Washington High Reveals New Athletic Field, a Hard-Won Feat After Years of Fundraising

Rory Linnane - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 5/26/2023

Click HERE to Watch The Reveal of the Washington High School Athletic Field.

When Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Keith Posley cut the ribbon outside the new athletic field at Washington High School on Friday, the first group to walk the track had put in countless miles on the grounds — but not as students.

Reveal of Washington High School Athletic Field

Sherman Park residents of the 5 O'Clock Club, some of whom have lived for over 40 years in the neighborhood, convene each morning to do laps together at the school. They said the club has kept them in good health and forged friendships.

"That's how we get the day started; we come early so we can solve the problems of the day," Alberta Whitaker said, before her friend Lynda Jackson added, "And then we go to breakfast sometimes."

The track and field are a neighborhood centerpiece, and it took the whole neighborhood to raise the $2.5 million needed to renovate the old and bumpy field.

After over seven years of fundraising, MPS and a coalition of community organizations on Friday revealed a new artificial turf athletic field with a 400-meter track and basketball half-courts.

Virginia Lynch, assistant principal at Washington, said the new field will keep students safer from injuries and also shows students what they deserve.

"Importantly, it brings home another lesson that this community cares about them," Lynch said.

Common Ground — an alliance of 43 faith groups, businesses and other organizations — was key in pushing the project to fruition.

The group had been working in the Sherman Park neighborhood for years, previously persuading large banks to commit $33 million to fix up foreclosed homes and sell them at affordable prices after the 2009 predatory lending and subprime mortgage crisis.

The project was also supported by the Sherman Park Neighborhood Improvement District, Center Street Marketplace Business Improvement District, Educators Credit Union, Fox River Congregational Church, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Herb Kohl Philanthropies, MPS Foundation, NFL Foundation, Parallel Employment Group, United Milwaukee Scrap and Washington High School Alumni Scholarship Foundation.

It was further supported by the Fund for Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, which implemented a 266,500-gallon storm-water retention system below the field.

"Let us rejoice today because it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood, but let's not stop working at this point," he said. "Let's work for safe neighborhoods, well-funded schools, family supporting jobs, and affordable housing."

The track and field will fully open to the public June 8, depending on weather, MPS announced.