Several outdoor events canceled due to air quality Tuesday

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Mail carriers, garbage collectors, and landscapers were all working in the thick smoke Tuesday, as event organizers cancelled various events.

While short-term, people don't seem concerned, they are concerned about it becoming a regular thing.

"I have asthma and I was worried it would affect my lungs. I was coughing, but I seem to be alright now," said West Allis resident Ann Elliot.

At McCarty Park in West Allis, Elliot, who lives nearby, says she was initially concerned when she saw the air quality warning on her phone, but it didn't stop her from walking her dog, Charlie, Tuesday.

Nearby, the field where the Greater Milwaukee Senior Men's Softball League plays on Tuesdays was empty.

They weren't the only ones cancelling plans.

"With consideration of our guests, our volunteers, our very hardworking stagehands, and of course the musicians from the MSO, it made great sense for us to cancel this evening," said Patty Thompson, executive producer of Chill on the Hill.

She says while Humboldt Park would've been filled with thousands of guests out to see Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra perform Tuesday night, they still had to cancel.

Thompson said they couldn't justify workers, who would've had to be there as early as noon to start setting up, working in these conditions.

"It's thick out here, it's smokey out here, it's very difficult to play an instrument when you can't breathe," said Thompson.

The poor air quality also led to cancelations for some kids' summer activities, causing parents to shuffle all day. 

Parents questioned if games and practices would go on, and wondered if summer camps would send kids home early. 

By Tuesday evening, Rock League Baseball didn't cancel games, but individual teams could. And it was a mixed bag at the little fields. For U-12, the game was still on, but not for the 9-year-olds.

"There was supposed to be a game and the other team decided they would not play in this," said Kris Affeldt, baseball grandma.

The coach offered up a little practice time and they went for it. 

Parents of the older kids were surprised, but happy their game didn't get canceled. 

"Yeah, I kept checking all the time, but this is a hardcore team and I feel like if they canceled, then it's really hard to find makeup games right now," said Brooke Smith, baseball mom.

Still, sitting outside wasn't easy. 

"My eyes were burning and I thought it was just allergies. It's definitely dense, and like, you almost feel like you're sitting around a campfire," said Smith.

Air quality's why other outdoor activities were pulled indoors, like camp at the West Suburban YMCA.

"And then we made the call just before lunch to bring everybody in," said Katy Groh, West Suburban YMCA executive director.

They sent an alert to parents just before noon for the 140 kids there. 

"We were able to find space for everybody, whether it be in the gym, in the pool, in our studios. You know, the Y is uniquely positioned. We have the opportunity to provide a lot of space for kids. A lot of places don't have that," said Groh.

It's week three of an 11-week camp. A decision has already been made to cancel Wednesday's field trip, but other considerations will be looked at later. 

"We take it day by day, and we're looking right away in the morning to see what the air quality index is reporting out and we make our plan from there," said Groh.

But National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 2 Milwaukee President Dave Skowronek says at their meeting Monday night, no rank-and-file member voiced concerns about the smoke.

He says he's telling everyone to take breaks when needed and stay hydrated, especially as they continue to face the heat along with the smoke, which he says could become an issue as it continues.

"I would be highly concerned for senior carriers, any carriers with any respiratory issues, anyone that has any problems in the breathing department," said Skowronek.

Mom Lindsay Ling, who was taking her son to McCarty Park Tuesday morning, says while just one day like this isn't concerning, more could be.

"I think it would have to be longer, you would have to be outside longer," said Ling. "More than one day, but we'll see what tends to happen if it goes up."

A number of other cancelations came throughout the day, including Milwaukee Parks just Tuesday evening, which decided to close The Vine, Whitnall Beer Garden and Juneau Beer Garden early, at 7 p.m.

Another event cancelled Tuesday was a Fitness on the Plaza session at Fiserv Forum.