River Revitalization Foundation

Our Mission:

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.

Our 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.

Our Organizational 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.

The indicators are:

• 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 lake front
• 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.