Claudia LevensMilwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Neighbors of Buckley Park in Whitefish Bay had their Sunday mornings disrupted by what police and village staff have called a 'significant' and 'large' sinkhole.
Shortly after 9 a.m. on June 9, Whitefish Bay police were called to the scene off of Lake Drive where they blocked off the sinkhole with caution tape and cones.
Soon after, the department posted warnings on social media, cautioning residents to avoid the entrance to Big Bay Park/Buckley Park, 5000 N. Lake Drive, until the dangerous cavity can be repaired.
Matt Collins, director of public works for the village, said no one observed the sinkhole occur in person, but a neighbor's Ring camera caught it, which helped authorities confirm nobody was hurt.
As the area gets secured, Collins said staff are focusing on the next critical aspect: getting stormwater utility infrastructure (around 70 feet below the ground where the sinkhole occurred) up and running again.
Collins said the infrastructure, which channels stormwater utility drainage into Lake Michigan, failed.
"It’s a very unique area that has failed," he said.
Meanwhile, he said the problem comes at a time when staff are also starting to discuss the condition of Whitefish Bay's utility infrastructure as a whole.
No one was injured by the sinkhole, per a neighbor's Ring camera
While no one observed the sinkhole occur, a neighbor's Ring Camera captured it, which helped authorities confirm nobody was hurt.
Collins said that's a relief, because the sinkhole is located on a multi-use path connecting both Big Bay and Buckley parks.
"Our primary concern was securing the area, making sure it's safe and no one was injured. And we were able to check those temporary safety boxes pretty promptly (Sunday)," Collins said.
Village staff didn't take exact measurements, but Collins said the hole is around 20 feet deep, 20 feet long and 15 feet wide.
Site still an 'active area of concern,' as sinkhole could expand
The village is urging residents and visitors to avoid the area.
Collins said the Public Works Department is working to arrange more permanent construction staging fencing to keep people away.
"This is an active area of concern still for us," he said, warning of the possibility that the sinkhole could continue to expand outwards.
Collapse caused by compromised stormwater utility infrastructure
The village is still investigating, but Collins said there's a direct correlation between the sinkhole and the village's 90-year-old sewer utility infrastructure in that area.
"We are dealing with a very old aging infrastructure here," he said.
Even still, the sinkhole was a surprise to the department, and it hadn't been on their radar, he said.
This isn't the only utility infrastructure in Whitefish Bay that dates back to when the village was first established.
Collins wouldn't speculate on other areas that might be compromised, but said the village is investigating, currently seeking engineering plans within village archives.
Coincidentally, Buckley Park happens to be named after one of Whitefish Bay's village engineers from the 1930s, potentially around when the infrastructure was built, said Whitefish Bay Village President Kevin Buckley (who is no relation to the engineer).
Repair won't be a quick fix or an easy endeavor
Around 70 feet below the park grounds where the sinkhole occurred is the stormwater outfall pipe that drains between 15% and 20% of the village's stormwater into Lake Michigan.
Collins said it's too early to provide a timeline for when the village will have the sinkhole fixed. It's also too early to tell when stormwater utilities will be running normally again and when investigations into other old utility infrastructure will be conducted.
He did say none of it would be quick, estimating it will take a lot of time and effort.
He said staff are meeting with designers, engineers and contractors to hash out both short- and long-term solutions.
"We're expediting as much as humanly possible, but we want to make sure that we're thorough," Collins said.
He said the area where the adjacent Buckley and Big Bay parks are located is home to a lot of infrastructure underground, including sanitary and energy infrastructure.
Another challenge he foresees is that the sinkhole is very close to the highly-trafficked Lake Drive.
Public Works meeting on June 11 could declare state of emergency in Whitefish Bay
Monday afternoon, the village posted an amended agenda for its Tuesday, June 11, Public Works Committee meeting at 4 p.m.
The updated agenda includes a resolution to declare a state of emergency in Whitefish Bay because of the sinkhole.
According to the resolution, the status would enable the village to bypass the need for a competitive bidding process to repair the sinkhole.
Collins said the meeting will contain discussion and updates on the situation as well.
This is Whitefish Bay's first sinkhole on record, but the village is not alone
While there have been other sinkholes recently in Milwaukee County ― namely, one along the Oak Leaf Trail in 2020 and another along the Hank Aaron State Trail in 2023 ― this is the first sinkhole the Village of Whitefish Bay has on record, Collins said.
Others in recent years have included West Allis in 2018 and the Humboldt Bridge in 2011.
