Shorewood Nature Preserve Receives $250K for Restoration

A major restoration project is coming to one of Shorewood’s most important natural spaces.

The Surfrider Foundation, working with the Friends of Shorewood Nature Preserve, the Surfrider Milwaukee Chapter and the Village of Shorewood, has received a $250,000 grant from Bader Philanthropies for the first phase of the Shorewood Nature Preserve Restoration Project.

The two-year effort will restore and improve 6.5 acres along the Lake Michigan shoreline, with work focused on making the preserve safer and more accessible while protecting the forest, shoreline and wildlife habitat that make it special.

What the project will include

According to information included in the September 21 Shorewood Village Board packet, the first phase is expected to include:

• Removal of hazardous trees

• Management of invasive plant species

• Mineral supplements to support the preserve’s white pines

• Trail improvements

• Erosion-control work

• Construction of a new shoreline-access stairway

The preserve includes mature hardwood forest and shoreline-edge habitat used by birds, pollinators, amphibians and other wildlife. In recent years, hazardous trees, trail wear and changing safety conditions have made parts of the preserve more difficult to access.

The goal is not to turn the area into a manicured park. Instead, project partners plan to improve safety and public access while protecting the natural character of the property and beginning a longer period of ecological recovery.

Why this matters for Shorewood

The project could make it easier to explore and learn from a rare piece of Lake Michigan shoreline close to home. Safer trails and a new shoreline stairway would create better opportunities for nature walks, bird watching and outdoor learning.

Community involvement will be a significant part of the project. Residents will be invited to participate in volunteer events, educational programs and hands-on restoration activities throughout the grant period.

The project also builds on Shorewood’s growing network of water and conservation initiatives. Families interested in getting involved locally can read more about the Shorewood Waters Project and its family-friendly conservation activities, or find more places to explore in our Milwaukee outdoor activities guide.

Community meeting planned for October 6

Families and residents will have an early opportunity to see the plans, ask questions and help shape the future of the preserve at a public community meeting.

Shorewood Nature Preserve Restoration Project Community Meeting

• Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

• Doors open: 5:30 p.m.

• Program: 6–7:30 p.m.

• Location: Shorewood Village Center Meeting Room, 3920 N. Murray Ave.

• Included: Food, information posters, a kids area and opportunities to share feedback

Visit the official Shorewood Nature Preserve Restoration Project page for project information and community-meeting registration.

An investment in Shorewood’s lakefront

This grant represents the first phase of a larger vision. Future work could include continued invasive-species removal, additional shoreline-access improvements and long-term habitat restoration guided by the Village’s land-management plan.

For a small, densely developed community, Shorewood has an impressive collection of natural spaces connecting residents to both Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River. This project is an opportunity to protect one of those special places while giving families a safer way to experience it.

Find more neighborhood news, events and family adventures on our Shorewood page.