The Depression-era dam across the Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park. Photo by Carl Swanson
The Milwaukee County Executive wants it gone, Milwaukee County Parks wants it gone, but the deteriorating Estabrook Park dam got a vote of confidence this week from the County Board, which voted $1.6 million in repairs. Read about the dam and its roots in a Depression-era make-work program in my latest OnMilwaukee.com article.
Milwaukee Notebook 
Excellent Article, Carl!!!
Thanks for reminding people that this part of the river was always more like a lake — first due to a natural rock ledge and then later based on the capabilities of an operational dam constructed in the late 1930’s. The Milwaukee River never had the appearance of a shallow, “free flowing river” in this area, it was a lake — a lake that prompted the creation of Lincoln Park giving all citizens access to its many benefits as well as residential development along the shores falling outside park boundaries.
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