Burns Commons

{{Short description|Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Burns Commons | image = Burns Commons.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = The south end of the park, with monument to Robert Burns. | type = Municipal | location = Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin | coordinates = {{Coord|43.04747|N|87.89639|W|type:landmark}} | area = {{convert|1.5|acre|ha}} | created = 1847 | operator = Milwaukee County Parks | status = | open = }} '''Burns Commons''' is a park in the Milwaukee County Parks system in the US. It is located on the East Side of the city, bound by Franklin Place, Prospect Avenue and Ogden Avenue. It is split into two sections by Knapp Street.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/BurnsCommons1.pdf |title=Burns Commons Map from MKE County Parks |publisher=Milwaukee County Parks |type=Map |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222000902/https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/BurnsCommons1.pdf |archivedate=February 22, 2019 |access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref> The larger, northern section is landscaped with trees, lawn and walkways, and includes public art. The smaller southern portion has a statue of the Scottish poet Robert Burns.

== History == In 1847, the 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/collection/mkenh/id/331 |title=Burns Common (First Ward Park) |date=1895 |publisher=Archives, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries |type=Still image |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211080912/https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/collection/mkenh/id/331 |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |access-date=2019-12-11}} [https://uwi-primoalma-prod.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/3all0j/MIL_CDMmkenh/331 Alternative URL]</ref> By the turn of the 20th century, the park was known as Baby Park, since the nursemaids in the affluent neighborhood took their charges to the pleasant park.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://0-infoweb-newsbank-com.countycat.mcfls.org/apps/news/document-view?p=EANX-NB&docref=image/v2:1477BBDEA50EB75C@EANX-NB-15AE2C53A08ABFEE@2432144-15AD37B72D1E3A75@15-15AD37B72D1E3A75@ |title=When 'Baby Park' Was in Its Infancy |date=November 19, 1946 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=December 11, 2019 |publication-place=Milwaukee, Wisconsin |page=16 |via=Newsbank |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 1909, a statue of Robert Burns was donated by James Anderson Bryden, a Scottish immigrant, 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 the Scottish sculptor William Grant Stevenson.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://0-infoweb-newsbank-com.countycat.mcfls.org/apps/news/document-view?p=EANX-NB&docref=image/v2:1477BBDEA50EB75C@EANX-NB-1646F00842A4DA85@2418484-16469061655C17F9@3-16469061655C17F9@ |title=James A. Bryden's Gift is Unveiled |date=June 26, 1909 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=December 11, 2019 |page=4 |via=Newsbank |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

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 as Franklin Square. In 1994, the restriction was removed and the park was officially renamed.

The Hop M-Line begins and ends on the north-east side of the park at the intersection of East Ogden Avenue and North Prospect Avenue.

{{Adjacent stations|noclear=yes|system=The Hop|line=M-Line|left=Ogden at Astor}}

<gallery class="left"> File:BurnsMonument1909.jpg|''Robert Burns'' statue File:Burns commons station (Almost).jpg|Burns Commons station almost complete on May 24, 2018 File:Milwaukee August 2022 173 (Burns Commons).jpg|Burns Commons in 2022 </gallery>

== See also == *''Robert Burns'' statue *Parks of Milwaukee

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Protected areas of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Category:Geography of Milwaukee Category:Urban public parks