The Milwaukee Harbor District Celebrates 10-Years of Transformation and Momentum

MILWAUKEE, (May 19, 2025) – A decade ago, the stretch of waterfront between Milwaukee’s Third Ward and Bay View was a forgotten part of the city. Today, the Harbor District is a recognized model for revitalization, sustainability, and inclusive development—thanks to a bold public-private partnership initiated by the City of Milwaukee in 2015.

Recognizing the opportunity to reimagine 1,000 acres of waterfront land in the heart of the city, Harbor District brought together thousands of residents, businesses, and community leaders to shape a shared vision. The result: a district that is cleaner, greener, more accessible, and more vibrant than it has been in generations.

“For the past ten years, we’ve worked to realize the vision laid out in the Water and Land Use Plan,” said Tia Torhorst, CEO of Milwaukee Harbor District. “We’ve created public spaces, advanced environmental restoration, welcomed new businesses, and supported family-supporting jobs—all while honoring the area’s working waterfront heritage and opening it up for everyone to enjoy.”

Major milestones from the first decade include:

• Securing $29.7 million to build the first three-fourths of a mile of the Harbor View Riverwalk, with construction set to begin this May
• Creating Harbor View Plaza, the first public waterfront space in the Harbor District
• Leading efforts for a road diet on South 1st Street to improve pedestrian safety and reduces stormwater pollution
• Facilitating the pilot of aninnovative trash collection machine that removes litter from local waterways
• Growing Harbor Fest into a signature street festival attracting more than 5,000 attendees each September
• Elevating the Harbor Districtinto a dynamic destination where businesses thrive,residents gather, and visitors explore

“But we’re just getting started,” added Torhorst. “There’s more to build, more green infrastructure to create, and more connections to make so this district can continue driving Milwaukee’s economic, environmental, and community success.”

The Harbor District will be hosting a 10th anniversary celebration on June 10. For more information visit https://harbordistrict.org/anniversary-event/

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.