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Welcome to Milwaukee's Riverwalk

2017 Winner of the Urban Land Institute's Global Award for Excellence!

Open to the public, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Milwaukee Riverwalk System began in 1993, as a means to offer public access to the river.  Once complete, the Riverwalk will extend 3.1 miles along both sides of the Milwaukee River, from the site of the former North Avenue Dam, through Downtown and the Historic Third Ward to Lake Michigan.  The system is a public-private partnership between riverfront property owners and the City of Milwaukee.  In exchange for permanent public access, the City provides financial assistance for the construction of the private Riverwalk improvements.

 

Downtown Riverwalk

Visit the RiverWalk

The Milwaukee RiverWalk draws a mix of high-end residential, commercial and recreational venues to its shoreline, creating a highly active pedestrian environment along the river. This amenity is open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and with access points located throughout the system, we look forward to your visit.

Map & Segment Detail 

System Map

Downtown

Beerline B

Historic Third Ward

Menomonee Valley

Harbor District

Regulation

The City of Milwaukee fosters enhanced utilization and appreciation of the Milwaukee River by partnering with private developers and Business Improvement Districts to build a continuous system of riverwalks along the shores of all three of its rivers. Since 1993, public-private cost sharing has facilitated the construction of more than 5-miles of riverwalk.

Regulatory Documents

 

 

 

History

During the second half of the 20th century Milwaukee turned its back on a valuable economic resource, the three rivers that run through the heart of the City. Once the center of commerce and recreation, the Milwaukee River had become one of the City's most neglected amenities. Continue reading about RiverWalk History