Milwaukee, WI – October 30th, 2009 – The Park People of Milwaukee County issued the following statement regarding the proposed layoff of up to 180 County workers announced yesterday to bridge the 2009 budgetary gap.

“The services the Parks Department provide are popular with the residents of Milwaukee County and we're strongly opposed to cutting their staffing any more than it has been over the last several years,” said Dan Cody, Board President of the Park People of Milwaukee County. "They're a very well managed department and generate nearly $18 million in revenue every year for the County. It makes no sense that they should be forced to absorb 33% of the proposed cuts."

Over the last several years, the Parks budget has been cut time and time again. Director Sue Black and her staff have managed to continue to provide services through their resourcefulness and generosity of many in the private sector. Just weeks ago the Parks Department won the prestigious Gold Medal from the National Recreation and Parks Association for best managed park system in the County.

"We're moving beyond "cutting the fat", this is wholesale dismemberment and weʼre disturbed by the slash and burn tactics being used to destroy a public Park system that has taken generations to build", said Cody.

The Park People will be joined by other park supporters at the County Board public hearing at the Washington Park Senior Center on Monday, November 1st at 6:30pm to voice their support for the Milwaukee County Park system and to protest the proposed cuts to park staff.

The Park People of Milwaukee County, Inc., is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promoting citizen stewardship of Milwaukee County Parks and can be reached at info@parkpeoplemke.org or http://parkpeoplemke.org/.