Transformational Park Event Kickoff Today On Milwaukee East Side

Show up at the former Wheelhouse restaurant site on the Milwaukee River this afternoon as a terrific restoration partnership gets launched.

Details below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

River Revitalization Foundation Purchases Milwaukee River Property

Site to be Transformed into an Urban Waterfront Park

DNR Secretary Matt Frank to join Earth Day Kick-off!


April 26, 2010 --

Who: River Revitalization Foundation

What: Wheelhouse campaign kick-off and reception with DNR Secretary Matt Frank

When: Monday, April 26th 2:45 PM

Where: 2176 N. Riverboat Rd. and reception to follow at Bayou Cajun Restaurant

Why: Celebrate Earth Day and Conservation in the City!

River Revitalization Foundation, Milwaukee’s urban rivers land trust, will celebrate Earth Day with a press conference and reception at the site of their most recent land conservation purchase:

The Melanec’s Wheelhouse is a 2.8 acre river front parcel with nearly 650 feet of shoreline, adjacent to the 800-acre Milwaukee River Greenway upstream from the former North Avenue dam. A transition between the estuary, the RiverWalk downtown and the natural river valley, this blighted site will be transformed into a riverfront park, becoming the 4th within a 2.5 mile loop of parks and trails including Caesar's, Riverside and Gordon.

With restoration, the site will provide public access to additional greenspace in the city, bank stabilization and floodplain protection, habitat for endangered species and increased recreational opportunities.

The project will serve all the residents of the City and County of Milwaukee, specifically 200,000 residing within 1 mile of the site. Neighborhoods on both sides of the river will have better access to the Beerline Loop of trails on the East and West banks connected to this site at the North Avenue dam pedestrian bridge and to the Rotary Arboretum.

We will also recruit and employ urban youth as ecological restoration interns through the City's Earn & Learn program to assist with ecological restoration.