Three redesign options for Red Arrow Park: what changes and what stays

Milwaukee leaders seek public feedback on potential changes to landscaping, memorial locations and ice skating at Red Arrow Park

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Milwaukee leaders are seeking public feedback on three redesign concepts for Red Arrow Park, including potential changes to landscaping, memorial locations and ice skating. The designs come from a public-private partnership called Reimagine Red Arrow Park, spearheaded by the county, the city and the Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District. All design proposals continue the ice skating tradition, with two of the three reserving space for a new rink, while one option proposes replacing the rink with a skating ribbon. The redesign also supports more space for public art and additional types of seating, and reduces the amount of lawn space in favor of seasonal or native plantings.

Why it matters

Red Arrow Park has become a frequent gathering space for people coming out of city hall or organizing protest demonstrations, so the redesign aims to encourage more year-round use of the park. The plans also seek to highlight the park's two existing memorials in a fitting way.

The details

The three redesign options are called The Garden, The Commons, and The Courtyard. The Garden proposal would replace the ice rink with a skating ribbon, which has faced some backlash from the roller skating community. Both the Red Arrow Monument and the memorial bench for Dontre Hamilton will remain, but could be relocated within the park depending on the final design. The redesign plans call for removing 4-8 of the park's existing trees and adding at least 20 new trees to create more shade. The plans also support more space for public art and additional types of seating, and reduce the amount of lawn space in favor of seasonal or native plantings.

  • The open house to reveal the three redesign concepts was held on Thursday, March 8, 2026.
  • A second open house to present the refined design proposal based on public feedback will be held in the summer of 2026.

The players

Reimagine Red Arrow Park

A public-private partnership spearheaded by the county, the city and the Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District to redesign Red Arrow Park.

Lauren Robertson

A member of Milwaukee's roller skating community who expressed concerns about the proposal to replace the ice rink with a skating ribbon.

Genyne Edwards

CEO of P3 Development Group, who stated that the goal is to highlight the park's two existing memorials in a fitting way.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of peole think of Red Arrow Park just for the ice skating aspect, but really the ice skating replaces us because we are here from spring to fall. It'd be nice to have that space still to share with ice skaters, unicyclists, skateboarders, everybody.”

— Lauren Robertson (WTMJ)

“We feel really grateful that the Hamilton family have been involved in the process from the very beginning. The goal is to really highlight both of the memorials in a way that's really fitting for what they've meant to the park.”

— Genyne Edwards, CEO of P3 Development Group (WTMJ)

What’s next

Once a design proposal is finalized, officials will launch a fundraising campaign for the county-owned park. Improvements to multiple public spaces like Red Arrow Park are part of Mayor Cavalier Johnson's 2040 downtown comprehensive plan.

The takeaway

The redesign of Red Arrow Park aims to encourage more year-round use of the space, while also preserving the park's important memorials and traditions like ice skating. The public feedback process will help shape the final vision for the park's future.