Since construction in 1891, Humboldt Park has established itself as an exemplar of community in the Bay View neighborhood. The park is conveniently located on the corner of E. Oklahoma Ave. and S. Howell St. The urban cross section studied was the Milwaukee County Transit System Green Line. This line connects multiple neighborhoods in the Milwaukee area north and southward. Most of Milwaukee’s development and history can be traced along the neighborhoods of this line. Focusing on Humboldt Park, we noticed an affect the park had on people and community. The park is cherished and cared for by a community that, in return, receives so much from the park. Located in a residential area, the park is a safe haven for kids and families to enjoy. Local business flourish from the public. Humboldt Park bears a strong historical presence, with an even stronger sense of unity and association it creates and shares.
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The park shows a large sense of community. Not only because it is used all year around, but because everyone that goes there, enjoys going there. They choose to go to Humboldt Park over any other park. It is a park that draws in the surrounding community, but also attracts outsiders to come. There are activities that happen all year around, for all different age groups. The amenities like the band shell, fireworks, pumpkin carving, and beer garden all contribute to the success. Multiple generations have passed through this park.
One of the positive things about the park is the sense of togetherness it brings. Everyone picks up after themselves, everyone goes to the park for a good time, and even the surrounding schools use it. The park is a catalyst for surrounding activity and movement. The paths connect the streets on both sides giving way to reception. Although the park has this strong connection to the community, it could be stronger. The park could have stronger ties with the outside communities. The park has a lot of local events celebrating the immediate society, but what it lacks it’s a celebration of the general Milwaukee community. Not many events are held in the name of Milwaukee, just the Humboldt Park Area. Going forward, the park could become greater and even more a symbolic gem of Milwaukee |
Project 1
Humboldt Park is just steps away from the hustle and bustle
of everyday city life. As you walk deeper into the park, the city seems to disappear beyond the trees. What beautiful scenery. There are trees, hills, and ambling trails. Numerous paths weave throughout the park providing a splendid setting for walks, biking, and jogging while winding through nature. Accessible nature within an urban park setting is what makes Humboldt Park the center point of the Bay View neighborhood. Its winter now and the only life you see in the park are joggers, a few dog walkers, diverse breeds of wild birds, and some very friendly kids with sleds. As you move forward down one of many trails, you may walk past the ‘Lotus Pond’ which is graced by weeping willows and lily pads. There is a World War One memorial, located just west of the lily pond. This structure measures about 20 feet tall, 12 feet in diameter, and constructed of Wisconsin red granite. It was dedicated May 22, 1921 and inside is a bronze plaque with the names of 22 Bay View servicemen who died in the war between 1918 and 1919. Further into the landscape you will see numerous picnic areas, a wading pool for hot summer days, public restrooms, and a ‘Tot Lot’ play area for very young children. Notice the paved road. It stretches through the hilly landscape from East Oklahoma Avenue all the way to Montana Street. As you near the baseball diamond, Keltner Field, you will see a large lagoon complete with two islands. If you look really close you can see evidence of a bridge that once stretched to the larger island. The trails surround the perimeter. There is also another ‘Tot Lot’ play area and another bigger play area for older children called the ‘Helios Multigym’. It is located between the baseball diamond and the ‘Humboldt Pavilion’. The park pavilion, located just west of the lagoon, is designed in the style of a farmhouse. Next to the pavilion is a beer garden. The Humboldt Park Beer Garden serves St. Francis Brewery’s locally made beer and handcrafted Maple Root Beer. It’s closed now but you could imagine the social activity that takes place here in the summer. Next to the beer garden is a horseshoe pit, and more trails, some lead to the tennis courts while others lead to the north side of the park. Here on the north side of the park is where the children with sleds must be heading. It’s obvious that this is where the sledding hill is located. As the children sled down the hill you can see that in the summer time it’s a gradual ascending lawn, or grassy seating area, for events that take place in the ‘Band Shell’ that’s at the bottom of the hill. This would be a great place to catch a concert in the park on warm summer night. It’s located just west of the lagoon and in the style of a Swiss chalet. The original band shell that was erected in 1936. Unfortunately in 1975 the original band shell fell victim to arson and was destroyed by fire. As result, the current Swiss chalet bandshell was built and dedicated in 1977. As you leave the park you will feel refreshed. This park has it all; an outdoor theater, beautiful scenery, wildlife, park pavilion, war memorial, multiple nature trails, picnic areas, and lagoons that must bustle with activities and cultural events every summer. |
