Moody Park/ Milwaukee, WI

When the swimming pool at Moody Park closed, it fell into disrepair and became a target for vandalism. A $2 million renovation revitalized the park with a new 3,000-square-foot community center as well as a new 5,800-square-foot splash pad, and major site improvements. The primary design goal was to provide an attractive, highly durable, low-maintenance facility that the neighborhood would be proud of. The building is available for rent and contains an open meeting room, a kitchenette, restrooms, splash pad mechanicals, and storage areas. It also has additional restrooms and storage accessible from the outside. The exterior is clad in earth-toned precast concrete sandwich panels with a wood grain texture. The slanted roof provides extra height for the interior, lets in daylight through clerestory windows, and allows good water drainage into the rain gardens.

Designed by SAA Design Group, the 4-acre site improvements include the new splash pad surrounded by colorful benches and improved landscaping such as new low-maintenance plants, trees, and turf. The site also has a new parking lot, three new, lighted basketball courts, extended walking paths connecting all areas of the park, and an outdoor pavilion structure.

CLIENT: MILWAUKEE COUNTY