MenomoneeValley-FromtheGroundUp.org

FROM THE

GROUND UPA COLLABORATION OF

MENOMONEE

P A R T N E R S , I N C.

TM

&

THE VISION

“

”

For 27 years, I worked at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation as a partner of nonprofits serving our community and donors investing in meaningful causes. This effort offers donors the unique opportunity to simultaneously address multiple needs – access to jobs, education, environment, and quality of life for Milwaukee’s future. And, in a time of scarce resources, this partnership is a model of how to work together for greater and sustained impact.

– Jim Marks, Retired, Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Board President, UEC/MVP Project Inc.

FROM THE

GROUND UPA COLLABORATION OF

MENOMONEE

P A R T N E R S , I N C.

TM

&

The Urban Ecology Center and Menomonee Valley Partners launched Menomonee Valley – From the Ground Up to improve job accessibility, science education, environmental and public health, and neighborhood vitality. Milwaukee has gotten behind From the Ground Up, contributing 94% of the funds needed. The last 6% will complete Three Bridges Park as an outdoor science classroom, support educational programs at the Urban Ecology Center, and finish the Hank Aaron State Trail. Now is the time to get involved, double your gift, and celebrate Hank Aaron’s remarkable impact on our community.

This project puts Milwaukee in a position to attract and retain more companies and the well-paying jobs they

bring with them. The work being done here is creating another building block for talent attraction and retention,

an investment in economic development, changing impressions and perspectives, and sending the message

across the country of our city on the move, a place where people want to live, learn, work, and play.

THE VISION THE CONTEXTMilwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley sits at the crossroads of Wisconsin’s largest population center, spanning four miles and 1,200 acres. The Valley was once the hub of commerce with thousands of jobs. By the 1980s, it became Wisconsin’s most visible eyesore as seen by up to 168,000 motorists each day traveling along I-94, leaving the impression of city in decay. With hundreds of acres of abandoned buildings and contaminated land presenting major challenges, it was a large problem which needed a collaborative, visionary solution.

A strong public-private partnership is working in the Valley to address our community’s economic, environmental, educational, and recreational needs. Since 1999, the collective impact of these efforts has resulted in 35 companies moving to the Valley, the creation of 4,700 jobs, the construction of one million square feet of sustainably designed facilities, the creation of the Hank Aaron State Trail, improved environmental conditions, and an 229% increase in property value. The Menomonee Valley has enjoyed national attention and is considered a “best practice” in urban redevelopment.

THE NEED Today, lack of access to jobs, quality education, and safe recreational areas are affecting nearby residents and their families. While the Valley is experiencing a renaissance, the adjacent neighborhoods struggle with:

• 13% unemployment rate (twice the state average) • 82% of children qualifying for free/reduced cost lunch • High rates of asthma and diabetes • 41% of residents being overweight or obese• 75% of city school children unable to perform at their grade level in science.

Menomonee Valley – From the Ground Up addresses these needs through

strategically reinforcing projects.

Complete the Hank Aaron State Trail with transportation links to jobs and recreation

• $2.5 million Six new miles of the Hank Aaron State Trail • $8.3 million Three bike/pedestrian bridges

Create Three Bridges Park to transform a 24-acre vacant rail yard into park and outdoor science classroom

• $4.5 million Environmental cleanup, site grading & river improvements• $2.6 million Land restoration & outdoor science classroom construction• $1.7 million Three Bridges Park Fund to ensure its care in perpetuity

Establish a third branch of the Urban Ecology Center• $5.4 million A new Urban Ecology Center facility and five years of new

programs and services

$1 million+

Anonymous

The Burke Foundation

US Department of Transportation

WI Department of Natural Resources— Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund

BMO Harris BankThe Lynde & Harry

Bradley FoundationThe Ceres FoundationCharter Manufacturing

Company FoundationFund for Lake MichiganGreater Milwaukee

FoundationGreater Milwaukee

Foundation - Walter & Olive Stiemke Fund

The Harley-Davidson Foundation

Joy GlobalSheldon & Marianne

Lubar Charitable FundMenomonee Valley

Business Improvement District

Palermo Villa, Inc.We Energies Foundation

This effort is a big vision being

implemented through great

partnerships and amazing

community support. Thank

you to all our supporters.

new Urban Ecology Center in the Valley bringing programming to thousands of kids and families

Helen Bader Foundation, Inc.City of MilwaukeeFoley & Lardner LLPForest County Potawatomi FoundationGreater Milwaukee Foundation - Enroth Family Fund

Herzfeld FoundationM&I FoundationRexnord CorporationUS Forest ServiceJoseph and Vera Zilber Family Foundation, Inc.

