South Shore School Districts Announce Collaborative Effort to Enhance Community Recreation Opportunities
We are incredibly excited to announce the exploration of a new partnership between the School District of South Milwaukee, the School District of Cudahy, and the St. Francis School District. Together, we are exploring an innovative collaboration to restore vital community recreation opportunities for the South Shore.
The South Milwaukee and Cudahy school districts have entered into a preliminary agreement to explore a potential offer to purchase the building that was the former YMCA facility at 3244 E. College Avenue in Cudahy. The Districts’ goal is to transform it into a shared South Shore Community Recreation Center.
For the last several months, the School District of South Milwaukee has been leading a community recreation center committee to discuss if the community of South Milwaukee is interested in building a stand-alone Community Recreation Center, and if so, what it should include. The current fitness center and the walking track are open to the public during the day and that is not advisable with the current school safety guidelines. It also means that activities for seniors and young families cannot be held during school hours, as the schools are in use.
The South Milwaukee School Board had a vision in 2022 that a stand-alone community center would allow for a space for students to gather after school, expand the offerings of our current recreation department, add a community pool, and provide some needed gym space for community groups to use. They started to set aside funds within Fund 80, the Community Service Fund, to plan ahead for a center. During the entire process, community members have shared over and over again what a loss it was to the community when the YMCA closed and asked a number of times about pursuing opening it again, as it was such a vital part of the community. They have also shared a lot of concerns about the tax impact of building a new facility in South Milwaukee, although they recognize the need.
“Our goal has always been to create a space that welcomes everyone—students, families, and seniors alike,” said South Milwaukee Superintendent Deidre Roemer. “This potential partnership represents a practical, collaborative path forward to deliver on that vision.”
The School District of Cudahy is in a very similar situation, as they recently had to make the very challenging decision to limit the use of the school facilities for recreation activities during the school day. Cudahy is also in the process of consolidating schools due to declining enrollment, which is hard for any community. Many Cudahy community members have also expressed concerns with the loss of the YMCA and the loss of local recreation options, especially for senior citizens. While we all know Milwaukee County is planning on opening a senior center in South Milwaukee soon, the residents of Cudahy want more options during the day for the whole community to be active. Due to the recent school consolidations, the current buildings cannot meet the community’s recreation needs. This potential partnership will open up new opportunities for community members from all three communities. By working together, the Cudahy Rec Department will be able to offer more programs throughout the day, giving everyone more opportunities to stay active, connect with others, and enjoy all the great things our community has to offer.
“This is about more than a building—it’s about rebuilding community connections and opportunities for wellness,” said Cudahy Superintendent Michelle Garven. “We’re grateful for the chance to partner with South Milwaukee and St. Francis to create something meaningful for all our residents.”
The St. Francis School District, while fortunate to have a secure recreation area separate from its main school entrance, recognizes the tremendous value in regional collaboration. Although St. Francis will not participate in the potential purchase of the former YMCA facility, the district is eager to enter into an inter-agency agreement focused on shared programming, staffing, and operations as the project develops. This potential partnership will allow St. Francis students and residents to benefit from expanded recreation offerings while contributing staff expertise and program coordination to ensure the facility’s long-term success.
“Our district has long believed in the power of partnerships,” said Dr. Deborah Kerr, Superintendent of St. Francis School District. “By working together, we can offer our students, families, and neighbors more opportunities than any one district could provide alone.”
When the opportunity arose this fall to consider purchasing the former YMCA as a shared South Shore Recreation facility, all three districts came together to pursue a creative and community-centered solution. The cost and funding restrictions would make this project impossible for any one district alone, but through collaboration and resource-sharing, these neighboring districts are working to bring back a much-needed community hub for wellness, connection, and recreation.
On October 27, 2025, the School Board of the School District of South Milwaukee and the School Board of Cudahy approved motions to explore entering into a potential offer to purchase for the land and building. Such action is intended to provide for joint ownership and to allow for the School District of South Milwaukee to own property in another city with recreation (Fund 80) resources.
While there is still a long journey ahead before an offer to purchase and renovation can be finalized, this partnership possibility marks an exciting and hopeful step forward in rebuilding a shared recreational legacy for the South Shore.
For more information contact Communication Coordinator Daniel Bader at dbader@sdsm.k12.wi.us 414-766-5162