The property of Humboldt Park was first acquired in 1890. It
opened in the spring of 1891 to the public. The initial purchase contained 46 acres of woods and meadows. In the years 1892-1895, there were major improvements to the park. These improvements include an excavation of a two acre lake, construction of a boat house, development of a several hundred foot long creek which meandered through the park, and the creation of the lily pond. In 1900, the park was officially named Humboldt Park. In the years 1900-1910, more developments occurred throughout the park. This time the changes to the park included the park being illuminated with gas lamps, changing a number of trees and shrubs, new children’s play area, tennis courts built, lake enlarged, new pavilion, new boat house, and a new bridge. In 1921, the park constructed a World War I monument. In 1922, 27.5 acres were added to the park. In 1925, a new baseball field was developed. Along with many of the additions to Humboldt Park, the park also has year-round family activities. The park has a pavilion measuring 1650 square feet, which holds 120 people. It is available for rent year-round. The park is also home to one of Milwaukee’s beer gardens. A beer garden brings the traditional atmosphere and community of a German beer garden. The beer garden serves beer, food from Milwaukee Pizza Company, Babe’s Ice Cream and Milwaukee Pretzel Company. Located at the base of a hill, the band shell sits as one of the most popular spots in the park. It is known as the chalet or the band shell to local residents. In 1976, the band shell burned down, and a new chalet-style venue was built on the same site. It is now called “chill on the hill”, due to the fact that there is a series of concerts in the warmer months there. Humboldt Park currently has two playgrounds for children. One playground is for children five and under, the other playground is for older children. The large pond in the park is used all year long. In the winter, ice skating and hockey games take place. The land makes great hills for sledding and snow playing as well. In the summer, the pond can be used for fishing and boating. On the fourth of July, the park puts on a show of fireworks. On Halloween, the park lights over 100 jack-o-lanterns and places them throughout the park. On Easter, Humboldt Park places thousands of eggs around the park. |
Project 2
Accessible nature within an urban park setting is what makes
Humboldt Park the center point of the Bay View neighborhood. Even though it is winter now and the park is full of life with joggers, dog walkers, diverse breeds of wild birds, and some very friendly kids with sleds. As you move forward down one of many trails, you may walk past the ‘Lotus Pond’ which is graced by weeping willows and lily pads. There is a World War One memorial, located just west of the lily pond. This structure measures about 20 feet tall, 12 feet in diameter, and constructed of Wisconsin red granite. It was dedicated May 22, 1921 and inside is a bronze plaque with the names of 22 Bay View servicemen who died in the war between 1918 and 1919. Further into the landscape you will see numerous picnic areas, a wading pool for hot summer days, public restrooms, and a ‘Tot Lot’ play area for very young children. Notice the paved road. It stretches through the hilly landscape from East Oklahoma Avenue all the way to Montana Street. As you near the baseball diamond, Keltner Field, you will see a large lagoon complete with two islands. If you look really close you can see evidence of a bridge that once stretched to the larger island. The trails surround the perimeter. There is also another ‘Tot Lot’ play area and another bigger play area for older children called the ‘Helios Multigym’. It is located between the baseball diamond and the ‘Humboldt Pavilion’. The park pavilion, located just west of the lagoon, is designed in the style of a farmhouse. Next to the pavilion is a beer garden. The Humboldt Park Beer Garden serves St. Francis Brewery’s locally made beer and handcrafted Maple Root Beer. It is closed now but you could imagine the social activity that takes place here in the summer. Next to the beer garden is a horseshoe pit, and more trails, some lead to the tennis courts while others lead to the north side of the park. Here on the north side of the park is where the children with sleds must be heading. It’s obvious that this is where the sledding hill is located. As the children sled down the hill you can see that in the summer time it’s a gradual ascending lawn, or grassy seating area, for events that take place in the ‘Band Shell’ that’s at the bottom of the hill,the best place to catch a concert in the park on warm summer night. It’s located just west of the lagoon and in the style of a Swiss chalet. The Humboldt Park Bandshell, also known as the Humboldt Park Chalet, a contemporary design by architect R. Albright, was built and dedicated on July 10, 1977. It’s located at 2900 S. Howell Ave., just south of Montana and east of Howell, inside Humboldt Park. It has seating for 10,000 people, street parking, and is wheelchair accessible. Its host to live music on Tuesday nights, a very popular ‘Chill on the Hill’ concert series, sponsored by Milwaukee County Parks and the Bay View Neighborhood Association. The bandshell is also rentable for private events and plays a big role in community engagement. This structure replaced the original bandshell which was lost to a fire on October 6, 1975. The original bandshell was a Works Projects Administration (WPA) project built in 1936. It was designed by Ferry and Clas, was built in the shape of an eggshell and hosted outdoor concerts such as performances by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Music Under the Stars evening performance series. As you leave the park you will feel refreshed. This park has it all; an outdoor theater, beautiful scenery, wildlife, park pavilion, war memorial, multiple nature trails, picnic areas, and lagoons that must bustle with activities and cultural events every summer. This historic setting that is so alive with events and interactions makes it a prime spot for future architectural development. |
