ACTION ALERT - Save the Pool at Lincoln Park!
Attention: CALLING ALL MILWAUKEE ADVOCATES!
As some of you know the Schulz Aquatic Center at Lincoln Park is set to be closed for the 2018 season. This is due to “budget cuts” throughout Milwaukee County. Our question however is to continually ask, “Why cut from one neighborhood? Why target the North side?” The cuts set forth by County Executive Chris Abele and new Parks Director Jim Sullivan come up short sighted, unequitable, and downright racist. Since 1995, five public pools have closed on the north side of the county, including Gordon, McGovern, Madison, Dineen and Moody parks. We are refusing to stand idly by as they try and close valuable resources in our community that have already had so many resources taken from it.Our partners at Friends of Lincoln Park have been working tirelessly on this effort and connected with organizations to help show just what a large disparity in safe water recreation there is one the North side. Please see their email below:Dear friends,Please see the attached maps, read and share.Pool MapAn enhanced screen-shot from a map created by Reflo and Milwaukee Water Commons showing the current location of Milwaukee area pools: 
Inequality Map Screen shot from “Reconnecting Milwaukee”, A project of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, Route of the Badger.
The maps show that there is a swimming pool “desert” where kids can learn to swim especially in “Neighborhoods experiencing Inequality”. In particular the Lincoln Park pool is one of the LAST PLACES BLACK KIDS CAN LEARN TO SWIM. Why does this matter? Milwaukee touts itself as “Water City”. The ability to swim is an important skill for water safety and enjoyment of nature. We are all working and hoping for swimmable, fishable and paddle-able waters. But providing these opportunities only to non-black communities can only be considered outright racism. What can you do? (preferably in this order)1. Come to the Finance Committee meeting for Milwaukee County on Thursday, January 25th at 9am to voice why the Schulz Aquatic Center is a valuable resource to the North side. It will be located at the County Courthouse (901 N. 9th street) in room 203R. Let us know you’re coming at DBREEN@NWSCDC.ORG2. Call the County Executive, Chris Abele: 414 278-4212. This was his choice for balancing the County Parks budget.3. Sign the Online Petition: https://www.change.org/p/