East Bank Pedestrian Trail Completed!!

On Wednesday, July 26, RRF and partners dedicated a new ADA-accessible walking trail that will allow better access to the Milwaukee River in one of the most densely populated areas of the city. The East Bank Trail is a soft pedestrian trail on the East bank of the Milwaukee River, linking Caesar's Park on the South to Riverside Park and the Urban Ecology Center on the North. It is part of a larger loop of pedestrian and paved trails called the 'Beerline Loop' that extends from Commerce Street up to Locust Street on both sides of the river and will create alternative transportation options and recreational opportunities for neighborhood residents and visitors.

"By creating this new East Bank Trail with our partners, we are protecting the environmentally sensitive wetland area along the river that people were previously accessing on an unmanaged, unauthorized path," says Kimberly Gleffe, Executive Director of River Revitalization Foundation. "Also, neighbors and visitors can now enjoy an easier and more reliable walking path that won't flood out every time it rains."

The Milwaukee River is a nationally recognized environmental jewel that River Revitalization Foundation is working to preserve and protect for future generations to enjoy. A new public art installation of two, Native American-inspired turtles constructed in concrete, tile, and steel designed by Marina Lee and Chris Leslie, two Riverwest artists, are featured at each end of the trail, commemorating the completion of the trail and recognition of donors to the trail project.

We thank our many donors who made this project possible:

Wisconsin Coastal Management Program    $90,000
(40% of project budget: grant awarded to Milwaukee County Parks)
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
William & Alicia Schoeneich Conservation and Preservation Fund
John C. & Harriett Cleaver Fund
Lenore T. Zinn Environmental Fund
David & Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation

Helen Bader Foundation
We Energies and the Wisconsin Energy
Corporation Foundation
Cheri Briscoe
Wisconsin Preservation Fund
Stevens Family Foundation
Rotary Club of Milwaukee
Victoria Wellens
Alterra Coffee Roasters
Inbusch Foundation
Charlie Trainer
Bill Lynch and Barbara Manger
Charles D. Ortgiesen Foundation
Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee
Frank Thometz
Richard Schmidt
Badger Meter Foundation
Grootemaat Foundation
Robo Brumder
Charla Reetz
Brady Street BID #11
Associated General Contractors
of Greater Milwaukee

In-kind donors and service/materials provided:

Partners in the project included:

Wisconsin Coastal Management Program; Milwaukee County Parks;
City of Milwaukee; National Park Service Rivers & Trails; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; private landowners; youth from the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program; Washington High School students placed through United Water’s Internship Program; and additional crew hired through a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.

Land Preserved in Village of Brown Deer Moving Upstream

The River Revitalization Foundation (RRF) with the support of the Village of Brown Deer and financing from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Fund has an accepted offer to purchase 2.2 acres of property near 8400 N. Green Bay Rd. The property is situated just south of the intersection of Teutonia Avenue and Green Bay Road and is bordered by Southbranch Creek which flows into the Milwaukee River. This parcel has long belonged to the family of Richard Koch, the first president of the Village of Brown Deer. We thank the Koch family for their conservation values and interest in seeing this property protected for future generations.

In recent times the property has become overgrown with invasive species of plants and the stream bank of Southbranch Creek has eroded significantly. It is the intention of RRF to restore native vegetation to the site and preserve the land from development in perpetuity. Furthermore, the Village and RRF envision this site as an access point and convenient “rest area” on an extension of the Brown Deer Recreational Trail that would run adjacent to the west side of the property along the We Energies transmission line right of way. The property will be owned by the River Revitalization Foundation and there will be a public access point onto the site for passive recreational purposes. The long term maintenance of the natural area will be coordinated by RRF with the support of local volunteers. It is anticipated that the preservation of this land will add to the recreational opportunities and green space amenities of Brown Deer residents for generations to come. All of these efforts will be planned in conjunction with the redevelopment planned for the Village where there will be a great deal of new construction in the Village, breathing “new life” into locations that have been in need of an economic development catalyst.

For more information about this project or to support the restoration of this site, call the RRF office at 414.271.8000 or contact the Village of Brown Deer Community Services Department.

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Awards RRF a $70,000 Riparian Restoration Grant!

A $70,000 grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation has allowed RRF to achieve the following project objectives:

• Remove invasive herbaceous plants and trees including Japanese knotweed, burdock, garlic mustard, sweet clover, buckthorn and purple loosestrife from approximately 200 feet of riparian buffer on both sides of a 1.5 mile stretch
of the Milwaukee River.

• Plant 100 native trees that range in size from 6-10 feet tall.

• Plant 1,000 native tree seedlings and 5,000 native herbaceous plugs (1-2 year old forbs and grasses).

• Educate local residents about the importance and identification of native vs. non-native plants and their impacts on fisheries and aquatic habitat.

• Recruit and train local high school and college students to assist in volunteer work to implement and restore the project site.

With the assistance of many partners who have provided in-kind services or other donations to this project, the river valley is beginning to have the look of extensive restoration efforts. Thanks are due to the following:

Applied Ecological Services – Preparation of a planting and management plan, 5,000 plants, and donated grass seed

Greening Milwaukee – Donation of 20 6-10 foot tall trees and the labor and materials needed to plant the trees. Greening Milwaukee also donated trees last Earth Day which were planted along the beerline trail on the West bank of the river. Thanks to Joe Wilson for his continued support!

Urban Ecology Center – Space for the crew to “park their stuff”, volunteer recruitment assistance as well as education resources for our urban youth.

The Park People – Providing “Weed-Out!” volunteers for the project as well as plant identification training.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Consultation with partners for the most effective and appropriate restoration techniques for maximal, long-term aquatic habitat enhancement. Thanks to Will Wawrzyn for his many hours of guidance on this project.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Educational resources about the causes and consequences of exotic plant invasion into natural plant communities. Thanks to Dr. Stefan Schnitzer for his guidance on this project.

Riverwest Currents – for publishing articles on invasive species and informing the public about this restoration project through this neighborhood newspaper. Thanks to all the residents of Riverwest and the RNA for their ongoing support!

United Water Milwaukee – through a partnership with Washington High School, five student interns were hired and joined the RRF crew for 8 weeks. We anticipate continuing this partnership in the summer of 2007.

City of Milwaukee – through the Mayor’s summer youth employment program, six youth workers were employed to join the crew. A great opportunity for both the youth and nonprofit organizations in the City of Milwaukee!

Special thanks to the staff and crew who worked tirelessly all summer to make this project a success! We can all look back and feel satisfaction about your involvement and the improvements that were made because of you: Vince Bushell and Kristen Wilhelm – RRF staff; and students: Nisa Karimi (crew leader), Kerem Berberoglu, HaJeong Lee, Derek Dunn, Adam Wundrow, Miya DeBaker, Harrison Thoe, Jamie Brady (teacher), Sparkle Jenkins, Brittany Clay, Zaharo Mberwa, Zahrah Dillard, Brianna Phillips, Clarence Hamilton, Demetris Dyes, Allie Schwartz, Rachel Soika, Matthew Turner. All the best in your future pursuits!