Hank Aaron State Trail
Originally uploaded by repowers

The Milwaukee Streets blog written by Robert Powers has an excellent post up about the successful development of Chimney Park in the Menomonee Valley from the site of the old Milwaukee Road railyard.

One of the most interesting aspects of the development of Chimney Park is the attention that was paid to leaving the two chimneys to stand by themselves surrounded by wetlands. Sure, on a more distant level there are all kinds of new, clean-looking industrial developments in the valley, but the chimneys appear in stark contrast to their immediate surroundings of ponds and wild grass.

Future generations of Milwaukeeans will see a clean, green valley and will be forced to ask their parents what it was like when the valley was filled with factories pumping smoke out their smokestacks.

Three cheers for the Menomonee Valley Partners for leading the successful redevelopment of a previously-blighted area.