Rep. Zepnick and Ald. Donovan: Join neighborhood leaders to celebrate improved roads


Two projects possible through nearly $4 million secured by State Rep. Zepnick

MILWAUKEE, WI-October 5th, 2011: On Monday, October 10, State Rep. Josh Zepnick (D) Milwaukee, Ald. Bob Donovan and members of the Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Association will make a major grant announcement at 11:00 at the historic Ascension Lutheran Church, 1236 South Layton Boulevard. Immediately following is a ribbon-cutting at Shea Park on National Ave. at 34th/Shea Ave., hosted by the Silver City Main Street project to celebrate the completion of the recently completed streetscaping project along the Silver City business district of National Avenue from 31st to 39th Streets.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Historic Layton Boulevard organization leaders, Charlotte John Gomez and Donna Hyke, and the tireless efforts of Alderman Bob Donovan and many other active citizens and neighborhood businesses, we are proud to announce today that Layton Boulevard will be getting streetscape improvements on one of the most beautiful thoroughfares in the city of Milwaukee, complete with historic Frank Lloyd Wright homes and wonderful economic and ethnic diversity,” explained State Representative Zepnick.

Zepnick is completing his fifth term as a South Side state legislator-the Ninth Assembly district has S. 27th and Oklahoma at its geographic center. The $1.3 million Wisconsin DOT project will start at Layton Boulevard at National Avenue and extend to S. 27th and Oklahoma. Representative Zepnick, along Senators Plale and Carpenter and Representative Sinicki were also key advocates for the $1.5 million spent on S. 27th from Oklahoma Avenue to College Avenue, as part of the Mitchell Interchange upgrade.

The Layton Boulevard funds will be the product of a community planning process so that residents and businesses can help design the effort. The project will include lighting improvements, bike path and pedestrian enhancements, and further enhance the historic identity of this road, one of the busiest in the city (Route 27 consistently ranks near the top in ridership numbers for transit routes in Milwaukee County).

The ribbon-cutting ceremony that follows marks the completion of work on the West
National Avenue Streetscaping Enhancement Project, made possible by a $560,000 Wisconsin Department of Transportation Grant awarded in 2004. State Representative Zepnick secured those funds and the City of Milwaukee implemented the project 7 years ago, covering roughly7 blocks.

“These projects go a long way toward fulfilling my personal vision for truly integrating the great South Side neighborhoods where I grew up and where I serve in government… and I thank Alderman Bob Donovan for his leadership and support, as well as the many hard-working people who are the key ingredients of a safe and healthy community. With these efforts, we are literally connecting city neighborhoods, with walking access to Miller Park and the Menomonee Valley and Hank Aaron State Trail, the Mitchell Park Domes and Layton Boulevard down through S. 27th, which in turn connects via the KK River with Jackson Park, Pulaski Park and the Milwaukee harbor and lakefront,” said Zepnick.