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Oak Leaf Trail in Bender Park
Milwaukee County Parks is working on an exciting project that involves the addition of over 1 mile of 10-foot-wide paved trail in Bender Park. The trail will extend the South Shore Line of the Oak Leaf Trail, connecting Bender Roadway to Oakwood Road. Trail users will weave through prairies and woodlands and enjoy sweeping views of Lake Michigan. Importantly, this project will close a key gap in the regional trail network creating a 20-mile continuous bike facility between and through Milwaukee and Racine counties!
Funding for this project was awarded in 2020 thanks to a $1,306,400 federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. In 2023 the project secured Milwaukee County match funding with construction set to begin in 2024.
For details regarding the project background, refer to the linked Rails-to-Trails Conservancy article below.
Oak Leaf Trail in Bender Park
Milwaukee County Parks is working on an exciting project that involves the addition of over 1 mile of 10-foot-wide paved trail in Bender Park. The trail will extend the South Shore Line of the Oak Leaf Trail, connecting Bender Roadway to Oakwood Road. Trail users will weave through prairies and woodlands and enjoy sweeping views of Lake Michigan. Importantly, this project will close a key gap in the regional trail network creating a 20-mile continuous bike facility between and through Milwaukee and Racine counties!
Funding for this project was awarded in 2020 thanks to a $1,306,400 federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. In 2023 the project secured Milwaukee County match funding with construction set to begin in 2024.
For details regarding the project background, refer to the linked Rails-to-Trails Conservancy article below.
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I seriously cannot believe a paved bike path through this park is even a consideration. This is one of the few places thats left untouched where people in the city can go to be left alone, walk their dogs without trouble, and relax in a completely natural surrounding, for a LONG walk. Not just a short, little walk, but a long healthy hike. Not to mention the astonishing amount of Native plants that exist here that I havent seen anywhere else in the area. Why can't you all just pave the path under the powerlines and leave the rest alone. My whole life I have seen every last part of the lakefront developed. Heres a newsflash for you. People don't want to see pavement and cement everywhere they go. City life is stressful enough, can't we have somewhere to go and get away from it all?
stinlynn95
about 1 year ago
Page last updated: 10 Oct 2024, 11:24 AM
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Project Location
Project Stage
Plan
Oak Leaf Trail Extension - Bender Park has finished this stage
South Shore Oak Leaf Trail Extension - through Bender Park is currently at this stage. The following work may take place during the planning stage - site surveys, feasibility studies and further development of project goals, outcomes and budgets. Additionally, this may include the Department of Transportation (DOT), as appropriate.
Design
Oak Leaf Trail Extension - Bender Park is currently at this stage
The design stage can involve several phases, including concepts, final design and engineering design plans. Once design is complete we develop technical renderings and construction plan documents.
Construction Ready
this is an upcoming stage for Oak Leaf Trail Extension - Bender Park
This is an upcoming stage for the project. During this stage requests for bids are issued and contractors are selected. Sometimes projects may wait in this stage until construction funding is secured.
Construction
this is an upcoming stage for Oak Leaf Trail Extension - Bender Park
This is an upcoming stage for the project. Construction is underway and will follow the construction plan - which may include several phases. During this stage facility and road closures may be needed.
Close Out
this is an upcoming stage for Oak Leaf Trail Extension - Bender Park
This is an upcoming stage for the project. Construction has ended and final reviews are underway
In Use
this is an upcoming stage for Oak Leaf Trail Extension - Bender Park
This is an upcoming stage for the project. The project is open to the public for use.
Project Details
Grant:
$1,600,000 through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program with Wisconsin's Department of Transportation program
I seriously cannot believe a paved bike path through this park is even a consideration. This is one of the few places thats left untouched where people in the city can go to be left alone, walk their dogs without trouble, and relax in a completely natural surrounding, for a LONG walk. Not just a short, little walk, but a long healthy hike. Not to mention the astonishing amount of Native plants that exist here that I havent seen anywhere else in the area. Why can't you all just pave the path under the powerlines and leave the rest alone. My whole life I have seen every last part of the lakefront developed. Heres a newsflash for you. People don't want to see pavement and cement everywhere they go. City life is stressful enough, can't we have somewhere to go and get away from it all?