Good visuals but no summary paragraph, Open document on T Drive to review
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Project 3
The Bay View neighborhood in Milwaukee is home to Humboldt
Park that features a beautiful, permanent band shell. This band shell is specially designed for acoustic excellence with a seating area nestled into a vast hillside, created to minimize noise from spilling into the neighborhood and to maintain the performance sound. The band shell comes to life on Tuesday nights with live music and a gathering of neighbors on the hill under the open sky. The Bay View Neighborhood Association, an all volunteer nonprofit organization, presents “Chill on the Hill” on Tuesday evenings from June through August. Crowds averaging 2,500 per night enjoy themselves listening to a variety of music. The concerts are conducted in a family friendly atmosphere with hillside seating, picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets, with a focus of bringing the Bay View neighborhood and its surrounding neighbors out to Humboldt Park to enjoy some good fun. We set out on a mission to speak with people who attend this event. We had to know why “Chill on the Hill” was so popular. After just speaking with one concert goer, we soon realized why a place or space is so important to the neighborhood. ““Chill on the Hill” keeps getting better every year.” says Lori, of Milwaukee. She also gave us some tips to follow if we want to go there: “ Here are some tips for enjoying Chill: 1) If you absolutely need to park there is a lot where you can pay $3. Otherwise plan to get there early and park on the northeast corner and walk a little bit or better yet ride your bike there. 2) The only line that can get crazy are the bathrooms. The bandshell bathroom is the smallest one so your best bet is to walk to the pavilion. 3) Popular food options can sell out so don’t wait until the bitter end to your grub on. Also, if you are a coffee drinker you won’t find any at Chill. StreetZa, Gouda Girls, Hue, Babe’s, and GTO have been staples the last few years. Also, you can buy beer and sausages from the county parks stands. 4) If you are trying to find people, make sure you stake out the same area every week. There aren’t a ton of landmarks so it is not easy to find everyone. 5) Fill out the freebie drawings. At intermission they draw for prizes from the sponsors and others. 6) Be prepared to deal with tons of kids and dogs. This is a family friendly event so kids and dogs WILL be running around. 7) You can bring in your own food and beverages; however, sometimes it is cool to support the local vendors and buy some goodies from them. 8) Definitely bring a blanket or chair or both because unfortunately June in Milwaukee can still be cold :( 9) If you have lived in Bay View for any period of time, be prepared to see tons of people you know. It is like going to the South Shore Farmer’s Market! 10) Now sit back, kick back, grab a libation, and watch some awesome music!” Tony, also from Milwaukee, agrees with Lori. He explains with a smile, “It just feels good to get out and be a part of the neighborhood and Humboldt park is the perfect setting for the occasion.” He says the key word is, “chill”. The Bay View Neighborhood Association has already posted the summer of 2016 “Chill on the Hill” lineup on their website: bayviewneighborhood.org. Thus brings us to the 12th Season of Chill on the Hill! Starting June 7th until August 30th, the Humboldt Park bandshell will have 13 weeks of neighbors and friends enjoying a music-filled Hill! The Bay View Neighborhood Association’s Mission is “Connecting Neighbors for a Better Bay View,” and Chill on the Hill is one of the many ways they try to do that. “Chill on the Hill” is so popular because it’s free, outdoor, summer fun. People enjoy laying out their blankets and picnics just to relax and listen to good music. The bandshell hosts a variety: big band, funk, R&B, blues, reggae, jazz, rock, country, and more, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you get a chance, get out there, go to the “Hill” and “Chill”. |
Observation and Interviewing: Community
