River Revitalization Foundation

RRF as a Land Trust
Land Trusts are established to protect land and water resources for the public benefit. River Revitalization Foundation is serving as the urban rivers land trust in Milwaukee, caring for the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers. We focus on conservation and protection of riparian corridors. This is done through land acquisition, easements, connecting green space, creating a parkway which provides public access to the river valley, and landowner education.

We currently own land two parcels; nearly 5 acres in Riverwest just south of Gordon Park, and a 2.34 acre parcel along Southbranch Creek, a tributary to the Milwaukee River, in the Village of Brown Deer. RRF is a partner organization with the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG) working to protect the Milwaukee River (see home page Milwaukee Central Park link). Our guiding document, The Riverway Plan (1991), contains goals, priority recommendations and strategies to implement the plan’s main objective: to create a continuous environmental corridor, or greenway, along the Milwaukee River and address issues affecting water quality. As a land trust, we can position ourselves to accept donations of land, and can further these goals to permanently protect additional lands along the Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic and Menomonee Rivers.

This direction, approved by the board of directors in December 2003, requires increased capacity and formulation of a land protection plan, in conjunction with our land acquisition goals already defined:

• Increase and improve public access to the river and to existing green space (utilizing the Green Infrastructure for Tomorrow “GIFT” plan among others)
• Identify new public green spaces and trails connecting existing parks, (utilizing existing plans such as SEWRPC’s Natural Areas Plan and MMSD’s Conservation Plan among others)
• Expand recreational opportunities (especially passive recreation)
• Add to public enjoyment of scenic beauty, wildlife and plant species,
• Preserve and protect wildlife habitat in these natural areas,
• Promote sound land use and smart growth policies.

The Milwaukee River and its adjoining lands form an extensive and highly valuable natural resource providing both a huge potential and challenge for environmental and habitat protection, water quality improvement, and human enjoyment and recreation. The River Revitalization Foundation along with our partners will continue its focus on environmental protection as a steward of the entire Milwaukee River Basin. Wisconsin’s largest metropolitan area, Milwaukee County, with a population of over 950,000, will benefit from the protection of this resource. Once it is lost, it can never be recovered.

Our Beginnings
The River Revitalization Foundation was established in 1994 by two of the larger service clubs in Wisconsin: Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee, and the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, in response to recommendations made by the Milwaukee River Revitalization Council to improve the environmental quality of the Milwaukee River Basin. These recommendations are found in the Riverway Plan (1991), our guiding document.

Our Partners

The River Revitalization Foundation works in cooperation with:

• State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Milwaukee County
• City of Milwaukee
• Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District (Greenseams program administered by The Conservation Fund), 
• National Park Service
• Gathering Waters Conservancy
• Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee
• Rotary Club of Milwaukee
• Milwaukee River Revitalization Council
• and private landowners along the Milwaukee River.

Charitable Status

The River Revitalization Foundation is a certified non-profit 501(c)(3) conservation organization