This effort is being made in conjunction with the private development of a park to be known as Burns Common. A roughly triangular parcel of land located on the East side of Milwaukee (bordered by Prospect and E. Ogden avenues, N. Franlink Place and E. Knapp Street) is to be converted into Burns Common, according to an article in the October 29, 1999 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. The new Common is to include sculptures, benches, traditional lighting, and stone and brick walkways. Completion of the project is scheduled for next Spring. The Burns Monument site is directly south of and adjacent to the new Burns Common. The cost of renovating the monument site is estimated at $20,000 to $25,000. Funds for the renovation are coming from local organizations and are being matched by the County.

At the November 17, 1999 meeting of the Robert Burns Club of Milwaukee, members passed a motion for the Club to donate $1,000 toward the project. The donation includes the Club's Monument Lighting Fund, plus a donation from the Club's general treasury. This, in addition to $8,000 donated by the St. Andrews Society and other organizations, and matched by the County, comes close to covering the cost of the effort.

Additional donations are still needed. Here for more information on the monument project.