1. Building the Perfect Community
BPC
The Clean Rivers Lake Conference
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2012

2. In 2000, residents formed a
community development
corporation to advance
economically diverse and
healthy neighborhoods

3. Promote healthy
choices
Build healthy
environments
Restore quality
housing
Foster
living
economies
Walnut Way
engages
neighbors to
Live well

4. Neighbors Without Boundaries
 Target area: 110 block
area
 Major commercial
corridors: North
Ave/Fond du Lac
I-43-20th Street
 Approximately 2,700
households
 Over 10,000 individuals

5. “I knew the Lord had not forsaken
me”
Harriet Dorsey, age 106
Oral Narrative Interview
Mrs. Dorsey lived in the only
remaining house on the 1500
block of Lloyd Street.
Her house has new siding and
windows. She has two new
neighbors.

7. Approach the issue of excess runoff as an
opportunity to lessen the need for potable city
water for non-potable purposes like irrigation
and flushing toilets
3 Bio-filtration swales
3Rain gardens
-Constructed wetlands
-Green roofs
-Greywater system

8. WALNUT WAY CONSERVATION CORPS
STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES PARTNERSHIP
2005-2006
FINAL REPORT

9. Gardens to Market is here to help teens with their
future and give experiences that will help them for a
life time. It approaches health at a
physical, mental, social, and spiritual level. It
teaches vocational education in intensive food
production, improved nutritional health, social
support, training and professional development.
G2M is committed to the philosophy of positive
experiences, and guides teens to be successful as
they move forward.

10. Grow and join with familiar farmers and food
producers to expand access to quality food
It’s hard work, but its worth it.
-Gabrielle

13. Create communities of choice and connection:
neighborhoods that are good places for families
to live, learn, work, and play
Lindsay Heights Quality of Life Plan/ZNI 2009

14.  Academic Achievement
 Youth and Families
 Lifelong Learning
 Housing
 Commercial Corridors
 Public Safety
 Health and Wellness
 Healthy Food

15. Key features in 1997 Key features in 2012
 Rated 3rd in Nation growing in  Household wealth and living
poverty wages top priorities
 165 new homes/221 rehabs
 Undervalued housing  Housing values increase
$100,000-$200,000plus
 $26M in private investment
 Lack of civic and capital
investments MMSD contracts for rain water
management
 38 rain gardens installed
 Invisible history
 Public and private production
gardens
 Overwhelming crime  Documented oral narratives
 Over 100 active households
 Convener for Quality of Life
Plan.

16. .

17.  Public Health Issue
 Zoning: “to protect public health and safety”
 Social Justice Issue
 Mobilized community

21. 21

22.  Urban Agriculture and Environmental
Stewardship are at the foundation of our
holistic approach to community revitalization.
 For the Orchards: establish sustainable
rainwater harvesting systems to irrigate
orchards. Irrigation systems will be solar
powered.
 For the Commons: Greywater system to reduce
water usage.

23. Provide neighborhood based learning…
Water awareness..in spirit
Water experiences
Water stewardship as a way of life……

24. Walnut Way Conservation Corp
www.walnutway.org
http://iwc4change.org/
414.264-2326