Light the Hoan will begin work to add lights to the east side of the iconic Milwaukee bridge this month, so that both sides of the span will be illuminated.
The new lights won’t only be visible to boaters and ships out on Lake Michigan, but also to folks along much of the lakefront, including from Veterans Park, Lakeshore State Park, Discovery World, the Summerfest grounds, South Shore Park and more.
Passengers on flights in and out of Mitchell Airport will also see them, and the lighted bridge will surely be a sight to see for cruise ships coming and going at dusk and later.
The installation is expected to be complete in June, in time for the summer festival and boating season. An official lighting ceremony will be announced at a later date.
The west side of the bridge has been lit since 2020.
“We’ve seen incredible momentum from the community, and we’re excited to bring the east side of the Hoan Bridge to life,” said Light the Hoan Executive Director Erika Smith. “Every donation and partnership has played a role in making this moment possible, and we’re optimistic about what’s ahead for both Light the Hoan and the entire Milwaukee community.
“The Hoan Bridge is more than a piece of infrastructure - it’s Milwaukee’s bridge. Over the past five years, it has become a symbol of our city’s resilience, progress, and creativity. This next phase of lighting is something we can all celebrate – as it will now be visible from Milwaukee’s south lakefront and even to those flying into the city.”
The lights have been hugely popular in the city, with a variety of light shows and color combinations marking special occasions.
Sponsorships, bulb dedications and donations are still available. For more information, visit LightTheHoan.com.
“Our goal is to complete the project by June so that Milwaukee can enjoy a fully illuminated Hoan Bridge just in time for the city’s vibrant summer season filled with festivals, gatherings and lakefront events,” Smith said.
“We know how much this means to the city, and we’re working hard to make it a reality.”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
