Hello! I am Kelly Martyka, the new Director of Development!
I am AMPED to be here! And I love parks.
I grew up on the south side of Milwaukee – and parks were KEY to growing up! I swam regularly at Wilson Park Pool or Pulaski in winter. Road bikes with my brother to Wedgewood and McCarty Parks and some MKE Rec parks and playgrounds. Headed down to South Shore, Cupertino, McKinley, and Veterans for special community events with the family. And celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and baby showers in pavilions and parks like Zablocki, Jackson, Kosciuszko, and Humboldt. Parks were essential to growing up in Milwaukee.
As an adult, I’ve appreciated parks around the county even more, as opportunities to take a break between home visit appointments, eat a peaceful lunch, or take a quick nap. Safe, beautiful, green spaces can be hard to come by in most cities around the nation, but Milwaukee County has over 150 opportunities!
When I first heard of Milwaukee Parks Foundation, I was so surprised by the statistics and need. I had grown up in parks. They were everywhere. They were bright spots in my neighborhood and communities. I didn’t know just how imminent and possible it was to lose parks entirely. It never occurred to me that they were so underfunded and under-resourced, on purpose. Parks have been connections to my family, my history, and my hometown my entire life. Even when I had not been in Milwaukee, parks were pillars of calm, ease, restfulness. Some things that was hard to come by sometimes.
So, in 2022, I was fortunate to connect with Becky and totally hit it off. Let me tell you, it is HARD to make friends as an adult. So, I joined the finance and investment committee. It was fun to see where the foundation had come from and where it was going. I loved volunteering at events and having the inside scoop on all things parks.
A year later, I joined the board of directors from the enthusiastic Ayrton. It was still more volunteering, activation, participation. It was so fun and so unique. MPF is a different animal than so many other organizations. That’s what made the commitment fun and interesting.
A year after that, I was elected to the executive committee as Treasurer. And just a few months after that, Becky called me and said, “Remember when you said if there is anything you can do, just call? So, I am.” And I joined the MPF team part-time as Program and Partnerships consultant for spring and summer of 2025. It was an easy choice, and one I am so glad I took the chance on.
In September, I joined the team full-time as Director of Development. It’s the perfect fit for me. I love the specific, understandable, community oriented and even sometimes community directed goals. I appreciate the deep commitment and connection MPF is making to county parks but also to the communities they serve. I could not be more honored to steward a thriving park system for the communities that have raised me, loved me, supported me, and that I am so grateful to be part of and connected to.
I still love parks! I got a great tan this summer just from working! I cannot say enough how this organization from the board, committees, volunteers, partners, and staff have welcomed me. The board and committees are so committed to the mission. Our partners love and understand our communities so deeply. My colleagues are smart, silly, honest, compelling people who believe in our work and most importantly, each other.
I am so thankful to be here and can not wait for what’s next! Talk about a parktacular moment!