MKE County: Board Moves to Quash Lakefront Parking Fees

Veterans Park. Photo taken June 23, 2025 by Graham Kilmer. Milwaukee County supervisors are moving to eliminate new parking fees proposed for the Milwaukee County Parks system next year. Milwaukee County Parks is proposing to start charging for parking in a few select areas in the parks system, It was proposed as a pilot program and focused on high-traffic parking spots along the lakefront around Bradford Beach, McKinley Marina, Veterans Park and the Story Hill neighborhood near American Family Field. Parks estimated the program could generate $671,344 in 2027, closing the department s budget gap and preventing budget cuts that would largely fall on the aquatic system. It would also shift a greater share of the burden for maintaining car-related  infrastructure off the general tax levy and onto drivers. Parks has spent $23 million since 2018 just maintaining parking lots and roadways. A wide-ranging amendment to the 2027 budget sponsored by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell and supp