Wednesday, September 18, 2024
This summer, Milwaukee Recreation continued its mission to enrich and strengthen the community by promoting healthy lifestyles, personal development, and fun through memorable recreational and educational experiences for everyone!
Milwaukee Recreation offers a variety of free and low-cost programs throughout the year, particularly in the summer, when the warm weather generates opportunities for increased outdoor activities and the out-of-school time creates a significant need for young people and families. Summer programs and activities included youth & adult enrichment classes; sports leagues, camps, and clinics for all ages; indoor and outdoor fitness and wellness opportunities; safe spaces for young people throughout the day; opportunities to learn essential life skills, whether it is in a classroom, a pool, or behind the wheel; partnerships with local organizations to provide superior services; and further investment in our community with renovation work at our playfields.
Partnerships
Partnered with the Green Bay Packers to send 32 Special Olympics athletes to compete in the Exceptional Abilities Flag Football Tournament at the Titletown District in Ashwaubenon.
Partnered with MSOE and the Rufus King HS girls varsity basketball team to host a coed youth sports basketball camp at the MSOE Kern Center. Fifty-five elementary and middle school students participated in this 3-week camp.
Launched pilot before- & after-school summer enrichment program A.S.P.I.R.E. (Adventurous Summer Programs Inspiring Real-Life Experiences). Partnered with three vendors (H2O Milwaukee Music, Signature Dance, and FashioNation) to provide four weeks of enrichment opportunities for seven Milwaukee Recreation summer child care camp programs, serving ages 3-12. This program is designed to bring additional external partners into the camp space to provide a well-rounded experience for youth in areas such as sewing, dance, music, and more. Milwaukee Recreation hosted 12 sessions at no cost to the participating camp programs.
Supported 40 Partnership for the Arts & Humanities grantees with free and significantly reduced-cost programming to students in grades K-12. Topics included Afro-Latino musical traditions, poetry and creative writing, environmental stewardship, classical music exploration, storytelling, theater, and more.
Provided 56 Milwaukee-area high school students with paid arts internships across 14 different local arts organizations. Interns represented 29 different high schools and 21 zip codes.
Partnered with Betty Brinn Children's Museum to visit each of our 16 summer playgrounds as part of the summer playgrounds roving activities program.
Partnered with 4 community organizations (Curative Care Network, Salvation Army Emergency Lodge, Journey House, and Hope House) to bring free Rec. 'N' Roll programming to youth and families with limited access to recreation. The Rec. 'N' Roll Mobile made at least 6 visits to each location.
Partnered with the Medical College of Wisconsin to continue Total Wellness classes at Hamilton and Marshall Community Centers and Men Moving Forward classes at Marshall Community Center. Participants enjoyed fitness classes, education sessions focused on healthy eating and cancer prevention, and healthy cooking demos.
Partnered with 24 groups within MPS and the Milwaukee community to provide swim and water safety lessons to over 500 participants.
Partnered with MKE Urban Stables to extend the opportunity to experience equine-assisted activities to over 75 Club Rec campers.
Staffed 16 playground sites to provide free meals to Milwaukee youth in partnership with the Milwaukee Center for Independence. Over 25,000 meals were served from June 20 - Aug. 16 across all playground locations.
Hosted 18U Summer Stars Basketball at Madison High School. A total of 10 teams (82 youth) participated, including teams representing 4 community based organizations.
Worked with Employ Milwaukee to provide staffing services for 37 individuals to serve as Camp Counselors for its Youth Early Intervention Summer Concept Program (Camp RISE) at North Division High School.
Operated 42 Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLCs) and Safe Places in partnership with 8 community-based organizations, serving 3,540 youth. Summer 21st CCLCs and Safe Places provided a wide range of engaging academic and recreation programming, field trips, and more, with most locations operating on weekdays from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. from June 17 - Aug. 2 (several sites offered extended programming through Aug. 16).
Hired 5 part-time Summer Academic Enrichment Specialists (MPS certified teachers) to provide more than 460 combined hours of on-site academic coaching and instructional support to frontline staff at all 42 21st CCLC and Safe Place locations to help boost the quality of academic enrichment and engagement.
Scheduled 231 field trips to 74 different destinations for participants in 21st CCLCs and Safe Places. Unique field trips presented young people with fun and engaging experiences such as Bastille Days, Hunger Task Force Farm, Shalom Wildlife Museum, Brewers games, WhirlyBall, Urban Ecology, and more.
