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Located between Grant Park at Hawthorne Avenue and Rawson Avenue
Oak Creek Parkway
11000416
Located between Grant Park at Hawthorne Avenue and Rawson Avenue
Milwaukee
South Milwaukee
Summary
Oak Creek Parkway
Located between Grant Park at Hawthorne Avenue and Rawson Avenue
South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
Architect: Alfred Boerner
Dates of construction of contributing resources: 1890-1945
The Oak Creek Parkway is located in southeastern Milwaukee County. As part of the Milwaukee County parkway system, it follows Oak Creek from its confluence with Lake Michigan at Grant Park northwest through the city of South Milwaukee to 15th Avenue, where it heads south to Rawson Avenue . Charles B. Whitnall included Oak Creek Parkway in his 1923 study of a county-wide parkway system, promoting the health and aesthetic benefits of urban parklands. Alfred Boerner, a Milwaukee County landscape architect and Wisconsin native, was instrumental in drawing up the plans. However, work on the Parkway was not implemented until 1930 when federal work relief efforts made development possible; during 1931 and 1932, Milwaukee County Department of Outdoor Relief (DOR) workers laid more than one mile of macadam pavement from Grant Park to North Chicago Avenue. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor was responsible for creek relocation and widening, road grading, bridge and road construction, and landscaping.
The Oak Creek Parkway includes bridges and buildings, as well as several landscape features such as retaining walls, which are part of the overall site.
The integrity of the property has been well maintained, and the Parkway remains historically intact. It is a strong example of parkway design, and serves as a reminder of automobile culture and recreation, as well as community development, from early twentieth century Milwaukee County.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event,Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Community Planning And Development |
| Period of Significance | 1931-1960 |
| Architectural Style | Other |
| Architect | Boerner, Alfred |
| Resource Type | District |
| Historic Use | Outdoor Recreation,Park,Road-Related |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 2 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 1 |
| Contributing Structures | 7 |
| Contributing Objects | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 2 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 8 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Aug 20, 2010 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jun 27, 2011 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
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