Community is defi ned as a group of people living in the same area, sharing characteris cs in common. Humboldt Park is a place that draws there community together. The park is what this community values and shares. From Chill on the Hill, the Beer Garden, to the playgrounds, and even 4th of July fi reworks, it has a lot to off er through all four seasons. The park itself is kept clean, free of violence and crime and is a safe haven for all people to enjoy. Back then, the park was the focal point of the community, but now it seems like that image has disintegrated over me. In the 1940’s, people would mostly walk everywhere. Most families were lucky if they had a car. Because of this, everything that you needed was within walking distance: bakery, school, family doctor, and the grocery store. The park served as the naviga onal fi nding point one could relate to. Businesses made profi t from the traffi c the park brought in. The area was economically growing. Today, Humboldt Park is crucial to the community and Milwaukee’s history. The Bayview area around the park has become a target for growing and uprising families to start their lives. Because of this, the park is not used as o en by small kids. Large families come to u lize the space for picnics, family events, concerts, par es etc. The park is host to many and mainly all community based events. Certain businesses around the park s ll con nue to do well. The park con nues to fl ourish and strengthen the people around. Peter and Judy Gerasopoulos own The Cobbler Shoe Service just a few blocks from Humboldt Park. They service Bayview and the greater Milwaukee area. Growing up near the park, Judy Gerasopoulos fondly remembers her childhood, and the ac vi es that she used to take part in. Her face lights up as she dives into the past. Her sister, Carol, and friends would always play in the park. An important subject Judy discussed was the architecture surrounding the park. “The houses surrounding the park were large, but they were on small lots, so all of the children would play at the park, instead of their back yard. The kids would go to school, drop their books off at their house, and then head straight to the park to meet up with all of their friends. Then, they would go home for dinner, and head back to the park un l it got to dark out.” Judy and her friends did all sorts of ac vi es at Humboldt Park. Her most loving memory is the old band shell. What stands as the bandshell now is “nothing, compared to what it is to be.” On the weekends, bands would come and play, but during the week, the neighborhood kids owned it. “Someone would take a jump rope, or a s ck, and would introduce us”, she laughs as the memory takes her back in me, “and now presen ng, Carol and Judy.” They would get on stage and dance, their friends si ng on the bleachers watching in awe. A er every performance, they would clap, “it wasn’t about who the best was, and who the worst was, it was just something fun to do”. Interview #2: Daniel Hennessey Daniel Hennessey lives a block from the park. In addi on, he was the Assistant Vice Principal at Bayview High School, located across the street from the park. As Dan starts to talk to us about how Bayview High School used to be, you can hear the nostalgia in his voice. He talked about how the school construc on class used to build benches for the park and how the school used to be this amazing place for art driven students. He spoke about how the school raised money for the new band shell a er the old one burnt down. As he con nues talking about how the school is now, you can hear his tone of voice drop and change in tone. His pitch and tone change to disappointment, almost like he doesn’t know anything about the school, and he doesn’t want to know anything about it in its current state. Although Bayview High School is important to the community, people are not rushing to enroll. Kids have a selec on of other surrounding schools such as Rufus King High School, Ronald Reagan High School, South Milwaukee High School and South Division High School. Because of this, the school has fewer and fewer es to the community. Interview #3: Elora Hennessey Elora, like her mother Jill, has lived on the south side of Milwaukee all of her life. She grew up in the same house, went to South Milwaukee High school, and extensively used Humboldt Park. As she talks to us about her past experiences, the excitement in her voice grows rapidly. Her hand gestures become greater and her smile becomes larger. She tells us about how she used to ice skate on the pond, play tennis and use the playground. She would go and get custard with her friends, then walk around the park. Now, Elora uses the park diff erently, but not as o en as wants to. She uses the park to run, take photos, walk her dogs and go to more community based events. “I like to walk my dogs with friends, go to Chill on the Hill as o en as I can and the Beer Garden. . . Now that I have turned 21, I’m sure that I’ll be there o en. It’s nice, you know, like the community and being able to be outside.” Elora also talked about the new sprout and sense of youth in the area. “There is defi nitely a lot of young parents, I no ced… People will graduate, come from Riverwest or the Eastside, get married and come here in their 30’s.” The area includes a good mix of young and old, while also off ering the rich historical presence it has never lost. With the focus on historical preserva on and young growth, the Humboldt Park area has a stronger sense of community. |
Project 4
Since its construction in 1936, the Humboldt Park Band Shell has hosted parties, picnics, corporate events, and even festivals. It is a place that serves as a central gathering place for the community and surrounding neighborhoods. The Humboldt Park Band Shell is significant to Milwaukee because of its rich, continuing ability to bring people together. Accessible nature within an urban park setting is what makes Humboldt Park the center point of the Bay View neighborhood.