Coordinated 21 CLC EXCEL Summer Camp sessions on culinary arts, dance, fashion, music production, and swimming lessons/water safety to youth from eighteen (18) 21st CCLC/Safe Place summer sites. Each EXCEL camp typically ran for one week, three hours per day, four days per week, from June 24 - July 28.
Welcomed 885 students for a total of 3,798 visits to Twilight Centers. Students enjoyed open gym activities, game rooms, and creative outlets like photography and fruit art classes.
Lifetime Recreation
Sent 65 Special Olympics Team Milwaukee athletes to the state flag football, bocce, and softball tournaments.
Offered 30 free, guided walks through the MilWALKee Walking Club and over 50 free Community Bike Rides. More than 300 individuals stepped & biked into a healthy lifestyle to see the sites of Milwaukee this summer.
Engaged 15 youth with the Minority Mountain Bikers, MKE Urban Trail Connections, and BIPOC riders groups from across the country for a day of riding on the John Muir trails in the Southern Kettle Moraine. Youth learned more about the sport of mountain biking and the importance of attracting more diversity to the sport.
Planned 6 Traveling Adventures field trips for more than 400 summer playground participants. Destinations included the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee Brewers game, the Brown Deer Pond, Dave & Busters, and Action Territory.
Hosted the 2nd annual MPS Employee Wellness Sand Volleyball Tournament at Beulah Brinton, featuring 7 teams of district employees.
Offered free yoga classes for all ages and abilities at the Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center, Cupertino Park, Tiefenthaler Park, and Beulah Brinton. Over 200 participants stretched their limits for this healthy activity.
Hosted Bubble Bash foam parties for over 200 youth at 6 summer playgrounds. Each visit featured 1 hour of continuous foam fun, music, and endless smiles and laughter.
Hosted the Men's Basketball Late Night League for 171 participants ages 17-29 at Obama SCTE and Bradley Tech HS. This free program provides participants with competitive opportunities and access to community resources.
Partnered with Spectrum Industries and the Milwaukee Bucks to identify and build a middle school Esports lab at Cass Street School.
Reintroduced field trips for active older adults. Destinations included Harrington Beach, The Hop Street Car, Oak Ridge Farm and Hawthorn Glen.
Hosted the annual MPS Employee Golf Outing at Oakwood Golf Course. Ninety-six golfers participated with the support of 12 sponsors.
Operations
Bid renovation plans for Lincoln Playfield with an anticipated construction start by the end of the 2024.
Continued design work for the new Milwaukee Recreation Community Center and adjacent Browning Playfield with anticipated construction starting in 2025.
Finalized all ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) projects for completion this fall.
Partnered with MPS Facilities & Maintenance Services to begin outreach events for Cass Playfield renovation projects, which will involve coordination with the school's green schoolyard project that is anticipated to be under construction in 2026.
Completed construction documents for the Emigh Playfield renovation with construction to begin in fall of 2024.
Completed design development for the Metcalfe Playfield renovation. The proposed renovation will include new playground equipment, a splash pad, fieldhouse upgrades, new basketball courts, walking loop, picnic areas, lighting, and landscaping. Construction is planned for 2025.
Began renovations at Wick Playfield and Modrzejewski Playfield with completion targeted for fall 2024 and summer 2025 respectively.
Celebrated grand reopenings of Stark and Carmen Playfields.
Outreach
Sent 271 MPS students to overnight camps across Wisconsin through the MPS Overnight Camp Program, funded by ESSER lll. This free experience covered the cost of each camper's stay at camp, transportation to and from camp, and any gear required to attend camp.
Provided 3 different summer volleyball camps for 52 students in grades 4-8, focusing on fundamentals for beginners and growth for intermediate players including developing volleyball skills, participation, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
Provided another summer of Gold Glove T-Ball Instructional League at Enderis Playfield, Juneau Playfield, and Sijan Playfield for ages 4-6 to teach youth the rules of baseball, fundamentals, sportsmanship, and teamwork. This camps had a combined 110 participants, double the amount from last summer.
Provided summer soccer camp for ages 7-14 introducing 50 participants to basic fundamentals for beginner and intermediate players.