Kletzsch Park remake
Architectural drawings show big changes proposed near dam.
More than 150 people attended an open house last week to learn about plans for the reconstruction of the Kletzsch Park dam and waterfall — and get a first glimpse at how the renovation will affect one of the most popular vantage points on the Milwaukee River.
The plans by consultants hired by Milwaukee County include:
A 350-foot-long rock-filled fish passage that will let native fish move through a series of pools and around the Depression-era dam to larger stretches of the river system.
An overlook in front of the waterfall. A fishing platform along the shoreline. Spots above and below the dam that will let people using kayaks and canoes portage around the structure.
The removal of 14 to 19 mature trees to accommodate viewing areas and other amenities. In their place, plans call for the planting of trees, shrubs and native grasses.
The $1.3 million project has been in the planning stages for several years. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has ordered Milwaukee County to make repairs to the dam. Also, county officials have wanted to improve accessibility in a heavily trafficked area.
Bart Chapman, an engineer with the consulting firm Inter-Fluve, told those attending the meeting at Glen Hills Middle School in Glendale that his firm analyzed an array of alternatives before settling on a design that met federal, state and local requirements.
One limitation was to assure that water flowed through the fish passage at an acceptable rate so northern pike, a relatively slow swimmer, could move upstream. Another restriction was to assure that the “stepped pool,” which gradually allows fish to swim from downstream to a higher elevation upstream, would not exacerbate flooding.
Some of those attending raised concerns. They included:
Worries that the project would change the essential character of a scenic area that has drawn visitors for generations.
The loss of some parking along the Milwaukee River Parkway.
A lengthy portage of more than 900 feet for canoeists and kayakers.
County officials said the renovations will provide better viewing for the public and easier and safer access to the river, and that planning options were constrained by the narrow area of parkland.
Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theo Lipscomb Sr., whose district includes the park, said he is a supporter of the project, although he believes it might be tweaked.
“It’s a change,” Lipscomb said. “People have known it this way for decades their entire lives, so it’s natural, I think (to raise concerns). I am hopeful that people will come to see it as an improvement.”
The work is expected to be completed this year.