Revitalization project underway in Milwaukee's Swing Park

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Summertime marks the start of enjoying parks and greenspace. For Christine Caponigro, it marked the beginning of danger.

Swing Park, a popular Milwaukee park on the corner of Brady and Water has been the location of various crimes.

“It [was] becoming a place for bad activity and bad behavior," said Caponigro. “We would know, like clockwork, when it was a nice evening in the summertime, or a nice evening at all, that there was something that was going to be happening down here.”

In 2021, a 19-year-old man died at the park after being shot during a disagreement. 

“Drug activity, drinking, loud music, blocking cars from going down the street. Really terrorizing the neighbors who live in the neighborhood," said Caponigro. “Created a really difficult decision for everyone living here.”

After the park closed in August of last year, Caponigro, along with other neighbors decided to give this park a new beginning. 

“Change the name of the park. Just start over fresh," said Caponigro.

A total of $12.7 million will be invested to revitalize the area and it will be known as the Landing on Tannery Row. The revitalization project includes the upgrades to Swing Park. The first phase of the revitalization efforts will cost $5 million. Federal aid will pay for 80% of the cost, while the City of Milwaukee covers the remaining 20%.

"Things that make it a space where you can say to a neighbor ‘hey, why don’t we meet at the park and talk,'" said Capanigro. 

In a statement, District 3 Alderman Jonathon Brostoff told CBS 58 “Through active community engagement, investments, and innovative thinking, we have the opportunity to transform this area into the best park in Milwaukee for all ages and all abilities. This is an exciting new endeavor for our neighborhood and as a community, we will continue to work fervently to make this happen.”

Caponigro says it's time summer becomes a season this neighborhood looks forward to.

“A peace of mind as well as peace in their lives which has been absent for a really long time," said Caponigro.