Rotary Centennial Arboretum
The Rotary Club of Milwaukee will celebrate its centennial anniversary with a contribution that will dramatically enhance the riverfront and the community—a contribution that is in keeping with our strong history of community giving.
With its partners-- the Urban Ecology Center, the River Revitalization Foundation, the Milwaukee Urban Rivers Foundation, the County and the City—Rotary will develop the Rotary Centennial Arboretum as the gateway to the Milwaukee Greenway on donated industrial land. The Arboretum will be completed to commemorate the Club’s 100th anniversary in 2013. Other key partners include the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Real Estate Foundation, the Wisconsin Paperboard Corporation, and more.
The Urban Ecology Center recently landed a million dollar grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative of the EPA in support of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum. The EPA recognizes that enhancing the land quality along the river will improve the water quality of the Milwaukee River which feeds directly into Lake Michigan.
The arboretum will extend from North Avenue to Locust Street, stretching upward through Riverside Park. It will be bounded on the west by the Milwaukee River and the east by the Oak Leaf Trail. Universally accessible trails will run through the area, connecting the river trails to the community.
The $400,000 contributed by Rotary members is the catalyst for building the partnerships responsible for the project valued at over $5 million dollars. The 40 acre Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum will have:
3.7 miles of trails including a two mile wheel chair accessible loop
One thousand newly planted trees
Three distinct outdoor learning areas for school children
Amenities to include a new pedestrian bridge, a fishing dock, and a wheel chair accessible canoe launch
An estimated 300,000 visitors per year
At least one parking area
At least 2 major entrances
9 minor (signed) entrances
An endowment seeded with at least $200,000
Ken Leinbach, Executive Director of the Urban Ecology Center shared his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to share in a once in a lifetime opportunity to convert old industrial land along the revitalized Milwaukee River into a natural jewel for the city -- a living forest classroom that our grandchildren will be able to enjoy and share with their grandchildren many generations to come.”
The 40 acre Arboretum will be a permanent addition to the Milwaukee landscape and will serve as an important recreational, teaching and research center. When complete it will be the most biologically diverse natural area in Southeastern Wisconsin.
As one of the largest and oldest entities in the world’s first service organization, the Rotary Club of Milwaukee is approaching its centennial anniversary with heightened aspirations, expanding involvement in support of community priorities, and a public commitment to a new signature project. It sought a centennial project worthy of its history of civic commitment and collaboration –thus selecting the arboretum at its primary gift to the region. The Club also made a substantial donation to the Brown Street Academy for the reconstruction of the school yard.
Read the legislative statement for the Milwaukee River Greenway.