Active Streets

The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) is now seeking proposals for the 2023-2024 Milwaukee Active Streets program. Community-based organizations will propose an Active Street location and receive up to $9,998 for each year of the two-year program to conduct outreach and programing, install art, monitor Active Streets-related infrastructure, and provide community feedback to DPW.

The Milwaukee Active Streets program builds on the success of DPW’s 2020 partnership with Milwaukee County Parks. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic on streets was limited or prohibited in order to increase space for people to walk, bike, and be active at a safe distance from one another. A survey conducted at the conclusion of the 2020 program found that 72% of respondents supported continuing the program beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Active Streets program shifted to a community-led effort in which local organizations proposed street locations and led programming, outreach, and art installations on their Active Street. Support continued into 2022 with some semi-permanent traffic calming installations. More information on previous Active Streets programs can be found at the bottom of this page.

The 2023-2024 Active Streets program is an official two-year program with the intent to hold programming and install temporary traffic calming measures to activate the street in the first year and install semi-permanent or permanent traffic calming infrastructure in the second year for all grantees. Click here for event schedule. 

Program Goals

• Slow motorists to create space for people to walk, bike, and be active, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
• Build trust with residents by partnering with community organizations
• Improve health outcomes for residents through increased physical activity
• Address reckless driving on neighborhood streets
• Respond quickly to traffic safety concerns using low-cost infrastructure
• Use art to reimagine streets

Note that Milwaukee Active Streets for Business is a separate program.

2023-2024 Program

Three community-based organizations (CBO's) were selected to participate in the 2023-2024 Active Streets program. These CBO's will conduct their own outreach and programming and DPW will provide temporary traffic calming infrastructure at agreed-upon locations along the Active Streets. 

1. Dominican Center for Women: N. 26th St. from W. Locust St. to W. Burleigh St.

2. Sherman Park Community Association: N. Grant Blvd. from W. Locust St. to W. North Ave.

3. Layton Boulevard West Neighbors: W. Pierce St. from S. 21st St. to S. 26th St.

Previous Programs 

Active Streets 2020 

Active Streets 2021-2022