Paralleling this educational goal was an effort to improve the quality of the Milwaukee River, as governmental officials and community members envisioned a river with uncontaminated waters for fishing, paddling and improved public health. The North Avenue dam was removed and the shoreline that emerged became re-vegetated. As plants grew on the newly exposed soil, more people began to imagine the value of this green buffer between the urban activities and our freshwater. The River Revitalization Foundation created the East Bank Trail, connecting people to the Milwaukee River. Come celebrate the river!
As safety and ecological interest both increased in Riverside Park, more and more visitors poured into its 15 acres. Then, an opportunity: the Rotary Club was looking ahead 4-5 years in anticipation of celebrating its 100th year. With “service above self” as a motto, the club embraced the idea of extending the vibrant areas of the very busy Riverside Park so that more children could learn, more families and adults could explore, and a more environmentally sound natural area would support more habitat and create a cleaner waterway. They provided a lead gift that leveraged an additional $8.5 million investment from the community (find a list of the many partners and supporters here) to build the arboretum. This community effort will leave a legacy for many generations to come. Come celebrate the legacy!
What I am writing now barely skims the surface the arboretum story and is intended to entice you to join the celebration. We have written many articles throughout the duration of this project: stories and opportunities to explore like the endangered oak savannah, the docent program, stories of our key partners, adaptive land management practices, its tie to restoration of the Great Lakes, research projects and more. You can read all of these, if you haven’t done so yet, at your leisure, and it will make this upcoming celebration feel even more amazing. Come celebrate the community!
As a member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee and an employee of the Center, it is my pleasure to invite you to the party. As a Rotarian, I hope you will see the deep impact a group can make when committed to supporting a vibrant community. As an Urban Ecology Center employee, I hope that the celebration will be your first of many visits through the arboretum –all of which will inspire awe and deep appreciation for the value, magic, complexity and beauty of nature. Come celebrate nature!
Click here to learn more about The Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum.
