The desert dome at the Mitchell Park Conservatory was closed on Friday after Parks Department employees discovered a fallen piece of concrete.
No one was injured.
“We closed the dome just to be on the safe side and had an inspection on Friday,” said Sandy Folaron, director of the domes.
A “small piece” of concrete fell from the desert dome’s ceiling structure but did not damage the exhibit or any plants, Folaron said. She declined to provide additional information about the size of the concrete piece.
Folaron said she is waiting for the Parks Department to relay the results of the inspection.
Melissa Baldauff, a spokesperson for County Executive Chris Abele, would not say how long the desert dome will be closed or what caused the concrete to fall.
“After discovering a piece of fallen concrete at the Arid Dome, the Parks Department consulted with Risk Management and an independent engineering firm to determine the best course of action to ensure the safety of our employees and the public,” said Parks Director John Dargle “Per their recommendation, we have temporarily closed the Arid Dome until further safety evaluations and planning can be completed.”
See more in a report from WISN-TV Channel 12, a media partner of BizTimes Milwaukee.
