Harley to fix Veterans Park
Torrential rains, crowds of revelers resulted in ruts mashed into turf
The turf at Veterans Park was no match for the combination of heavy rains over several days last week and a flood of partygoers in town for Harley-Davidson’s 115th anniversary celebration, company and Milwaukee County parks officials said.
The broad field of mud and deep ruts left in the wake of the double deluge will be gone soon now that the company has pledged to restore the lakefront park “in the same, or even better condition” than it was before the fun started last week, said Mike Pflughoeft, manager of corporate media relations for HarleyDavidson Motor Co.
The company has hired landscape contractors to fill the ruts, level the surface and replace grass, and “the work
will start as soon as possible,” he said. “But it’s got to dry out enough for them to get in there,” Pflughoeft said.
Those efforts might be delayed a few days as more rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast for Milwaukee on Wednesday. There is no cost estimate for repairing the damage at this time and no timetable for completing the work since it is weather dependent, Pflughoeft said.
The anniversary’s kickoff party was held at Veterans Park as well as a motocarnival with motorcycle displays, Wall of Death stunt riders, concerts, food and beverage vendors to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Harley Owners Group, or HOG.
“The weather didn’t cooperate,” Pflughoeft said of the repeated downpours. Even though the company hauled in wood chips and small stone to provide walking paths through the muck, by Sunday morning there was standing water across the park and Harley called off that day’s activities at Veterans Park, he said.
A contract with the Milwaukee County Parks Department requires Harley-Davidson to restore the park to its original condition at the company’s cost, according to parks marketing and communication manager Ian Everett.
The damage was limited to turf, Everett said. Ruts were caused by trucks hauling stages, tents and other equip-
ment into and out of the park.
Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman participated in talks between county parks staff and Harley-Davidson representatives regarding contracts for use of Veterans Park and others for the 115th anniversary.
“The contract was very specific that any damage done to any Milwaukee County grounds were going to be repaired in their entirety by Harley Davidson,” Wasserman said Tuesday. “These contracts were very specific and they will do it. I have complete faith and confidence that they will repair damage done to their pre-festival appearance.”
“I really hope Harley fulfills its commitment,” said Jim Goulee, president of Preserve Our Parks.
“The county is vigilant in making sure the grounds are left in good shape or repaired,” said Goulee, a former regional manager for the county parks department. He recalled mounds of trash left after Harley-Davidson’s 100th anniversary and extensive turf damage after circuses held there in the past.
Veterans Park, located east of Lincoln Memorial Drive between the War Memorial on the south and McKinley Park to the north, is used regularly for major events, Goulee said.