Even though it is winter now and the park is full of life with joggers, dog walkers, diverse breeds of wild birds, and some very friendly kids with sleds. As you move forward down one of many trails, you may walk past the ‘Lotus Pond’ which is graced by weeping willows and lily pads. There is a World War One memorial, located just west of the lily pond. This structure measures about 20 feet tall, 12 feet in diameter, and constructed of Wisconsin red granite. It was dedicated May 22, 1921 and inside is a bronze plaque with the names of 22 Bay View servicemen who died in the war between 1918 and 1919. Further into the landscape you will see numerous picnic areas, a wading pool for hot summer days, public restrooms, and a ‘Tot Lot’ play area for very young children. Notice the paved road. It stretches through the hilly landscape from East Oklahoma Avenue all the way to Montana Street. The Built-Unbuilt map shows the park as a void of constructed space, allowing pedestrians to move freely about the landscape, without the confines of private property. The band shell’s structure within this openness serves as a central structure for people to congregate. All age groups use the band shell, with the older population appearing for concerts and events, while children and young adults come to its stage for recreational activities, including games and even skateboarding. As you near the baseball diamond, Keltner Field, you will see a large lagoon complete with two islands. If you look really close you can see evidence of a bridge that once stretched to the larger island. The trails surround the perimeter. There is also another ‘Tot Lot’ play area and another bigger play area for older children called the ‘Helios Multigym’. It is located between the baseball diamond and the ‘Humboldt Pavilion’. The park pavilion, located just west of the lagoon, is designed in the style of a farmhouse. Next to the pavilion is a beer garden. The Humboldt Park Beer Garden serves St. Francis Brewery’s locally made beer and handcrafted Maple Root Beer. It is closed now but you could imagine the social activity that takes place here in the summer. Next to the beer garden is a horseshoe pit, and more trails, some lead to the tennis courts while others lead to the north side of the park. Here on the north side of the park is where the children with sleds must be heading. It’s obvious that this is where the sledding hill is located. As the children sled down the hill you can see that in the summer time it’s a gradual ascending lawn, or grassy seating area, for events that take place in the band shell that is at the bottom of the hill, the best place to catch a concert in the park on warm summer night. It’s located just west of the lagoon and in the style of a Swiss chalet. The Humboldt Park Band Shell, also known as the Humboldt Park Chalet, a contemporary design by architect R. Albright, was built and dedicated on July 10, 1977. It’s located at 2900 S. Howell Ave., just south of Montana and east of Howell, inside Humboldt Park. It has seating for 10,000 people, street parking, and is wheelchair accessible. Its host to live music on Tuesday nights, a very popular ‘Chill on the Hill’ concert series, sponsored by Milwaukee County Parks and the Bay View Neighborhood Association. The band shell is also rentable for private events and plays a big role in community engagement. This structure replaced the original band shell which was lost to a fire on October 6, 1975. The original band shell was a Works Projects Administration (WPA) project built in 1936. It was designed by Ferry and Clas, was built in the shape of an eggshell and hosted outdoor concerts such as performances by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Music Under the Stars evening performance series, and the Chill on the Hill concert series run by a nonprofit organization. The Bay View Neighborhood Association, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, presents “Chill on the Hill” on Tuesday evenings from June through August. Crowds averaging 2,500 per night enjoy themselves listening to a variety of music. The concerts are conducted in a family friendly atmosphere with hillside seating, picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets, with a focus of bringing the Bay View neighborhood and its surrounding neighbors out to Humboldt Park to enjoy some good fun. One resident explains why this concert series is so important: “Chill on the Hill” keeps getting better every year.” says Lori, of Milwaukee. She also gave us some tips to follow if we want to go there: “Here are some tips for enjoying Chill: 1) If you absolutely need to park there is a lot where you can pay $3. Otherwise plan to get there early and park on the northeast corner and walk a little bit or better yet ride your bike there. 2) The only line that can get crazy are the bathrooms. The band shell bathroom is the smallest one so your best bet is to walk to the pavilion. 