Wild & Wonderful Little Menomonee River Parkway Event
Join us on Saturday May 17th from 12:00 – 2:00 PM at Dretzka Park Chalet (12020 W Bradley Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53224) to learn about the wild and wonderful changes coming to the Little Menomonee River Parkway! You may have seen some big changes along the Little Menomonee River Parkway (or LMRP) in the past two years. Dense stands of invasive species have started to come down and for many, the river can be viewed for the first time in 30 years. This is one of the largest Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern restoration efforts – seeking to improve habitat and make enhancements for fish and wildlife on hundreds of acres of parkland and 6 miles of river! More work is coming soon in new sections of the parkway, providing more opportunities to explore this special gem in Milwaukee County Parks’ “emerald necklace”.
You can connect with the project team and partners for Q&A, get a refresher on how we got here, and find out what to expect when restoration work expands later this year. Don’t miss a chance to meet some of the critters who call the parkway their home, “play & learn” about habitat restoration with our LMRP Passport activity and discover new ways you can help revitalize the woods and waters right in your backyard.
The six-mile section of Little Menomonee River managed by Milwaukee County Parks, known as the Little Menomonee River Parkway, contains a special collection of natural communities that have become rare within the region. Once dominated by beech-maple forest, along with a mix of grasslands and wetlands, the parkway has lost over 96% of its former habitat. This habitat is critical for native fish and wildlife, making it a priority Area of Concern project.
Our goal is to create habitat improvements that will lead to the healthy, sustainable populations of species impacted by our industrial past in the AOC.
Due to the size and scope of work in the parkway, it has been broken up into multiple projects. These have been divided by management areas and prioritized based on the special needs of different habitat. This means that multiple projects will be ongoing in various phases: Assessment, Design, and Implementation.
Partner Lead: Milwaukee County Parks
Status: Design, Implementation
Outcome: Restored Ecosystems
More Information: Little Menomonee River Parkway Fact Sheet, Little Menomonee River Parkway FAQ