MENOMONEE VALLEY MASTERPLAN 2.0
LA DALLMAN in collaboration with ZIMMERMAN DESIGN and MENOMONEE VALLEY PARTNERS
MILWAUKEE, WI
CONNECTION + DENSITY
LA DALLMAN, in collaboration with Zimmerman Design, led the master planning effort for the Menomonee Valley, one of the most complex urban landscapes in the Midwest. An area the size of Central Park at the intersection of Milwaukee’s industrial core and the Great Lakes Watershed, the valley is a tangle of infrastructure, industry, entertainment and habitat. As a fertile glacial remnant, the valley was the epicenter of cultivation and trade between native people and the first European settlers. The industrial revolution quickly transformed this rich terrain into the largest concentration of industrial and transportation infrastructure in the state. While enduring the characteristic decline in industrial base experienced by many Midwestern cities, manufacturing is resurgent in the valley, bolstered by a diverse industrial base, technological innovation and collaborative public-private planning efforts. Layered upon the industrial legacy of the valley are a series of important ecological restoration projects, as well as the 5 most visited cultural-entertainment destinations in the state, with over 10 million visitors a year. Despite this vibrant interplay, the valley remains a low density landscape that is isolated and difficult to access.
As industry, ecology and tourism compete for land and access, the valley requires a renewed vision for development and urban form. Although there has been a great deal of positive transformation in the last decade, there remain significant obstacles to both physical and cultural integration with the surrounding city. Transportation infrastructure, waterways and topographic displacement isolate the valley from its surrounding urban fabric. This isolation calls for improved access for vehicles and pedestrians, serving both job creation and recreation. The isolation can also be leveraged for the creation of ecological sanctuaries that celebrate this important location at the intersection of river valley and lake estuary. The Menomonee Valley has the potential to serve as a job creating hub of industry, while simultaneously integrating civic access, public landscapes, native habitats and storm water management in a model of innovative urbanism.