River Revitalization Foundation By: Aaron Schwerma and Jeremy Turnmeyer board.html

History The River Revitalization Foundation was established in 1994 by two of the larger service clubs in Wisconsin the Kiwanis and Rotary. They were recommended made by the Milwaukee River Revitalization Council to improve the environmental quality of the Milwaukee River Basin.

Some brief history of the Milwaukee River Valley The Milwaukee River Valley was a was at one point an area of commerce and recreation. During the summer and winter months you were able to swim, go canoeing and what not and during the winter months ice-skating and ice chopping was an every day occurrence. Another reason why the Milwaukee river had become such a popular destination was of its locally owned beer gardens that allowed people to canoe up and down the river to different breweries and enjoy a night out. But for the last half century, the Milwaukee river had become a symbol of division between race in the neighborhoods bordering the valley. But with the recent removal of the dam at North Avenue combined with water quality efforts throughout the river basin has change the attitudes of many people. They are becoming aware that these lands are being threatened with residential and commercial development as housing moves up the Milwaukee River.

Milwaukee River Valley/Basin Milwaukee is located at the joining of three rivers (the Milwaukee, the Menomonee, and the Kinnickinnic) which all drain into Lake Michigan. The rivers connect to one another at some point in downtown Milwaukee to form one of the largest freshwater estuaries in the lower half of Wisconsin. There is an estimated 500 miles of streams and more than a 100 different lakes that all come together to form the Milwaukee River Basin. All together the total amount of land that contributes to this river valley is an estimated 900 square miles. Population wise the Milwaukee River Valley is home to more than 1.5 million people consisting of 7 counties, 31 townships, 12 cities and 23 villages.

Example of the Milwaukee River Basin

River Revitalization Foundation The River Revitalization Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization. In a way they are this areas urban land trust. Their goal is to protect the land that is adjacent to the river meaning what lies on the rivers edges and by that I mean the rivers shore line and surrounding parks. They are there to improve public access to this area as well as help re- introduce and protect native and wild species of animals and even help to stop this area’s local invasive species. Recently they have opened and maintained trails along side the river allowing people to have open access to running, walking, jogging and other leisure activates.

Mission Statement The mission of the River Revitalization Foundation is to establish a parkway for public access, walkways, recreation and education, bordering the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers; to use the rivers to revitalize surrounding neighborhoods; and to improve water quality. From the past to the future, we are committed to the return of this vital natural resource for all as Milwaukee's urban rivers land trust

Their Vision The River Revitalization Foundation advocates environmental conservation, public access and sensitive recreation in metro Milwaukee's river watersheds. To address critical land use issues and further the greenway concept, our primary focus includes ensuring: Public access Preservation of the River Valley Preservation of green space in a dense urban area Riparian buffers against encroaching development Links with neighborhoods on both sides of the river Conservation of critical habitat and wildlife areas By convening partners with shared vision, values and mission, we can influence planning decisions made along this corridor

Organized Goals Our long-term goal is to recreate the urban landscape using the river as a focal point. As a land trust, we will impact the quality of life through neighborhood restoration, economic vitality, conservation of natural areas, and creation of public access to these natural areas and open spaces. “Green infrastructure” addresses this concept; by incorporating open space in urban planning, we have relief, through access to these spaces, from the intensity and pace of a dense urban environment. The community would be enhanced in many ways. Greenway established Areas for passive recreation and fitness as well as environmental study Protection of a linear corridor for wildlife habitat and migration, and aesthetic appreciation Enhancement of the quality of life and pride in the nearby neighborhoods as well as for the Milwaukee community at large by protecting natural areas from encroaching development Links created with the existing Oak Leaf Trail, connecting east side to northern communities with a trail to downtown, and to the lakefront Connection with other efforts bringing pedestrians and cyclists to the Milwaukee River such as the proposed pedestrian bridge over the North Avenue dam and the “marsupial bridge” under the Holton Street viaduct Opportunities for tourists to explore the natural river environment.

Connection to The Ecosystem! The work of the River Revitalization Foundation as taken a tremendous toll on The Milwaukee River Basin. With help from its two partners Friends Of Milwaukee’s River’s and the Urban Ecology Center they have teamed up to become a nationally well known provider of its access to the natural environment. The next few slides will show how together River Revitalization has formed to team with surrounding area originations to tackle one of the area largest projects.

Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers The Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers is basically designed to be the area’s “River keeper”. There job is being able to recognize the protecting of the Milwaukee River’s water quality. They identify sources of pollution which are coming from industrial, agricultural, construction sites and Milwaukee's own municipal sources. Currently they held a local watershed cleanup in which consisted of cleaning up local rivers and streams and brought an estimated amount of 3,000 people.

Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers The Urban Ecology Center is a nationally well know leader in the surrounding area that is able to provide access to the natural environment. It is a neighborhood- based, environmental education, nonprofit community center. The “green” building in Riverside Park is there main office, it has resource areas and classrooms, and is home to live animals They offer hands on educational experience for all ages. They offer many programs to bring in visitors by allowing them to be closer to nature. The are able to teach children and adults about the natural world using the cities public parks and waterways. In a sense the Urban Ecology Center is a safe area for children and adults to learn and grow and a great way to connect to your neighbors and community. There main goal is just trying to educate and inspire people to understand and value nature and to make a positive change.

Other Partners Wisconsin DNR Milwaukee County Parks City of Milwaukee National Park Service, Rivers and Trails MMSD Greenseams

Question 1 After reading and seeing what these programs are about it seems that River Revitalization Foundation is part of a Nationally well known dream. They are connected with there two other partners to help develop relationships between the community and the neighborhood. All together they are able to bring together the community with hands on projects that allows kids and adults and I guess all ages to become aware and to allow them to become aware of local issues and to show how they can help. The efforts that our organization as well as the two other organizations and as for fact the community and neighborhoods team up with they will be able ensure that the Milwaukee River Valley will once again be an area of leisure and activities by taking small steps at a time.

Question 2 The River Revitalization Foundation addresses the differences and inequalities in the urban environment in many ways. First and foremost the River Revitalization Foundation provides space in the city that allows families to go out and experience the outdoors. There are very few areas in the city of Milwaukee where anyone can experience the outdoors as they can along the Beer Line Trail. The River Revitalization Foundation cleaned up the Milwaukee River through the cutting of trails, planting trees, clearing of evasive species, and the overall clean up of the mile long shore of the Milwaukee River. Providing these trails allows area residents to enjoy a peaceful walk or jog down the Beer line Trail. When a wealthier family can spend their money on a cabin “Up-north” to experience the outdoors, a lower income family can afford to take a day and have a picnic at Gordon Park and not break the bank. They will enjoy the scenery that the River Revitalization Foundation has worked so hard to keep beautiful and pure. The River Revitalization Foundation has given life to a once prospering area through the help and backing of the surrounding community.

Question 3 Some limitations that our organization has is mainly based on money and volunteer work. Every year the cost of supplies and land reaches a point where obviously funds are need to be met not just cause River Revitalization is a non- profit organization but under simple economic struggles is making some areas hard to progress. River Revitalization relies mainly on funds that are given from different companies and agencies to help with the maintaining of local lands. Not only money is a problem but volunteer work is a must need in order to progress with projects. River Revitalization is lucky to have its many local area partners to help with Milwaukee’s local issues of land management and off shore as well as river pollution and even the introduction of invasive species. Together these organizations are able to attract and educate community members by allowing them to be a part of projects and hands on down and dirty work to show that even small baby steps are able to make a change in the Milwaukee River.

Pictures of our experience!!!

Trail Cleanup/Restoration/Garbage cleanup

Planting Tree’s along Beer line Trail/Garbage cleanup

Summary After being able to work along side volunteers and partners of the River Revitalization Foundation we have learned a great deal and respect for the environment and its surroundings. We have seen what people as a community and such have done to the environment not only by the means of pollution coming from street runoff, local industries as well as urban development but by also the up bringing of invasive species that have taken over parts of our forests, lands and water. We were introduced to Milwaukee’s River Valley on are first hike. We were given a tour along the Beerline Trail which is located over by Riverview Dorms off of the UW Campus. We walked the stretch of Gordon Park and then down below on trails made for recreation use. We were given a sense of what these organizations are all about they gave us a brief history on what these lands used to be like before and after the construction of the North Avenue Dam, and how they are trying to do to bring back this area to what it once was. We have been on a few different programs that these organizations and brought together and I like how they bring in the community and local surrounding areas together to help make people aware as well as by letting people volunteer and getting there hands dirty. There is no other way than for people to be apart of something in order to learn and care for the environment than to be apart of something. With our experience we hope that the volunteer and the effort of these organizations never fades away they are doing a great deal bringing the community, neighborhoods and city together to create a vision for the future of the Milwaukee River Valley.