Milwaukee Riverwalk
The Milwaukee Riverwalk is a continuous pedestrian walkway along the Milwaukee River in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
History
The Milwaukee Riverwalk began in 1994. Since 1999, the city of Milwaukee had required all new riverfront development to have a public section of the Riverwalk available, with the city covering most of the construction costs. The requirement was extended into the Menomonee Valley in 2017, then along the Kinnickinnic River in 2018.In 2012, the Riverwalk was extended to connect to the Beerline Trail. As of 2025, nearly 85% of the originally planned system through Downtown Milwaukee and the Historic [Third Ward, Milwaukee|Historic Third Ward] had been built.
Description
The Milwaukee Riverwalk includes art displays called RiverSculpture!, the RiverSplash! festival, Riverwalk Park, water taxi landings, and other venues such as cafés, and brewpubs.The Milwaukee Riverwalk extends from the Historic Third Ward district to Caesars Park near Brady Street. It also links to the Hank Aaron State Trail, Lakeshore State Park, and Erie Street Plaza. There are three segments of the Milwaukee Riverwalk: the Beerline B, East Town & Westown, and the 3rd & 5th Ward. The Beerline B runs from McKinley Avenue to Caesars Park, the East Town & Westown section from Juneau Avenue to I-794, and the 3rd & 5th Ward section from I-794 to Lake Michigan.
Cemented in to the walkways are 18 bronze medallions drawn by elementary school children, depicting how they see the Milwaukee River. In 1995, students were invited to examine artifacts from the Milwaukee County Historical Society and walk the river. Among drawings submitted by over 200 students from Milwaukee Public Schools, 18 were selected to be cast by artist Peter Flanary. Imagery varies from whimsical fish and downtown buildings to ducks and Native Americans.