General
 

What is the Beerline Trail?

The Beerline Trail is a public walking and biking trail owned by the City of Milwaukee, built on a 3-mile historic rail corridor running through the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods. Today, the trail offers 4.2 miles of active transportation and access to nature. Riverworks Development Corporation maintains and activates 1.3 miles of the trail, from Burleigh St. to Capitol Drive.

The Beerline Trail sits on the site of the rail line famous for carrying Milwaukee's most iconic export: beer. By 1990, the rail right-of-way had been abandoned as industry and transportation patterns in Milwaukee shifted. Starting in 2002, neighborhood residents partnered with the City of Milwaukee to remove the old railroad tracks and build the first phase of the linear park trail, from Bremen to Buffum. The trail has since been extended all the way to Capitol Drive. Over the past decade, roughly $3.0 million has been invested in the newest extension, from Burleigh to Capitol Dr., funding land acquisition, trail construction, community improvement projects, planning, engagement, programming, and environmental remediation, while also spurring real estate development along the corridor.

​

Why Kuumba Art Park?

Riverworks has been the leading community advocate for the Harambee and Riverwest neighborhoods since we were founded over 30 years ago. Leading the development of Kuumba Art Park is one of our biggest projects yet. The park celebrates Harambee's rich history of art and community, creating a space where neighbors of all ages can enjoy and connect with local stories.

​

What is Riverworks doing to activate the Trail now? 

You can already see the beginnings of Kuumba Art Park through the murals installed in the park area.

Riverworks has also supported art projects up and down the trail, from Julia's Corner at Richards and Keefe, just south of the future park's south entrance, to the newest additions, two mosaic artworks behind Café Corazon at the trail's south end.

Riverworks' work on the trail has also earned recognition. At Richards & Keefe, next to what will become Kuumba Art Park's south entrance, the Connector Building won the 2024 Mayor's Design Award. Further south, directly behind the Riverworks office, the Beerline Plaza won the 2025 Mayor's Design Award. This community performance space hosts Riverworks events like Music on the Beerline and Bloom & Groom, as well as community and resource fairs from other local organizations and outdoor concerts by local musicians.

Among other events, Riverworks hosts the Beerline Shuffle each year on the first weekend in October. The Shuffle is a self-paced walk along the trail with stops highlighting the work of Riverworks, the Friends of the Beerline, and other local organizations.

​

Who are the Friends of the Beerline Trail?

Friends of the Beerline Trail is a resident-led group that oversees the public programming and art projects for Kuumba Art Park and the Beerline Trail. 

​

What was the Beerline Rail used for?

The Beerline Railway operated as a freight line from 1934 to 1980, carrying beer-related products throughout the state. As some who grew up in the surrounding neighborhoods may remember, the rail line also carried the Circus Parade from the Baraboo Circus World Museum. The historic circus wagons and animals made the journey to Milwaukee on the Beerline 30 times between 1963 and 2003, with a special encore appearance in 2009.

​​

Who owns and oversees the rest of the Beerline? 

The Beerline Trail runs from North Commerce Street to West Capitol Drive and is owned by the City of Milwaukee. Riverworks Development Corporation has jurisdiction over the section from North Bremen Street to West Capitol Drive, while the Milwaukee County Parks Department and River Revitalization Foundation oversee the trail south of Locust Street.