Project Overview
Browning Elementary School’s playground has been transformed into a 55,000-square-foot multi-sport complex to support the redevelopment of Milwaukee’s Westlawn Gardens neighborhood. The team partnered with Milwaukee Public Schools and the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee to install a large underground stormwater vault below the school’s playground, which holds up to 872,000 gallons of stormwater runoff from the adjacent Westlawn development.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Johnson Controls have helped lead this project, funding the playground along with youth-focused community programs for 10 years. The multi-sport complex features six basketball courts, one futsal court, a soccer field and a 200-meter track to improve the experience of playing outdoors for students and community members. Inclusive design is displayed by the courts’ flexible configuration for the use of other sports, such as volleyball and tennis. raSmith provided survey, stormwater management, site design, landscape architecture and construction services for this $1.7 million project.
Microsoft product screenshot reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.
This school received a 2023 U.S. Department of Education Federal Green Ribbon School Award.
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