3) Popular food options can sell out so don’t wait until the bitter end to your grub on. Also, if you are a coffee drinker you won’t find any at Chill. StreetZa, Gouda Girls, Hue, Babe’s, and GTO have been staples the last few years. Also, you can buy beer and sausages from the county parks stands. 4) If you are trying to find people, make sure you stake out the same area every week. There aren’t a ton of landmarks so it is not easy to find everyone. 5) Fill out the freebie drawings. At intermission they draw for prizes from the sponsors and others. 6) Be prepared to deal with tons of kids and dogs. This is a family friendly event so kids and dogs WILL be running around. 7) You can bring in your own food and beverages; however, sometimes it is cool to support the local vendors and buy some goodies from them. 8) Definitely bring a blanket or chair or both because unfortunately June in Milwaukee can still be cold :( 9) If you have lived in Bay View for any period of time, be prepared to see tons of people you know. It is like going to the South Shore Farmer’s Market! 10) Now sit back, kick back, grab a libation, and watch some awesome music!” Tony, also from Milwaukee, agrees with Lori. He explains with a smile, “It just feels good to get out and be a part of the neighborhood and Humboldt Park is the perfect setting for the occasion.” He says the key word is, “chill”. The Bay View Neighborhood Association has already posted the summer of 2016 “Chill on the Hill” lineup on their website: bayviewneighborhood.org. Thus brings us to the 12th Season of Chill on the Hill! Starting June 7th until August 30th, the Humboldt Park band shell will have 13 weeks of neighbors and friends enjoying a music-filled Hill! The Bay View Neighborhood Association’s Mission is “Connecting Neighbors for a Better Bay View,” and Chill on the Hill is one of the many ways they try to do that. “Chill on the Hill” is so popular because it’s free, outdoor, summer fun. People enjoy laying out their blankets and picnics just to relax and listen to good music. The band shell hosts a variety: big band, funk, R&B, blues, reggae, jazz, rock, country, and more, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you get a chance, get out there, go to the “Hill” and “Chill”. The park and band shell also serve as a location for the mixing of people of different ethnicities, as seen in the Racial-Dot Map. The Park is located at the very edge of the White population density, and is an open pathway for those with a Hispanic background. This opportunity for this use is another thing that makes this park in particular very important. “City parks and open space improve our physical and psychological health, strengthen our communities, and make our cities and neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work” says Paul M. Sherer, in his published article The Benefits of Parks: Why America Needs More City Parks and Open Space. Sherer’s argument shows the importance of city parks, and the accessibility of Humboldt Park is a critical example of a park’s successful community improvement. Viewing the Hierarchic Use Map with the paths of travel, it becomes apparent how well positioned the park, and band shell is to the surrounding area. It is located along two primary paths of travel, allowing automobiles to drive to it, and therefore extending the park’s accessibility. This travel access lets others who do not live close to easily get to and from the park. The secondary pathways shown exemplify ways that the immediate community can travel to congregate. Its pedestrian paths allow for easy circulation and access not only to the band shell, but also to the park’s many amenities and beautiful landscape. As you leave the park you will feel refreshed. This park has it all; an outdoor theater, beautiful scenery, wildlife, park pavilion, war memorial, multiple nature trails, picnic areas, and lagoons that must bustle with activities and cultural events every summer. This historic setting that is so alive with events and interactions makes it a prime spot for future architectural development. |
ntroduction
Since construction in 1891, Humboldt Park has established itself as an exemplar of community in the Bay View neighborhood. The park is conveniently located on the corner of E. Oklahoma Ave. and S. Howell St. The urban cross section studied was the Milwaukee County Transit System Green Line. This line connects multiple neighborhoods in the Milwaukee area north and southward. Most of Milwaukee’s development and history can be traced along the neighborhoods of this line. Focusing on Humboldt Park, we noticed an affect the park had on people and community. The park is cherished and cared for by a community that, in return, receives so much from the park. Located in a residential area, the park is a safe haven for kids and families to enjoy. Local business flourish from the public. Humboldt Park bears a strong historical presence, with an even stronger sense of unity and association it creates and shares. Demographic Information Humboldt Park attracts many different people around the Milwaukee area, doing so strengthens the surrounding neighborhood. With its family friendly environment and its unique location it welcomes