Milwaukee County is moving forward to implement paid parking in Milwaukee County Parks by May 1st regardless of public opinion on the matter, an email from the Parks Department reveals.

The email, sent from Parks Director Jim Sullivan's senior executive assistant Paula Johnson-Boorse to a citizen concerned about the proposal, appears to be a form response to opposition to paid parking from members of the public.

"Milwaukee County is moving forward on its plan to generate new, dedicated revenue for Milwaukee County Parks," Johnson-Boorse wrote. "A public input session will be held at the Mitchell Park Domes Annex on February 6 at 6 pm to gain feedback on how the parking system should be implemented."

This indicates that the public will not have any ability to stop paid parking, but will merely be able to provide input on how the County should manage it. In other words, paid parking in Milwaukee County Parks will happen whether the public wants it or not.

"Plans for the system have yet to be formalized but may include variable parking rates and free days," Johnson-Boorse's email continued. "Additionally, parking will not be implemented in every Park, but rather be focused on regional and community Park facilities that have a regional draw."

As News/Talk 1130 WISN reported last week, the County Executive's office has already formed a workgroup to determine how to implement paid parking, and that workgroup has outlined plans for either paid parking lots or paid street parking in nearly every single regional park and parkway.