What to know about Davidson Park, a 4.8-acre public park, opens on Harley-Davidson's Near West Side campus

Davidson Park, a new, 4.8-acre public park located at Harley-Davidson's corporate headquarters on Milwaukee's near west side, officially opened Monday morning.

The $20 million park is the product of a three-year effort by the Harley-Davidson Foundation and its partners to transform parking lots south of the company's 3700 W. Juneau Ave. headquarters into green space accessible to visitors and residents in the near west side neighborhood, Harley-Davidson said in a news release.

The project started in July 2021 when the foundation sponsored a summit with the nonprofit Near West Side Partners, bringing together over 200 residents, youths and local businesses to discuss ways to improve the community. Community members identified the need for a "safe green space that supports health, well-being, art and culture, and a place for youth to play," Harley-Davidson said. Construction on the park last summer was met with excitement from nearby residents.

"When we started this project, we did so with one main goal, and that was to further connect the company with our hometown Milwaukee, a place that we've been proud to call home for over 120 years ...," Jochen Zeitz, Harley-Davidson's president and CEO, said in a statement. "(T)his project both celebrates our heritage and reinforces the power of the Harley-Davidson brand to be a force for good within our communities."

The foundation partnered with London-based Heatherwick Studio to design the park. The studio, which has completed numerous large-scale projects around the world, used the local community's input as the basis for the design. Heatherwick collaborated with local firm HGA for architecture and engineering and Greenfire Management Services for construction. Brick designs from student artists at Story School and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design are featured throughout "The Hub" amphitheater at the center of the park.

What features are included in Davidson Park?

The main feature, located at the heart of the park, is "The Hub," a multi-use events space with a 272-foot-wide sunken amphitheater with tiered seating. The Hub provides views of historic Harley-Davidson buildings on one side and 120 native plant species, including some sacred to the Forest County Potawatomi tribe, on the other. The tribe has helped provide guidance throughout the process of making the park. A Potawatomi serenity garden, featuring medicinal plants, is located within the grounds.

The center of the Hub houses the Foundation Stone, a four-foot-in-diameter cast iron piece designed by MIAD art student Megan Huss.

"In addition to tripling the green space such as lawns and plantings, the park integrates a dynamic system of green infrastructure, including native bioswales, permeable pavers and cisterns to capture hundreds of thousands of gallons of stormwater – a significant contribution to regional infrastructure and the environment," Harley-Davidson said in the release.

The park's "Main Street" pedestrian paths and "Union Plaza" pedestrian entrance offer space for pop-up markets, food trucks, festivals and events. Multiple Harley-Davidson Homecoming events in July, a wellness pop-up featuring local vendors in August and the Near West Side Partner's Near West Fest in September are already scheduled for the space.

Union Plaza features a 10-foot-tall weathered steel sculpture inspired by the Harley-Davidson logo, while Main Street provides access to the park's large green spaces. The shady North Lawn is about 7,600 square feet, and the South Lawn picnic area is about 5,750 square feet. Three "viewing hills" overlooking the Hub provide additional spots for movie nights and watching performances.

Davidson Park also includes a nature-inspired, 6,000-square-foot playground and play area. The playground has multiple climbing nets and walls, as well as slides built into the hillside. Plus, there's the 1903 Tavern, a partnership with Molson Coors offering an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Where is Davidson Park?

Davidson Park is located at 3725 W. Juneau Ave. The main pedestrian entrance to the park is located off West Highland Boulevard.

When is Davidson Park open?

Davidson Park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., unless otherwise posted, according to the park website. A list of upcoming events and festivals being held in the park can also be found on the website.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New public park opens on Harley-Davidson's Milwaukee campus