Plan Would Restore Milwaukee County Board Input On Park Land Sales

Democrats say they’ll introduce a bill to require more review of county park land sales.

The current state budget allows Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele to sell county park land that is not zoned for park use without the approval of the Milwaukee County Board. Progressives say the provision amounts to a deal Abele got from Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers.

Democratic state Rep. Christine Sinicki is introducing a measure to restore Milwaukee County Board input on park land sales.

“People are up in arms,” she said. “People are very angry we have a county executive that with a stroke of a pen can sell off our park lands.”

Democratic State Sen. Chris Larson, who is running against Abele in the spring county executive election, has introduced a similar measure.

Abele has said he wants to add park land, and recently urged municipal leaders to rezone more property for park use.