About Kyle Prast and Practically Speaking

My husband and I moved to Brookfield from Milwaukee's not-so-fashionable Riverwest area in 1986. Putting all our savings on the line, we purchased a 1942 fixer-upper on Kinsey Park Drive that had great potential.  We treasured what this community offered us: a rural setting, convenient location, and low taxes. After 21 years here, I still feel truly blessed to live in such a great neighborhood.

I've always enjoyed the creative process of working with my hands, so perusing a degree in Clothing, Textiles, and Design with an art minor was a natural choice for me. My job at The Milwaukee Ballet as costume shop manager utilized my creative and practical skills. When our son was born, I became a full time mom. Homeschooling has kept me busy for the past 13 years; it has been challenging but rewarding. My other interests include: cooking, home improvement projects, gardening, travel, natural medicine, and history.

If you asked me 4 years ago if I was interested in local politics, I would have answered resoundingly, NO! But then our city bulldozed a wide swath through Kinsey Park woods for a streambank project. The following year I read a letter in the Brookfield News opposing a proposed 8 foot wide paved bike road slated to traverse that woods. It was the first time I had heard anything about the project. Our neighborhood was horrified-we all enjoyed the sense of wildness that native woodland gave us. Working together, we defeated the plan. That experience showed me the importance of having an immediate, local information source. I started a neighborhood website, which evolved into my brookfield7 blog and Suburb Savers email alerts. I don't claim to have all of the answers, but hopefully, I will get you thinking and help you identify issues you need to investigate further.

I look forward to hearing your ideas and comments. Email me at Practicallyspeaking@gmail.com