Land & Urban Ecosystems Goals Goal: Reuse vacant and under-used land. Targets:
t 1,000 vacant lots converted to benefit neighborhoods, including uses such as parks, stormwater management areas, food production, and sustainable development, by 2016
t 30 acres of City-owned Brownfield areas redeveloped by 2016
Goal: Realign policies and codes to support Refresh Milwaukee goals and targets. Target:
t Implementation of the policy recommendations included in the comprehensive city-wide and area plans*
Goal: Protect, restore, and maintain Milwaukee’s natural resources. Targets:
t Tree canopy coverage in Milwaukee doubled to 40 percent by 2023* t The acreage of natural areas (including riparian areas, wetlands, stream buffers, environmental corridors, and green stormwater facilities) that are restored or placed under protection increases annually by 10 percent
Goal: Increase Milwaukeeans’ connections to the city’s green and recreational spaces. Targets:
t All residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, greenway, or green or other amenity space t The Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom™ concept3 modeled in Milwaukee as a way to institutionalize urban ecosystem and environmental outdoor education with Milwaukee Public Schools for all youth Pursuing these goals improves the quality of our built environment and protects Milwaukee’s natural areas. Vacant lots can be transformed into useful community spaces, either through redevelopment or the creation and maintenance of open or other types of green space. Convenient, consistent, and safe access to well-maintained greenspace provides opportunities for passive to active recreation from sitting, resting, and gardening to creative play, nature exploration, and sports. All are critical to the health and livability of any community. Overall, urban land and ecosystems, which are well maintained and nurtured, raise the value of surrounding properties and have better potential for reuse and development. Where this land is managed with community support, there are added benefits of social interaction, increased pride, and additional community stabilization. While vacant land is an increasing problem, it can also become our biggest opportunity. We can refresh Milwaukee by turning liabilities into assets that make all our neighborhoods better places to live, work, and play.
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