The opportunity?   
The Milwaukee Riverwalk System started in 1993 as a way to offer public access to the river.  A public-private partnership between riverfront property owners and the City of Milwaukee, the Harbor District Harbor View Riverwalk is a redevelopment project located south of Harbor View Plaza in Milwaukee’s Harbor District.  

At 4,300 feet or about three-quarters of a mile in length, this project will run south from Harbor View Plaza at the eastern end of E. Greenfield Ave. to S. Kinnickinnic Ave. and provides an opportunity to build the largest new section of Milwaukee’s overall Riverwalk system.    

How does the “fix” benefit the community?  
The Riverwalk and associated spaces will provide recreational, transportation, and environmental benefits to residents and employees and continue to attract tourists to the area. The project will also unite commerce and community space while providing ecological restoration. 

What makes the investment possible?  
Initially planned in 2018 as part of Komatsu Mining‘s South Harbor Campus development, the project stalled due to increased construction costs and the addition of new features. The project can move forward after the City of Milwaukee received a $14.7 million grant from WisDOT through the federal Transportation Alternative Program (TAP). 

What’s next?  
There are two phases to this project: 

Phase 1, which includes the construction of the Riverwalk path with associated landscaping and seating areas, is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2025. 

Phase II, which includes additional features of the Riverwalk, such as a deck over the river, a live performance stage, an area with an aquatic habitat, and a building with restrooms, is expected to occur in 2026.