Davidson Park - Milwaukee, WI

Since 1903, the connection between community and culture has been at the core of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. This spirit is embodied in the new, 4.8-acre Davidson Park at Harley-Davidson’s headquarters in Milwaukee, WI. Transformed from a parking lot into an immersive public park, the project was a three-year collaboration between Harley-Davidson, the Harley-Davidson Foundation Inc., the Forest County Potawatomi Community, Near West Side Partners, and the surrounding neighborhood.

The park was designed by the internationally renowned UK-based design firm Heatherwick Studio, with HGA serving as the local architect and engineer. The park’s design features a sunken, circular design with a central amphitheater called “The Hub.” At its center is a 600-pound steel medallion called the “Foundation Stone”, which was designed by Megan Huss, a student at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. As managers of the construction project, Greenfire’s symbolic final task of the project was to coordinate the final placing of the medallion, which took an entire crew to carefully place at the center of the park. Before it was lowered into its final setting, key members of the project’s development took the opportunity to sign the back of the medallion to mark the moment in time.

As part of the park’s development and collaboration with the Forest County Potawatomi Community, the Harley-Davidson Foundation wanted to devote a portion of the park that incorporated influence from The Tribe’s heritage, who used to reside near where the park stands now. A traditional Serenity Garden was designed and implemented with help from the Tribe, and incorporated elements of a symbolic “healing wheel.” Surrounding the central grandfather stone are traditional plantings synonymous with elements of healing. To the East is tobacco, to the south is cedar, to the west is sage, and to the north is sweetgrass.

The Serenity Garden offers a tranquil space for park goers to engage in peaceful meditation and reflection. Adjacent to the Garden is a time capsule that will be opened in 30 years. The contents include various trinkets, as well as written notes from neighbors about hopes and aspirations for the park.

Greenfire’s project scope also includes the use of natural, waney-edge timbers and weathered steel. 120 native plant species, including 20 species of trees and 100 species of perennials were planted by Trees On The Move. More unique features of the park include the brick mosaic motorcycle parking stall designs that surround the bowl of the amphitheater, utilizing 10 types of locally sourced bricks. Some of the unique spaces were designed by students at nearby Story Elementary School, and feature Milwaukee-centric themes and designs. Park patrons can sit on the reclaimed Black Locust wood benches, stand along the naturally weathered decorative steel beams and structures, or rest on the sculpted berms.

In keeping with the reclamation cues of nature to the site that once an impervious parking lot, the park utilizes its bioretention systems, pervious pavers, and underground storage cistern to capture over 225,000 gallons of stormwater during large rain events. The stormwater retention capability of the site’s lowest elevation helps regulate the outflow of stormwater into MMSD‘s sewer system.

As you stroll through the park, you can encounter a playground with natural wood climbers towards the main walkway adorned with the weathered steel posts and decorative lighting, leading to the main plaza where refreshments are served from 1903, a permanent bar sponsored by neighboring Molson Coors. The design intent of the park is that of constant evolution: that the park’s plantings and topography will grow and change as the years progress, as well as the park’s constantly evolving usage as a live music venue, food truck park, event space, or even as simple as a space for neighbors and visitors to connect, relax and recharge.

As neighbors, Greenfire recognizes Davidson Park as a catalyst for growth for Milwaukee’s near west side – and as model for reimagination of underutilized spaces for the betterment of our communities.