$250,000 – $999,000

$100,000 – $249,000

1

acre former rail yard transformed into Three Bridges Park and an outdoor science classroom24

Badger Railing, Inc.Patrick BartlingAlfred Benesch & Co.Berghammer Construction

FoundationLaura & Jeff BrayBrighter ConceptsJulie Carpenter

Family of RP & JL CarrJames R. Cauley & Brenda

AndrewsCentral Bark Doggy Day

CareCH2M HillMelissa CookBill DavidsonHugh & Mary Ross Denison

Max & Sandra DermondDerseDerse Foundation, Inc.Roman DrabaGinger DuivenFlux DesignFocus on EnergySheldon & Danni

GendelmanGreater Milwaukee

Foundation - Jorgensen Family Fund- Make-a-Difference Fund- Bernard J. & Marie E.

Weiss Fund- Wright Brothers FundGreater Milwaukee

Association of Realtors Youth Foundation

Sid Grinker Restoration, Inc.Mike & Linda GrothDennis Grzezinski & Jane

Porath

Gordon & Grace Gunnlaugsson

Hatco CorporationFred Leo & Beth Fetterley

HellerHGA Architects & EngineersGlenna HolsteinJim, Suzy & Melida Holstein Paul & Cynthia HonkampJuli & Mike KaufmannBruce & Diane KeyesJohn & Debbie KissingerKiwanis Clubs of

Downtown & North Shore Milwaukee

Judy Krause & Susan Winans

Edward KrishokGail F. KurselKen & Shauna LeinbachBen & Katie LieschMeredith & Dick LincolnSusan Lloyd

Paul Luber & FamilyCatherine G. Madden Mainly Editing, Inc.MANDI 2014 AwardJim & Judy MarksMarquette UniversityMiller Compressing

CompanyMilwaukee RiverkeeperDavid & Lisa MiskyMSI GeneralGeorge N. & Patricia H.

MuellerMary Louise Mussoline &

James W. CopeIn Memory of Lorrie Otto -

John Shannon & Jan Serr Sarah & Matt PancheriJulie Penman & Jeff BentoffRobert & Susan PeschelBrian & Ingrid PiersonGail PoveyMary & Pat Reavey

Roberta & David RemstadLeo Ries & Marie KingsburyKip & Nancy RitchieDavid RolstonMark & Alice SandyCG SchmidtBeckett & Anderson SchultzMarsha SehlerShorewest Realtors Sign-A-Rama of MilwaukeeJudy SpringerStandard Electric Supply Co.Trek Bicycle CorporationMadeline WakeJake & Karina WardWhole Foods Market

MilwaukeeCorey Zetts & Benji TimmHerb Zien & Liz LevinsIn Memory of Eileen E.

Gardner - Donal Demet & Mary Gardner Demet

$1,000 – $4,999

Brico Fund

Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation

Barry Mandel

Milwaukee County Parks

MMSD

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

Reiman Foundation

Wells Fargo Bank

Wisconsin Coastal Management Program

$25,000 – $49,999

new bridges that connect the neighborhood to the park and trails3

This list was updated on Oct. 14, 2014. If you notice an error, please accept our apology and contact Anne Cauley at anne@renewthevalley.org or 414.274.4660. For the most up-to-date list, please visit www.menomoneevalley-fromthegroundup.org/supporters.

Brewers Community Foundation

Ralph Evinrude Foundation, Inc.

In Memory of Jack C. Flack, Sr.– Allied Insulation Supply Co.

Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail

Great Lakes Basin Partnership

Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc.

Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Charitable Trust

The Windhover Foundation

$50,000 – $99,999

60 community gardens which will offer healthy food options to residents

Rendering of the park and gardens in about 30 years.

Brass Light Gallery, Inc

J.M. Brennan, Inc.

Caleffi North America, Inc.

Monique Charlier & Holly Blomquist

Clear Channel

Craig & Michelle Counsell

CSA Commercial

Curt & Sue Culver

Dave & Pam Doerr

Art & Rhonda Downey

Tom & Sue Ela

Kurt & Laura Goranson

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

- Anonymous M Fund

- Honkamp Family Foundation

- Catherine & Walter Lindsay Foundation Fund

- Mary L. Nohl Fund

Mick & Lisa Hatch

House of Stone

Insulation Technologies, Inc. (INTEC)

J.F. Ahern Co.

Susie & Fred Kasten

Barbara & Dennis Klein

Marcus Corporation Foundation

Masterson Company

Materion Advanced Chemicals

Daniel F. “Jack” & Patti McKeithan

MGIC Investment Corporation

The Milne Family Foundation

Jeffrey & Rosalie Morgan

PNC Foundation

The Private Bank

Rockwell Automation

The Sigma Group

Charles Trainer & Anne Booth

David V. Uihlein Foundation

URS Corporation

U.S. Bank Foundation

Zimmerman Architectural Studios

In Memory of Joe Kennedy - Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail

In Honor of Brian Reilly – Lilith & Lincoln Fowler and Colleen Reilly

$5,000 – $24,999

We would be delighted show you the Menomonee Valley and Hank Aaron State Trail in person, but for now we offer this virtual tour of From the Ground Up’s impact.

Hank Aaron has inspired generations. His namesake trail honors his legacy by serving as a connection to employment, a route home from school and work,

and a place for kids to have fun.

A Virtual Tour

"Because of this trail people who never saw me play are going to know what this wonderful city and state have meant in my life. I hope each of

you enjoy the trail and every time you set foot on it, I hope you remember what the love and support of this community did for one particular ball

player many years ago. Thank you so very much for this honor."

- Hank Aaron at the Hank Aaron State Trail Dedication in August, 2000

This year’s Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail run /walk was routed through Three Bridges Park for the first time. The event attracted 1,600 participants.

Three Bridges Park is literally and figuratively bridging the community by connecting people to jobs, to nature, and to each other.

Economic Development Milwaukee Road | 1940s

Vacant Milwaukee Road | 1986-2002

Menomonee Valley Industrial Center | Today

Since 1999, 39 companies have moved to the Valley, representing 5,000 jobs.

The Milwaukee Brewers, SE Wisconsin Stadium District, and WI DNR led the restoration of this stretch of the Menomonee River in conjunction

with the creation of Miller Park. It was cited as one of the top 20 urban fishing spots in the nation by Field & Stream Magazine.

Menomonee River |1999

Menomonee River | Today

Enhancing Quality of Life

Long-vacant site | 2002

Today

The Hank Aaron State Trail supports economic development

Environmental & Science Education

Through Menomonee Valley – From the Ground Up, this

vacant tavern is now a branch of the Urban Ecology Center (urbanecologycenter.org),

an organization that is turning urban parks into outdoor

science classrooms.

Before

After

Vacant 24-acre site | Before

August 2012 | Hank Aaron joined students to break ground for Three Bridges Park – a new park, outdoor science classroom for thousands of kids each year, and major feature of the Hank Aaron State Trail.

Three Bridges Park opened to the public in summer 2013 with new river access, trails, and seedlings. The final phase of construction and

land restoration has begun.

Three Bridge Park | After

Through the Urban Ecology Center, kids and families are

discovery the Hank Aaron State Trail and the

Menomonee River as their outdoor science classroom.

For decades, the Valley was 1,200 acres of urban blight littered with

abandoned buildings, spoiled waters, and toxic soils. Long

considered a dividing line of our community – economically,

racially, and socially, it was a place avoided by neighbors and visitors alike. The Valley is on its way back and Menomonee Valley – From the

Ground Up is central to the remarkable economic and ecological transformation occurring in the heart of

Milwaukee.