12 hours ago
Milwaukee looks to the Domes, Zoo and parks as places for electric car charging stations
Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee are in talks to co-install six electric vehicle charging banks in county-run parks and the Zoo, according to an informational report from the county's Park Department.
The plan identified six potential sites: the Mitchell Parks Domes, the Milwaukee County Zoo, Veterans Park, Washington Park, Lincoln Park, and Wilson Park Recreation Center.
"Because this is a grant funded opportunity, the charging sites make Parks sites more attractive destinations for EV drivers, increasing the amount of time visitors using the EV charging sites spend at the location as they wait for their vehicle to charge," the report says. "It also lowers the barrier of access to charging infrastructure for residents who may wish to consider purchasing an EV."
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The move to install electric charging stations aims to support the county's goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the county-run operations by 2050. The six county sites were also chosen for "visibility to residents of diverse backgrounds, proximity to Parks amenities as well as private attractions," according to the tentative proposal.
The City of Milwaukee received a grant from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure's Discretionary Grant Program that would allow for the installation of 53 fee-free, publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations across the city. The city and the county's Office of Sustainability identified the six priority sites on county parkland and county-owned land.
The plan, which would have to go through the County Board approval process, would convert four existing parking stalls into dedicated charging locations, which would include two charging banks, each with two charge ports. One of the four spaces at each of the sites would be will be accessible for people with disabilities.
The project would provide any necessary infrastructure and utility connection construction work required.
The City of Milwaukee will issue a request for proposals for a public-private partnerships to finance, install and maintain the stations over a five-year term. At the end of the five years, parks and zoo leadership would decide whether to continue operating the charging stations on their property.
Once finalized, the Parks Department will return to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors with a request for approval of a multi-year contract with the city and vendor for selected sites with final design plans.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee eyes Domes, Zoo and parks for electric car charging stations
