Milwaukee Kilbourn-Kadish Park
Selig-Joseph-Folz Amphitheater
The Selig-Joseph-Folz Amphitheater, constructed in 2012, overlooks a splendid view of the downtown Milwaukee skyline. It all began in 2004 with the creation of the Kadish Park. The Park was named after Alice Bertschy Kadish, a Milwaukee Public School kindergarten teacher, and its creation was funded by the Halbert and Alice Kadish Foundation. It was the fulfillment of an idea of Tom Schneider, executive director of COA (Children's Outing Association) Youth and Family Centers.
COA signed a 25-year lease in 2004 with the City of Milwaukee to revitalize a nearby crime-ridden property that was also strewn with litter and debris. In Schneider's mind, the very closeness of this property to COA's office and place of business was incompatible with its mission of serving the community. He worked with Mike Wisniewski of the City of Milwaukee's Dept. of Development to design the Park. COA cleared the space, and created the new Kadish Park. It is known as the first neighborhood-run park in the City. COA manages the maintenance of both the Kadish Park and Kilbourn Reservoir Park, which adjoins the Kadish Park (thus the combined name).
While checking out the site, Schneider saw one area that he thought would be ideal for an outdoor performing venue. This original venue hosted performances in 2008 by the newly created Skyline Music Series (sponsored by COA); it was a concrete platform with three arc-shaped concrete seating. The audiences grew from a small number of 150 people for the first concert to about 1,000 people per concert by 2012.
Schneider, seeing that this venue was successful and brought people together (his goal), determined that it was time to build a permanent pavilion with additional seating. As a pro bono project, David Lang, Associate Vice President and Senior Project Designer of HGA Architects and Engineers, designed an outdoor performing amphitheater with a translucent roof, acoustical panels and semicircle tiered concrete seating. Mr. Lang said "The amphitheater pavilion is intended to intervene with the view of the skyline as little as possible... The rolling hillside and bluff inspires the fluid shape."
The amphitheater was named after Bud and Sue Selig, Bonnie and Leon Joseph, and the families of Richard and Susan Folz who sponsored the $250,000 construction costs. A grand opening ceremony was held on July 9, 2013, followed by a picnic and performances including a concert by the Latin jazz group, De La Buena.
In 2013, the Kadish Park received recognition from the Mayor's Design Award: "Recipients have added value to their neighborhoods by restoring, constructing or enhancing their properties in a way that respects the urban fabric and contributes to the character of their surroundings."
In 2020, Kilbourn-Kadish Park was finalist for the prestigious MANDI (Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation) award.
Since its opening, the Amphitheater has held the Skyline Music series every summer, with the exception of 2020 when most outdoor concerts in Wisconsin were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Optimist Theater Company has also regularly performed Shakespeare in the Park. And, other events such as weddings have been held in the Amphitheater.
COA signed a 25-year lease in 2004 with the City of Milwaukee to revitalize a nearby crime-ridden property that was also strewn with litter and debris. In Schneider's mind, the very closeness of this property to COA's office and place of business was incompatible with its mission of serving the community. He worked with Mike Wisniewski of the City of Milwaukee's Dept. of Development to design the Park. COA cleared the space, and created the new Kadish Park. It is known as the first neighborhood-run park in the City. COA manages the maintenance of both the Kadish Park and Kilbourn Reservoir Park, which adjoins the Kadish Park (thus the combined name).
While checking out the site, Schneider saw one area that he thought would be ideal for an outdoor performing venue. This original venue hosted performances in 2008 by the newly created Skyline Music Series (sponsored by COA); it was a concrete platform with three arc-shaped concrete seating. The audiences grew from a small number of 150 people for the first concert to about 1,000 people per concert by 2012.
Schneider, seeing that this venue was successful and brought people together (his goal), determined that it was time to build a permanent pavilion with additional seating. As a pro bono project, David Lang, Associate Vice President and Senior Project Designer of HGA Architects and Engineers, designed an outdoor performing amphitheater with a translucent roof, acoustical panels and semicircle tiered concrete seating. Mr. Lang said "The amphitheater pavilion is intended to intervene with the view of the skyline as little as possible... The rolling hillside and bluff inspires the fluid shape."
The amphitheater was named after Bud and Sue Selig, Bonnie and Leon Joseph, and the families of Richard and Susan Folz who sponsored the $250,000 construction costs. A grand opening ceremony was held on July 9, 2013, followed by a picnic and performances including a concert by the Latin jazz group, De La Buena.
In 2013, the Kadish Park received recognition from the Mayor's Design Award: "Recipients have added value to their neighborhoods by restoring, constructing or enhancing their properties in a way that respects the urban fabric and contributes to the character of their surroundings."
In 2020, Kilbourn-Kadish Park was finalist for the prestigious MANDI (Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation) award.
Since its opening, the Amphitheater has held the Skyline Music series every summer, with the exception of 2020 when most outdoor concerts in Wisconsin were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Optimist Theater Company has also regularly performed Shakespeare in the Park. And, other events such as weddings have been held in the Amphitheater.
Skyline Music Summer concert events are Tuesday evenings July 9 - August 20, 2022.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/2/2021; 70 snow ducklings overlooking the Milwaukee skyline.
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 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/2/2021: Maggie Steinhauer poses with snow ducklings molded by herself and friends at Kadish Park Sunday.
A fun winter activity - Drake Bentley Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/2/2021, reported: "Instead of making snowmen, these Riverwest neighbors made 70 snow ducklings in Kadish Park" and displayed them on the edge of the amphitheater wall - a perfect spot!" |
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