MILWAUKEE — The Friends of the Domes along with the Milwaukee County Parks System have revealed a new $134 million project to restore the Mitchell Park Domes.

What You Need To Know

  • A new $134 million project is being proposed to restore Mitchell Park Domes

  • The county had considered demolition of the property last year if it could not get the funding for restoration

  • Leaders say this project will address some challenges The Domes are facing, including physical limitations of the facility, an unstable revenue model and safety concerns surrounding Mitchell Park

  • Included in the project are plans to restore The Domes as well as add some additional spaces

It comes amid the need for significant upgrades and repairs to the facility, which was built in the early 1960s.

The county had considered demolition of the property last year if it could not get the funding for restoration, which was estimated to be $67-$91 million.

This plan, called “Domes Reimagined,” aims to combat that reality.

“The Domes Reimagined project is visionary, but it is also fiscally responsible,” said Friends of the Domes’ Executive Director Beall Diefenbach in a release. “It removes The Domes as a liability from the County’s ledger and places Friends of the Domes in charge of operations. The result is a sustainable business model with limited ongoing support necessary from the County. It is truly a win-win-win for our community.”

Funding sources for the project would include private philanthropy, tax credit financing, federal and state funds and an investment from Milwaukee County.

Leaders say this project will address some challenges The Domes are facing, including physical limitations of the facility, an unstable revenue model and safety concerns surrounding Mitchell Park.

Officials said the layout of The Domes doesn’t meet current operational needs and that, on average, the typical visitor only stays an hour. This limits admission fees and also “discourages repeat visits.” Officials also said the park surrounding The Domes is largely inactive due to “a lack of inviting pathways,” which leads to safety issues and concerns.

Included in the project are plans to restore The Domes and some additions. There’s a planned children’s garden and cafe, an expansion of the gift shop, a new nature learning center and an outdoor garden.

“There are no vanity projects included in this plan,” adds Diefenbach. “Every aspect achieves two goals: improved visitor experience and greater revenue.”

The organization said Mitchell Park would remain part of the Milwaukee County Parks system.

The Alexandar Company, a Madison-based real estate development and management firm, is helping lead the project. The company has previously worked on the Milwaukee Soldiers Home.

The Domes have become a staple in the Milwaukee community and are currently the only beehive-shaped horticultural conservatory in the world, according to officials.

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