Milwaukee Central Park

Milwaukee Riverkeeper and our partners on the Milwaukee River Work Group are excited that the Milwaukee Common Council passed the Milwaukee River Greenway (aka Central Park) Overlay District legislation this summer, which will protect over 8 miles of river, and over 847 acres of floodplain and riverfront habitat from the former North Avenue Dam to Silver Spring Road in Milwaukee. This legislation creates a special zoning overlay district, which will protect the primary environmental corridor or sensitive lands along the river from future development and vegetation removal activities.

The regulations also establish a setback from the top of the river bluffs; establish height guidelines for buildings to protect scenic beauty; protect the vegetated areas along the river; and create enhanced stormwater guidelines for development projects within the overlay zone. We are still working on finalizing the forestry regulations and permitting process, but expect all legislation to be in place by the end of the summer. We are also excited to announce the completion of the Milwaukee River Greenway Master Plan. 

The Master Plan sets in place a structure for action to advance improvements to the river corridor within the same general boundaries of the Overlay Zone, although including portions of Shorewood and Glendale. The Master Plan focuses on protecting the value of this area as a recreational resource and ecological gem, as well as sets forth actions for improving the corridor including: river access and trail improvements; remediation of contamination; habitat restoration and creation of critical habitat protection areas; and setting forth a governance structure that will help prioritize, fundraise, and implement future work.