Welcome to the Urban Ecology Center!

Who we are

We are an environmental education organization with two community centers adjacent to Milwaukee County parks (or, as we like to call them “outdoor classrooms”). On any given day and you’ll find classes of students from local schools engaging in hands-on learning about science, nature and how to live more sustainably, community members using the array of resources we offer, adventure-seekers borrowing our outdoor recreational equipment, climbing the rock-wall in Riverside Park or canoeing in the lagoon in Washington Park , or people just visiting the center, its staff and volunteers. Best of all, the Urban Ecology Center is available to everyone for fun and learning nearly every day of the year!

We encouarge you to get to know us better. Explore our site, or better yet, stop by for a visit.

Visiting Milwaukee?
Looking for a day outdoors?
Visit the Urban Ecology Center

Check out our Riverside Park facility through our online tour!

Thanks to the hard work and talent of Glenn Sarlitto, we are excited to share a fantastic virtual tour of our Riverside Park facility.

Glenn shot all of the photos you'll see, then did the tremendous work of producing the final tour. We are grateful to Glenn for his time, attention to detail and
creativity in completing this project.

So, check out our building! Just click the box on the right.

CSA and local food options at the Center!

Click here to see our community supported farm list.

Looking for information about the
Interfaith Earth Network?

Click here to learn more about this partnership between faith communities and the Urban Ecology Center.

Park Place parking lot is open!

We’re excited to report that our parking lot is now open! Travel west on Park Pl. across the new bridge to get to the lot. We’re thrilled to offer this resource to our visitors and everyone who accesses the trails and Milwaukee River from Riverside Park. Visit the trails system during the winter and see the park through a different perspective. Check back in the spring to see our native plantings and educational signage about how this parking lot keeps rainwater out of the sewer system. Many thanks to the landowners, funders and advisors who helped make this happen!

Astronomy Notes on the Web!

Remember that cool calendar of astronomical events we used to put in the newsletter? It was such a fantastic resource that we wanted to provide it to others as well as to our members. Art Paque, who compiled the print calendar, has graciously agreed to collect the information for our website. Find the new Astronomy Notes at www.urbanecologycenter.org/research/astronomy.

Looking for one of our recent stories? Find it in our archive!

Winterfest!

Come down the street or across town for this fantastic event at Washington Park!

• Ice Skating
  
• Sledding
  
• Snowshoeing
  
• Skiing
  
• There’s even a clothing swap and indoor activites for the entire family.
  

Washington Park
Saturday, January 30
Noon - 4 p.m.
Free

Urban Hillbilly Quartet Benefit Concert

We are hoping to host a benefit concert at the Urban Ecology Center in Riverside Park featuring the Twin Cities based Urban Hillbilly Quartet, a unique and eclectic band you are sure to enjoy. Date and time: TBD. To make sure you don’t miss this event, sign up for our Weekly Guide e-newsletter to get event updates. To sign up, fill out the form above.

Art at Riverside

Point of View – John Fatica
Artistic Interpretations of Spring – Steven Yeo

John explores the landscape from varying perspectives - from close up and intimate to the distant and silent - and the way these points of view influence his experiences of land and water. Utilizing digital photographs of biotic material from regional Wisconsin and urban parklands, Steve’s exhibition presents artistic visions of natural process and forms that ask, “why not?” Refreshments served.

Free - donations appreciated
Show runs January-March

Urban Ecology Center Has Online Giving!

You can use your credit card or PayPal account to donate to the Center. Click here for details.