Hank Aaron State Trail

The Hank Aaron State Trail is a 15.2-mile (24.5 km)[1] rail trail in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The trail is named after former Milwaukee Braves and Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Hank Aaron[2] and is built on a former roadbed of the Milwaukee Road. As of 2023, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, approximately 200,000 people use the trail annually.[3]

Hank Aaron State Trail
Hank Aaron State Trail near the Valley Power Plant
Length15.2 mi (24.5 km)
LocationMilwaukee County, Wisconsin
Established2000
TrailheadsLakeshore State Park
Underwood Parkway, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
UseShared-use path
Elevation gain/loss+272 ft going westward
Websitednr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/hankaaron

History

Following a recommendation by then-mayor John Norquist's Bicycle Task Force to develop an east-west trail through the Menomonee Valley, the trail opened in 2000 with a length of only a third of a mile, near American Family Field, though a segment between 13th Street and 25th Street was added shortly after.[4]: 61  In August 2006, the trail stretched from Lakeshore State Park in the east to American Family Field in the west.[5] In 2010, a four-mile westward extension to 94th Place was completed, setting the total trail length to ten miles.[6] In November 2011, the trail was expanded from 94th Place to Underwood Parkway, though this section was composed of compacted gravel.[7] In 2012, a one-mile spur connecting to Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory was added.[8] In 2014, a ramp and stairway were added to the trail near 6th Street to allow easy access to street level.[9] In 2018, the compacted gravel section of the trail west of 94th Place was paved with the completion of the reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange.[9] In 2019, a connection to Wisconsin Highway 100 near the Milwaukee County Zoo was added.[10]

In May 2019, installation began for People of the Road, a set of metal sculptures on the trail honoring the workers of the Milwaukee Road.[11] By July 2020, installation of all five sculptures was complete.[12]

In 2020, the trail was designated part of U.S. Bicycle Route 30.[13]

Route

The trail begins on the shore of Lake Michigan in Lakeshore State Park (43°02′14″N 87°53′51″W). The trail travels west through Milwaukee, passing by the Harley-Davidson Museum, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, American Family Field, and the Wisconsin State Fair Park. The trail ends at the Oak Leaf Trail in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (43°02′10″N 88°04′00″W).[14] The elevation increases by 272 feet when traveling westward.[10]

Access

The trail is open to walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and in-line skaters.[2] Much of the trail is accessible to people with disabilities.[2]

Hank Aaron State Trail access points[14]
CityStreetDirectionNotes
MilwaukeeMilwaukee StreetNorth and eastNear Lakeshore State Park
Connects to Oak Leaf Trail Milwaukee River Line and Lake Line
Eastern terminus of trail
Erie StreetEast and southNear Henry Maier Festival Park
Water StreetEast and southConnects to Kinnickinnic River Trail
2nd StreetNorth, east, and southEastward end of off-street portion
Connects to Oak Leaf Trail Kinnickinnic Line
6th StreetNorth and southNear Harley-Davidson Museum
Emmber LaneNorth and southNear Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
25th StreetNorth
32nd StreetNorth
37th StreetSouthNear Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Near People of the Road
44th StreetNorth and southNear American Family Field
Mitchell BoulevardNorth and south
West Allis56th StreetSouth
Hawley RoadNorth and south
Milwaukee68th StreetNorth
76th StreetNorth and southNear Wisconsin State Fair Park
84th StreetNorth and southConnects to Oak Leaf Trail Kinnickinnic Line
89th StreetSouth
94th PlaceSouth
West Allis108th StreetNorth and southNear Milwaukee County Zoo
Connects to Wisconsin Highway 100
116th StreetWest and south
Wauwatosa121st StreetNorth and south
Underwood ParkwayNorth and southConnects to Oak Leaf Trail Root River Line
Western terminus of trail

References
  1. Rail-Trails: Michigan & Wisconsin. Birmingham, AL: Wilderness Press. 2017. p. 44. ISBN 9780899978734.
  2. "Hank Aaron State Trail". Wisconsin DNR. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  3. "Sinkhole Detected On Hank Aaron State Trail". Urban Milwaukee. 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  4. Maher, Rothenbueler (2019). Milwaukee County's Oak Leaf Trail: A History. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467140683.
  5. Cook, Melissa (2006-08-08). "Ceremony to mark expansion of Hank Aaron State Trail". Wisconsin DNR. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  6. "Hank Aaron State Trail Valley Passage and Extension". The Sigma Group. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  7. Held, Tom (2011-11-07). "Hank Aaron State Trail extension ready for finishing touches". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  8. "Ground broken on new segment of Hank Aaron State Trail". FOX 6 Now Milwaukee. 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  9. "Frequently Asked Questions". Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  10. Nickel, Lori (2019-09-01). "Chin Up: Joy riding through Milwaukee on the Hank Aaron State Trail". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  11. Quirmbach, Chuck (2019-05-16). "New Sculptures Honor Milwaukee Road Railway Workers". WUWM. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  12. "People of the Road: An Art Tribute". Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  13. "Wisconsin bicycle route recognized by national organization". Hometown News LP. 2020-08-29. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  14. "Hank Aaron State Trail Map" (PDF). Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
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