Oak Leaf Trail

The Oak Leaf Trail (formerly 76 Bike Trail) is a paved 135-mile (217 km) multi-use recreational trail system which encircles Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.[1] Clearly marked trail segments connect all of the major parks in the Milwaukee County Park System.

Oak Leaf Trail
A sign for the Oak Leaf Trail in Lake Park on Milwaukee's East Side neighborhood
Length135 mi (217 km)
LocationMilwaukee County, Wisconsin
Established1966
UseShared-use path
Maintained byMilwaukee County Parks
WebsiteOak Leaf Trail

History

Early bicycling advocate Harold "Zip" Morgan first conceived and laid out a 64-mile (103 km) trail in 1939. The route made its way around the edge of the county and through natural resource corridors found along the rivers and lakefront.[2] Three decades later the trail was officially established by the Milwaukee County Park Commission, and in 1966 construction of the parkland trails began.[3] In 1976, it became known as the 76 Bike Trail.[4]: 43  The trail was briefly renamed to the 76 Multi-Use Trail in 1995 before being renamed to the Oak Leaf Trail in 1996.[4]: 59 

In 2005, the system of inter-connecting trails consisted of 48 miles (77 km) of asphalt paths and 31 miles (50 km) of parkway, along with 27 miles (43 km) of municipal streets that had designated bicycle lanes and sidewalks.[2]

In September 2018, to improve wayfinding, sections of the trail were assigned colors and branch line names.[4]: 72 

Description

The trail system is composed of several intersecting lines. Scenery along the Oak Leaf Trail varies from woodland parks, nature reserves, and a wildlife corridor along the lakefront, to urban industrial settings in Milwaukee's downtown area.

  Menomonee Line

The Menomonee Line is 14.75 miles (23.74 km) long.[1] It stretches from Doyne Park in the south to Dretzka Park in the north.

  Kinnickinnic Line

The Kinnickinnic Line is 15 miles (24 km) long.[1] Following the Kinnickinnic River for most of its length, it turns north at each end to connect to the Milwaukee Art Museum in the east and Hart Park in the west. The Kinnickinnic River Trail intersects with the line at multiple points.

The line was established in 1988 as the 76 East-West Trail, spanning 14.3 miles (23.0 km) and following much of the same route as it does today.[4]: 53–54 

In 2021, Milwaukee County Parks received a grant to construct a one-mile segment of trail on the line between 16th Street and 27th Street.[5]

  Root River Line

The Root River Line is 19 miles (31 km) long.[1] It stretches from the Milwaukee County Sports Complex in the south to Hoyt Park in the north, connecting with the New Berlin Trail, Brookfield Greenway, Powerline Trail, and Hank Aaron State Trail along the way. Part of this line is included in U.S. Bicycle Route 30.[6]

The line was first established as the 2.1-mile (3.4 km) Root River Trail Extension in 2006.[7]

  Oak Creek Line

The Oak Creek Line is 8 miles (13 km) long.[1] It branches from the South Shore Line in Abendschein Park in the north, then continues south until bending west to follow part of the Root River.

  South Shore Line

The South Shore Line is 16 miles (26 km) long.[1] It stretches from Cupertino Park in the north to Bender Park in the south.

As of 2022, the line sees over 230,000 users per year.[8]

  Milwaukee River Line
The Milwaukee River Line of the Oak Leaf Trail in October 2022

The Milwaukee River Line is 14 miles (23 km) long.[1] It stretches from Juneau Park in the south to Brown Deer Park in the north, connecting with the Beerline Trail along the way.

  The Zip Line

The Zip Line is 9 miles (14 km) long.[1] It branches from the Milwaukee River Line in Estabrook Park and continues north until it connects with Kohl Park and the Ozaukee Interurban Trail.

In 2015, a 3.1-mile (5.0 km) gap in the line between Hampton Avenue and Mill Road was filled.[9]

  Drexel Connector

The Drexel Connector is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long.[1] It provides an east-west connection among the Menomonee River Line, the Zip Line, and the Milwaukee River Line.

  Bradley Connector

The Bradley Connector is 3.3 miles (5.3 km) long.[1] It provides an east-west connection between the Oak Creek Line and the Root River Line.

  Lake Line

The Lake Line is 8 miles (13 km) long.[1] It stretches from the Milwaukee Art Museum in the south to Lake Park in the north.

The line was established in 1967 as a 3.1-mile (5.0 km) bicycle-only pilot trail that started at McKinley Park, traveled north to Lake Park, made a loop, and traveled south until ending near the North Point Water Tower.[4]: 78 

  Whitnall Loop

The Whitnall Loop is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long.[1] It branches from the Root River Line to provide a loop route through Whitnall Park.

In 2004, the length was 2.6 miles (4.2 km).[3]

See also

References
  1. "Oak Leaf Trail". Milwaukee County Parks. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  2. Ray Hoven. Biking & Hiking the Greater Milwaukee Area. Antioch, Illinois: American Bike Trails, 2005.
  3. Oak Leaf Trail offers scenic biking nestled in city limits, OnMilwaukee.com, May 30, 2004.
  4. Maher, Rothenbueler (2019). Milwaukee County's Oak Leaf Trail: A History. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467140683.
  5. Lewis, Chelsey (2021-08-20). "A new Oak Leaf Trail segment is planned for Milwaukee's south side thanks to a $450K grant targeting underserved communities". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  6. "US Bike Route 30 Turn by Turn Directions" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Transportation. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  7. Ceremony to mark Oak Leaf Trail extension, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 19, 2006.
  8. "Trail Counts". City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  9. Bergquist, Lee (2015-05-30). "Oak Leaf Trail link to be completed this fall". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
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