The Beerline Trail is a public recreational trail owned by the City of Milwaukee, and maintained and led by Riverworks Development Corporation, in partnership with the Friends of the Beerline. Through their work with communities on and off the Beerline Trail, they are devoted to reimaging the role public spaces have in creating connected, healthy neighborhoods and cities.

Once a rail line famous for hauling Milwaukee’s most beloved staple, the Beerline right-of-way was abandoned by 1990 as industry and transportation in Milwaukee changed. Since 2002, neighborhood residents alongside Riverworks and the City of Milwaukee have worked to bring the corridor back to life, beginning with the first phase of the trail from North Bremen Street to North Buffum Street. Today, the trail stretches all the way to West Capitol Drive.

Now, the Beerline is a place to wander through gardens, take in art, catch a performance, and connect with friends and neighbors, all while enjoying a one-of-a-kind view of the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods.

And the best is yet to come. Riverworks is working to bring Kuumba Art Park to the stretch of trail between Richards and Capitol: a new space for play, gathering, markets, and art, rooted in the neighborhood and the corridor’s rail-yard past.

The Beerline Trail is owned by the City of Milwaukee, and Riverworks operates it under a license agreement with the Department of Public Works. Have questions? Check out our FAQ page.