Doomed Domes Donor

A major upgrade of the Mitchell Park Domes this summer, spurred by $550,000 in private donations for a new lighting system, will include a "halo ring" illuminating the top of the Show Dome and making it visible at night from I-94.

The donation was announced today at the Milwaukee County Board's parks committee, which voted 6-0 to accept the money. It was given by local philanthropists Michael Cudahy and Chris Abele and a third unnamed donor.

Abele said the dome project represented a prime example of positive public-private partnerships. The county is planning on spending more than $390,000 to replace the roof and ceiling of the lobby building linking the domes.

The county also plans to replace broken glass panels on the domes, formally known as the Mitchell Park Conservatory.

Combining the public and private money will allow a project with a bigger impact and perhaps encourage other future efforts, Abele said.

The lighting project will include new entry and exterior lights, energy efficient LED lamps inside the domes that can be programmed for different effects and the outside ring.

The halo effect will restore the intent of Domes architect Donald Grieb, who designed the triple-dome structure that was built in the 1960s at 524 S. Layton Blvd.

The full County Board votes on the gift March 20.

The domes will be closed during construction this summer.


I'm happy about this. While I often thought the Domes and the Gardens (Whitnall Park) should be combined (and still do), the Domes were in bad need of repair and renovation. I would have hated to see them go but I wouldn't have been willing to dump a lot of tax payer money in to them to save them. They're not THAT needed. Again, like having the stadium downtown, I think the Domes would be better off as part of the Gardens. By itself, the Domes don't offer much in the way of stuff to see and do. As part of the Gardens, an all in one monster gardens would be very attractive. Still, this is a good compromise. Plus, the Domes have been part of Milwaukee's skyline since they were constructed. No more boob jokes?