Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

Milwaukee NNSnewsMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University


Language: English English Spanish Spanish

You are here: Home / Posts from Community / Donors give a lasting legacy to Milwaukee community

Donors give a lasting legacy to Milwaukee community

March 15, 2015 by Menomonee Valley Partners Leave a Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

On Thursday, March 12, Menomonee Valley Partners and the Urban Ecology Center announce and celebrate the completion of the campaign to fund the Menomonee Valley – From the Ground Up effort, a series of interconnected projects to improve access to jobs, environmental education, outdoor recreation, and neighborhood vitality.

The $25 million effort includes the development of Three Bridges Park from a former vacant rail yard; the opening of the Urban Ecology Center’s Menomonee Valley branch, which provides environmental science education to neighborhood schools and community programming of the park; and a six-mile extension of the Hank Aaron State Trail. The implementation of these projects is the result of a partnership between Menomonee Valley Partners, Urban Ecology Center, the State of Wisconsin, and City of Milwaukee aimed at improving access to jobs, science education, environmental and public health, and neighborhood vitality.

More than 350 individuals, organizations, companies, and foundations contributed to the fundraising effort, with gifts ranging from $10 to $2.3 million. “The level of community engagement in the project has been incredible,” said Corey Zetts, Executive Director of Menomonee Valley Partners. “Transforming this area of the city into a place that connects people to jobs, to nature, and to each other required deep collaboration. This vision has become a reality because of the partnership, determination, and generosity of so many in our community.”

“Ten years ago, this was a neglected area, a divided community, a forgotten river,” said Ken Leinbach, Executive Director of the Urban Ecology Center. “What there is today, given that history, is nothing short of miraculous. It shows how people in this community have worked together to accomplish amazing feats that will serve the community for generations to come.”

Thursday’s celebration includes the unveiling of a permanent donor wall inside the Urban Ecology Center, recognizing the 200 donors who contributed $1,000 or more to the campaign. A sculpture that recognizes donors will be installed in Three Bridges Park this summer.

The celebration includes stories from neighbors about the impact of the project on their communities. Marcel, a neighborhood teen, was invited to help make a mural in the Urban Ecology Center building in the weeks before it opened in September 2012. “I am going to work here someday!” he said moments after stepping inside the community center. Today, Marcel does, as one of the Center’s Outdoor Leaders working with other neighborhood youth.

Merrill Park neighbor Dan Adams and his wife took a photo of their newborn daughter, Ruby, next to a newly planted tree in Three Bridges Park when it opened to the public in July 2013. The family has been returning to the same spot to recreate the photo, watching Ruby and the park grow. “Seeing this new life,” said Adams, “embodies our dreams for a brighter future.”

With funding secured for the full project, plantings will continue in Three Bridges Park for years to come and the Urban Ecology Center will expand its programming to serve even more community members.

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Posts from Community

About Menomonee Valley Partners

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Recent News

Community First hires two developers, makes plans to serve more residents

OPINION: An open letter to the police chief: Surveillance and profiling are the not the building blocks for police reform

Post from Community: Looking for a job? Here are some opportunities.

Advertisement
Give today to support our mission. Donate to Milwaukee NNS.
Advertisement

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Milwaukee NNS Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494


Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in