Park Plan Review and Discussion.

The City of West Allis is reviewing its 2016-2020 Comprehensive Park & Outdoor Recreation Plan, a guiding document for park development and grant eligibility. The plan, developed in 2015, aims to enhance park quality, safety, accessibility (with a target for ADA compliance by 2020), and funding mechanisms. It noted a 15.9% population decline from 1970-2015 but projected stability through 2035, and identified a shortfall in mini parks despite overall parkland exceeding national standards by 2.71 acres.

Public feedback highlighted demand for dog parks, beer gardens, and new playgrounds, with public restrooms (66.1%) and safe routes (45.8%) needing the most improvement. The plan proposes $2,702,775 in capital improvements over five years. Key projects include a $517,500 splashpad and $264,500 play structure replacement at Reservoir Park, a $115,000 new play structure and $46,000 ice skating rink at Kopperud Park, and significant play structure replacements at Veterans Memorial Park ($264,500) and Liberty Heights Park ($172,500).

A recent May 28, 2025, playground safety inspection identified numerous hazards across Rogers Playground, Roosevelt Park, Liberty Heights Park, Burnham Pointe Park, and Veterans Memorial Park. Common issues included missing ADA accessible routes, loose or missing hardware, sharp edges, damaged surfacing, improperly repaired equipment, and non-compliant slide exits, underscoring the critical need for the plan's safety and maintenance objectives.