Turning Rain Into Resilience in Milwaukee

$3.4M in green projects will capture 4.2M+ gallons of stormwater and revive city neighborhoods

28 Oct 2025

Milwaukee is advancing a new model for urban sustainability. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has pledged $3.4 million to support 11 green infrastructure projects expected to capture more than 4.2 million gallons of stormwater across southeastern Wisconsin.

Through its Green Infrastructure Partnership Program, the district is collaborating with local governments, nonprofits and private developers to redesign how cities handle rainfall. The projects will introduce rain gardens, green roofs and permeable pavement to absorb water where it falls, easing flood risk while improving water quality and cooling paved areas.

“Managing stormwater is not something we can do alone,” said Kevin Shafer, the district’s executive director, in an October 2025 statement. “By investing in partnerships, we’re helping communities design their own solutions while improving the environment and quality of life.” His comments reflect a broader shift among U.S. cities toward natural systems that complement the environment rather than counter it.

Milwaukee’s approach is notable for its financing model. Instead of depending solely on public investment, the district is combining government, private and community resources to expand impact and strengthen local engagement. Supporters say the effort will lead to cleaner waterways, greener streets and stronger neighborhoods better prepared for future storms.

As climate change intensifies rainfall and urban flooding, cities nationwide are seeking affordable strategies to modernize aging drainage networks. Milwaukee’s initiative suggests that collaboration and innovation can deliver effective, scalable results without large-scale new construction.

Challenges remain in ensuring long-term maintenance and securing sustained funding. Yet with projects approved in mid-2025 and construction set to begin later this year, Milwaukee’s work could serve as a blueprint for climate resilience. In reimagining how a city manages rain, it is also reshaping what urban sustainability can look like in the decades ahead.