a wide variety of people into the Bay View neighborhood. While visiting our site we noticed a lot of families using the park, therefore we decided to take a look at the age demographics around the park to see what kind of age groups would potentially be using the park. We found out that most people that live around Humboldt Park are in their thirties and forties. With that data we came to the conclusion that most of these people developing or growing families because the next highest percentage of people in the neighborhood where kids ranging from five to fourteen. We figured that this park is well maintained and welcoming new growing families in the area. Later we wanted to find out what ethnicities settled around our site since we saw all types of races in utilizing the park. We were surprised to find out that the Northern end of the park was largely Hispanic/Latino and that the Southern was more Caucasian. We definitely didn’t see this divide while at the park or when doing our interviews. By doing this study we found out that the Bay View neighborhood was actually the most diverse and growing Maurtua, Christensen, Sommerfeld 2 neighborhoods in the Milwaukee area. This is why we think that this diversity attracts younger folks and pushes to move to the Bay View area to start their own families and contribute to the parks growth and unity. Thematic and morphological character Covering 46 acres, numerous trees, hills and paths spread across the landscape combining natural and man-made features. Close attention was paid to people, their stories and actions relating to the park. Over site visits, interviews, mapping and data analysis, we understand how important the park is to the people. From February to May, we visited the park. In our many site visits, the park was being used at most times of the day during any season. Groups of people or families were seen using the large spaces provided for them. Each space was cared for, clean and absent of any disturbance. In the interviews, the tone and demeanor of each interviewer’s voice was heard in a positive way. Their eyes lit up, talking and smiling about their past memories. The park definitely has a positive place in their mind. Experiential character Our experience at the park was very enjoyable. There was a constant noise of birds, but it was not loud or over powering. At different times of the semester, there was always a plethora of children. They were always laughing, and smiling, and having fun. On our first visit to the park we noticed the park being very clean and well kept. We didn’t notice any graffiti or litter around the area. As it started getting warmer, we noticed more people using the park and that someone had spray painted the band shell. When we returned two days later, we noticed that the spray paint was cleaned up and back to its original state. We also noticed a police officer parked in front of the band shell which made us think if it had anything to do with the graffiti we saw. We asked this officer the reason he was on site and if he saw any crime around the area. He told us that he was taking a break and doing some paperwork. He said that Humboldt Park has the least amount of crime in the Milwaukee area and that he definitely feels safe bringing his own family to chill on the hill. This showed us that the community was very involved in keeping the park well maintained, to have a safe zone for families to occupy. Maurtua, Christensen, Sommerfeld 3 Connectivity While approaching the Oklahoma bus stop on the Greenline we didn’t really notice much, other then commercial buildings surrounding us. As we kept walking we noticed a larger piece of land across the street that caught our eye. We found out that it was Humboldt Park and the heart of the Bay View community. None of us were really familiar with this park but right away we noticed that the community was really involved in utilizing the park even in the winter season because we saw kids ice skating and playing in the snow. While doing more research of the park we found out that the buildings surround the park weren’t only commercial but schools and churches. After finding that out we wanted to figure out what were the different way people around the neighborhood and Milwaukee could get to Humboldt Park other than walking or driving. We found out that surrounding this park there are four main bus routes being the Greenline, 51, 52 and 15, all dropping off with in a three block radius. We also found out that there are a variety of bike paths and lanes located on the North of the site for cyclist. We came to the conclusion that this park is easily accessible and welcoming by its community. Maurtua, Christensen, Sommerfeld 4 History Using the Sanborn Maps of Milwaukee, we were able to observe the rapid growth and suburbanization surrounding Humboldt Park. Humboldt Park (South Park) opened to the public in 1891. The maps did not provide any information regarding the park. Data was collected from the 1910 and 1910-1937 Sanborn Maps of Milwaukee. We found in the older maps industrial buildings scattered