Nov. 23, 2025 10:45a
(WGTD)---Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman wants a formal review of the county's public/private partnerships in the county's parks. That includes the non-profit that runs the county-owned Kemper Center on Kenosha's lakefront and the highly successful Biergarten at Petrifying Springs Park.
The review is expected to take the form of a 'request for proposals' to operators or would-be operators.
In an interview with WGTD, Kerkman said the review doesn't mean that she's dissatisfied with any of the existing partnerships. "It's just what are our expectations, and what are the vendors' expectations of the county and what do we expect of our vendors going forward because again people have enjoyed what we've brought in and could there be even more going forward," she said.
Kerkman said she's had informal conversations with some county board supervisors and the vendors themselves.
No timeline has been set for the review process.
Milwaukee County has undertaken a similar review, Kerkman said.
One project that's partially hung up is an offer from a Milwaukee woman to invest $2 million in the Anderson Arts Center at Kemper. Kate Crowle, owner and operator of St. James 1868 in Milwaukee, is proposing to bring the Kenosha arts center up to snuff for ritzy wedding receptions and other gatherings. The proposal is contingent on the county extending its long-term lease with the non-profit that currently runs Kemper Center for the county.
Kerkman said she's toured St. James 1868 and that discussions over the proposed Kenosha investment are ongoing.
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