Walnut Way Conservation Corp

Walnut Way Conservation Corp. (Walnut Way) is a grassroots Central City Milwaukee neighborhood organization. Our mission is “to sustain an economically diverse and neighborly community through civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and economic enterprise.” The neighborhood boundaries are North Avenue, 12th Street, Fond du Lac Avenue and Walnut Street.

Since our incorporation as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2000, Walnut Way residents have been turning dreams into action. Over the years, neighbors have transformed vacant city lots into productive gardens, planted an urban fruit orchard, hosted community meetings addressing concerns and dreams, restored a 97 year old Milwaukee home slated for demolition into an active Neighborhood Center, offered programming to local youth, and welcomed international and local tour groups interested in learning about community revitalization.

Walnut Way spearheaded the first infill Tax Incremental Finance District that provided 10,000 forgivable loans for housing rehab or new construction. The $2.6 million in funding came from the Local Initiatives’ Support Corporation (LISC), primarily financed privately from funds from a group of local financial institutions. At year-end 2006, 268 loans had been originated. These loans leveraged over $19 million in private investment. More than one hundred houses have been built or rehabilitated in the neighborhood.

The Walnut Way Neighborhood Center demonstrates sustainable urban agriculture methods to neighbors and guests. In the coming years, we will be expanding our role as a community conservation resource through guided tours and programming. The goals of our urban agriculture programs are to demonstrate how to live healthy and active lives, how to reap the intrinsic and financial benefits of environmental stewardship, and how to value community space.

To learn more, visit our website at http://www.walnutway.org/