Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee County explores building trails on north and northwest sides
Milwaukee River’s ecology has been helped by removal of several dams
At one time, seven working dams suspended the Milwaukee River’s natural flow. With a few now removed, the river ecology has improved.
The west and northwest sides of Milwaukee have limited access to recreational trails, but Milwaukee County is exploring ways to change that.
As a result, the county is conducting a feasibility study and seeking community feedback on the possibility of building a bike and pedestrian trail that would connect Milwaukee’s northwest side neighborhoods to the local trail network, according to a press release from the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation.
The study will evaluate potential trail route options for a 7-mile corridor along the 30th Street railroad between the Hank Aaron State Trail and Havenwoods State Forest, which could connect several regional trail systems and create an 18-mile Milwaukee Loop that includes portions of the Hank Aaron State Trail, the Oak Leaf Trail, and the Beerline Trail.
Those interested in the topic can attend a public information and discussion meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at 3100 W. Center St., known as Community Within the Corridor complex. Additional meetings will be planned in April and throughout the summer.
The county also has an online survey open through March 6. An interactive map is publicly available where those interested can share the locations they would access most if a shared-use trail were available.
The study is facilitated by the county’s Department of Transportation through a Transportation Alternatives Grant administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. It will be completed in mid-2027.
Future phases surrounding the trail’s design and construction will be dependent on the county’s ability to obtain funding.
Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.