Burns Commons is a park in the Milwaukee County Parks system. It is located on the
East Side of the city, bound by Franklin Pl., Prospect Ave., and Ogden Ave. It is split into two sections by Knapp Street. The larger, northern section is landscaped with trees, lawn and walkways, and includes public art. The smaller southern portion holds a statue of
Scottish poet
Robert Burns
Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...
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History
In 1847, developer James H. Rogers donated the land to the city, making it one of Milwaukee's earliest parks. At the time it was named First Ward Park. It was later named Franklin Square. As stately homes were built around the park, four of the neighboring homeowners took on its upkeep. They provided landscaping and built a fountain. By the turn of the century, the park was known as Baby Park, since the nursemaids in the affluent neighborhood took their charges to the pleasant park.
In 1909 a statue of Robert Burns was donated by Scottish immigrant James Anderson Bryden and erected on the south end of the park. Its dedication was on June 26, 1909. The bronze statue, set on a plinth of Nova Scotia granite, was designed by Scottish sculptor
William Grant Stevenson
William Grant Stevenson, (7 March 1849 – 6 May 1919) was a Scottish sculptor and portrait painter.
Life and work
Stevenson was born in Ratho in Midlothian on 7 March 1849. His elder brother, David Watson Stevenson (1842–1904), was als ...
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In 1937, the parks of the city and of the county of Milwaukee were consolidated into the
Milwaukee County Parks system. At that time, the park became known as Robert Burns Triangle. This was not official, however, since a deed restriction required the name to be kept Franklin Square. In 1994 the restriction was removed, and the park was officially renamed.
As of 2019 the
Milwaukee Streetcar
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
M-Line begins and ends on the north-east side of the park at the intersection of East Ogden Avenue and North Prospect Avenue.
File:BurnsMonument1909.jpg, ''Robert Burns'' statue
File:Burns commons station (Almost).jpg, '' Burns Commons station almost complete on May 24, 2018
See also
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''Robert Burns'' statue
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Parks of Milwaukee
Most parks in Milwaukee are owned and maintained by Milwaukee County as part of a county-wide system. However, some parks are administered by other entities, such as the state of Wisconsin, the city of Milwaukee, or neighborhood organizations.
Pa ...
References
Protected areas of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Geography of Milwaukee
Urban public parks
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