Milwaukee River Greenway Master Plan
Download Complete PDF
Master Plan - Executive Summary
The flow of water from the Milwaukee River
into the Great Lakes has been and will continue
to be a story that shapes Milwaukee.
As the City is poised to take its place as the
fresh water capitol of the world, the story of
how we safeguard this resource becomes
preeminent.
The Milwaukee River Greenway Master Plan
(Plan) creates a comprehensive strategy for
the river’s renaissance. The Plan sets forth
a vision for a unique urban wilderness containing
restored natural communities and
shared recreational opportunities.
The Plan provides guidance for the formation
of the Milwaukee River Greenway Coalition
and identifies this group as the leader
of a work plan that builds on the $9-10 million
dollars that has already been invested
in the corridor. The Coalition anticipates
maturation into a completely self-funded organization
with the ability to unlock at least
$16.5 million additional dollars to restore a
shared open space system containing a
major waterway, numerous parks, and areas
of urban wilderness in the heart of the city.
A new 13 mile “Loop and Link” shared use
trail along the riverside is shown that will
give residents and visitors an opportunity to
reconnect with nature and each other. The
Plan includes steps for habitat restoration for
the Primary Environmental Corridor (more
than 500 acres!) to enhance the ecological
integrity of communities of plants and
animals that include a diversity of birds, fish,
bats, reptiles and amphibian species.
The Plan also prioritizes branding and graphic
design development to create a signage
program that will create a coherent identity
for the seven mile stretch of river that reveals
and celebrates all of the natural assets and
recreational opportunities available to users.
Enhanced access points and improved
gateways will provide both greater access
and greater stewardship.
The work plan has identified initiatives for
improvements within the corridor in the five
principal categories of remediation, restoration,
signs, governance, and trails. Specific
organizations that are already on track to
accomplish these tasks have been identified
and phases of work anticipated over
the next 15 years has been included.
The Plan is a working document designed
to establish priorities and direction for future
projects that will lead to restoration and
rediscovery of this unique stretch of river.
The Greenway is poised to become an outstanding
local resource and a world-class
destination that enables natural and urban
communities to thrive.
What other cities are doing:
As Milwaukee developed its master plan we wanted to see what other cities
across the nation were doing to protect and improve their urban rivers.
Here are some links: