It’s September of 2018.

Baseball was scheduled to begin in Franklin in May 2019 at Routine Field.

But there was no call to Play Ball after all.

Promotions for the Milkmen continued.

Just a few days before the official home opener I blogged:

I moved into Franklin in 1992 after I built the first of two homes here. Not one. Two.

Never during that time, more than 26 years, have I sensed the tremendous anticipation of the economic buzz and vitality that will take over our small city this Monday when the Milwaukee Milkmen will play their first home baseball game in the long-awaited Routine Field at Ballpark Commons.

In 2007, 12 years ago, I started blogging. My first piece was lengthy, outlining my optimism and analysis that Franklin had promising potential. Since that blog I was disappointed time after time. Nothing I had hoped for ever materialized with the rare exception of Kayla’s Playground. Even that star-studded project took an inordinate amount of time, facing thumb tacks in the road tossed by some city aldermen.

Don’t get me wrong. That was a free playground on a small tract of land that did need city funding. Disgracefully some stood in the way, fighting for ways to find fault. Ballpark Commons, by comparison, was much larger in size and scope. So it too, fell victim to the “can’t do” mentality pervasive in city government and amongst the 1950’s citizenship at large.

Like Kayla’s Playground, Ballpark Commons got done, albeit later than it should have. And now we, including me, who have been clamoring for even just one semblance of 21^st century growth, will get our wish on Monday.

A crowd of happy people. Enjoying America’s pastime. At reasonable prices. That will bring families together. In a brand spanking new state-of-the art facility. You know how peanuts and hot dogs have a way of tasting ten times better at a ballgame? Just wait to see what you can eat at Routine Field.

Minor league baseball. Think promotions. There will be plenty, extra incentives to come and enjoy.

Prior to this Monday Franklin, for as long as I’ve lived here (over 26 years) has been a Nothingville. Why would anyone want to come here, stay here, spend money here, look for a job here. We’ve been a trail on the path to Oak Creek where life actually exists. On Monday Franklin lifts the calendar from mid 1950-s to TODAY.

This is a great story. A Franklin native who still lives here decided to give back to his community. At any of the hundreds of times he was rudely treated, insulted, even threatened. he could have said that’s enough, I’m going home. He stuck with it, assembled and I know some of them, a super-talented team, and hung in there.
—June 20, 2019

Then came June 24, 2019.Major league excitement in Franklin.

A crowd of 3,284 came out that night. The ballpark seats 4,000.

In August there was some great coverage from Ballparks.com.

In September Ballpark Commons won a prestigious award.

The Milwaukee Milkmen suffered a losing season in their inaugural campaign but have been working in the off-season to make improvements.

And on the second last day of 2019, more news.

Bottom line: Constant movement and growth at Ballpark Commons. A true Franklin milestone.

AND FINALLY…

Quite possibly the highlight of the Milkmen season.

THE TOP 10 FRANKLIN STORIES OF 2019

1) MILWAUKEE MILKMEN DEBUT
2) FOREST PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL OPENS
3) ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER
4) VELO VILLAGE AND MORE
5) RECYCLING CHANGES
6) THE STRAUSS BRANDS SAGA
7) FORMER HIGH SCHOOL COACH CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT
8) WE DON’T HAVE A CLUE, SO LET’S FUND ANOTHER STUDY
9) FRANKLIN’S NEW LOGO
10) THE CARMEX COMEBACK

In November of 2016 Franklin voters went to the polls to vote up or down on a school referendum. I wrote in July of that year:

The option to be considered by voters would build a new two -story middle school with a $43.3 million referendum representing an estimated annual tax impact of $73 for each $100,000 of a home’s value for each of the next 20 years. A new two-story middle school would be built on District-owned land adjacent to the current middle school. The referendum would be large enough to pay for the new building and provide space for future expansion. Green space and competition/ recreational fields would be provided. Supporters claim the referendum would significantly improve parking and traffic flow.

I blogged extensively about my opposition to the referendum. There were two main reasons. One, there was that tax increase for the next 20 years.

ALSO:

“Research has found little relationship between school funding levels and student performance.”
Will Flanders, education research director at the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty

Read more here.

NOT AT ALL CONVINCING:

From the Franklin School District’s website:

The cafeteria is too small to meet the needs of the current student population, resulting in students waiting extended times in serving lines during their lunch period.

My family attended the ceremony and we were blown away.

I opposed the referendum, but the new school is a gem providing great opportunities, there’s no doubt about it.

THE TOP 10 FRANKLIN STORIES OF 2019

1) ?
2) FOREST PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL OPENS
3) ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER
4) VELO VILLAGE AND MORE
5) RECYCLING CHANGES
6) THE STRAUSS BRANDS SAGA
7) FORMER HIGH SCHOOL COACH CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT
8) WE DON’T HAVE A CLUE, SO LET’S FUND ANOTHER STUDY
9) FRANKLIN’S NEW LOGO
10) THE CARMEX COMEBACK