throughout the land. Brickyards, clay storage and businesses alike were using large plots of land. The housing was scarce. The only school open during 1910 was the small Humboldt Park Elementary school. As we compared the two maps, the 1910-1937 maps showed a kind of growth. With the opening of Bay View High School in 1914, housing began to populate the land. It became normal to have a full block of personal dwellings. The industrial businesses had shrunken, but their land and presence still remained. Also evident was the growth of many small local stores that occupied important corners and places of intersection. Looking at the area now, much of it remains the same, both in condition and composition. The housing has grown, but it is to a point of where no new development will happen. The area is developed already with a strong universal sense of historic remembrance. Maurtua, Christensen, Sommerfeld 5 Human Ecology The park is considered a four season’s park, part of which what makes it so successful. It is home to one of Milwaukee’s beer gardens, bringing the traditional atmosphere and community of a German beer garden. The beer garden is run by St. Francis Brewing Co. serving beer and food from Milwaukee Pizza Company, Babe’s Ice Cream and Milwaukee Pretzel Company. Located at the base of a hill, the band shell sits as one of the most popular spots in the park. It is known as the chalet or the band shell to local residents. In 1976, the band shell burned down, and a new chalet-style venue was built on the same site. It is now called “Chill on the Hill”, due to the fact that there is a series of concerts in the warmer months there. Humboldt Park currently has two playgrounds for children. One playground is for children five and under, the other playground is for older children. The large pond in the park is used all year long. In the winter, ice skating and hockey games take place. The land makes great hills for sledding and snow playing as well. In the summer, the pond can be used for fishing and boating. On the fourth of July, the park puts on a show of fireworks. On Halloween, the park lights over 100 jack-olanterns and places them throughout the park. On Easter, Humboldt Park places thousands of eggs around the park. In order to understand the park’s influence on a personal level, we interviewed three different residents. These interviews were able to give us the chance to study people’s reactions and opinions regarding the park. During Judy Gerasopoulos’ interview, she talked about how there were large groups of people or families using the park and cleaning up after themselves. She made a point to tell us about the care and appreciation by users and staff of the park. The park is kept very clean and absent of any vandalism. The park also had an effect on business, bringing in clients on a usual basis. Interviewing Dan and Elora Hennessey gave us a closer perspective. Both residents of the park, their family relied on the land immensely. Elora uses the park to walk her dog, exercise and hang out with friends at certain events. As a kid, she was constantly playing tennis, swinging or ice skating. She always felt part of a community being a neighbor and child of Humboldt Park. Dan Hennessey was involved with the park in a different way. As a resident, he uses the park daily for exercise and leisure. Dan worked as Assistant Vice Principal at Bayview High School next to the park. He told us about the construction academy of Bayview High School students that rebuilt park benches. Sports teams from Bayview High School would use Humboldt Park’s space for their games and practices. Dan’s interview explained how the high school was engaged with the park. Maurtua, Christensen, Sommerfeld 6 Conclusion After much analysis, this park has shown us a huge sense of community. Not only because it is used all year around, but because everyone that goes there, enjoys going there. They choose to go to Humboldt Park over any other park. It is a park that draws in the surrounding community, but also attracts outsiders to come. There are activities that happen all year around, for all different age groups. The amenities like the band shell, fireworks, pumpkin carving, and beer garden all contribute to the success. Multiple generations have passed through this park. One of the positive things about the park is the sense of togetherness it brings. Everyone picks up after themselves, everyone goes to the park for a good time, and even the surrounding schools use it. The park is a catalyst for surrounding activity and movement. The paths connect the streets on both sides giving way to reception. Although the park has this strong connection to the community, it could be stronger. The park could have stronger ties with the outside communities. The park has a lot of local events celebrating the immediate society, but what it lacks it’s a celebration of the general Milwaukee community. Not many events are held in the name of Milwaukee, just the Humboldt Park Area. Going forward, the park could become greater and even more a symbolic gem of Milwaukee. |