MILWAUKEE — A life-size statue honoring Halyard Park developer Beechie Brooks was unveiled near North 6th and West Brown streets, close to the home where his vision for the Milwaukee neighborhood began. The ceremony marked a milestone for Brooks’ family and residents of the predominantly Black neighborhood. His daughter, Cassandra Brooks, said the tribute recognizes the persistence her father showed when others doubted his plans. Beechie Brooks built a house for his family in the area during the 1970s. He later constructed 41 additional homes, bringing the neighborhood’s total to 42 houses. “That was a pretty big deal for African-American people in the community at the time,” Cassandra Brooks said. She recalled that skepticism only strengthened her father’s resolve. When people told him the development would not happen, she said, Brooks became more determined to complete it. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson described Brooks as a visionary whose work created what he called a “jewel” of a neighborhood. Johnson said Brooks’ lasting impact made him the kind of community figure whose contributions merit a public monument. For Brooks’ family, the statue offers more than a marker of the past. Cassandra Brooks said it gives current and future residents a visible reminder that one person’s commitment helped shape the community around them. The statue stands outside the original Brooks home, linking the family’s history to the neighborhood that grew from it. The house and Halyard Park remain in place, while the monument adds a permanent public tribute to the man who helped build them.