a community-driven redesign of one of downtown’s most prominent public spaces.

What is being redesigned—and why

Red Arrow Park, a 1.2-acre Milwaukee County-owned park just north of City Hall, is bounded by North Water Street (west), East State Street (north), the MGIC campus (east) and East Kilbourn Avenue (south). The park opened in its current location in October 1970 and has evolved significantly over the decades, including the addition of a public ice-skating rink that opened in 1999.

In 2024, the City of Milwaukee designated funding through Tax Increment District (TID) No. 48—via an adopted Common Council resolution—to develop redesign concepts for improvements to the park. Project materials describe the redesign as part of a broader push to strengthen downtown’s public realm following the adoption of Connec+ing MKE: Downtown Plan 2040, which identified Red Arrow Park as a priority project.

Project partners and design team

The redesign process is being led by Milwaukee Downtown’s Business Improvement District No. 21 in partnership with the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. A consultant team was selected following a request-for-qualifications process issued in fall 2024. The team includes Milwaukee-based The Kubala Washatko Architects (TKWA) and Philadelphia-based OLIN, with public engagement led by P3 Development Group. Additional consultants named in project materials include Ring & DuChateau, B32 Engineering Group, KSingh, McEnroe Consulting Engineers and Concord Group.

Key site elements and memorials

Project documents identify existing park features that are expected to remain significant considerations in any redesign. These include the 32nd Infantry Division memorial (the Red Arrow Monument), placed in 1984, and a memorial bench honoring Dontre Hamilton, unveiled in 2022. Hamilton was shot and killed by a Milwaukee Police officer in the park on April 30, 2014.

The redesign process is expected to produce multiple feasible alternatives and refine them through additional public input before a preferred concept is identified for conceptual cost bidding.

Funding, scope and what comes next

The current funding is directed at design and community engagement rather than construction. Project documents set a total budget cap of $400,000 for design services, including engagement and reimbursable expenses. Organizers have stated that construction funding has not been identified.

The open house is intended to inform the next phase of concept refinement. Community members can review preliminary alternatives and provide feedback in person.

• Event: Red Arrow Park Redesign public engagement session
• Date: Thursday, March 5
• Time: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Location: City Hall Rotunda, Milwaukee