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GREENWAYS AND TRAILS

Environmental corridors in urban or urbanizing areas in Southeastern Wisconsin, which are held in public
ownership[JN1] or preservation easements, are often termed “Greenways.” Greenways are linear corridors of open
spaces linking parks, natural areas, cultural features, historic sites, plant and animal habitats along a stream or
river, environmental corridors, ridgelines, or other linear natural features. These corridors are intended to provide
aesthetic and natural resource continuity. Greenways in floodplains and floodways help to convey and infiltrate
storm water to manage floods and to improve lake and stream water quality. The natural resources that form
the greenway corridors also make such corridors attractive settings for recreational trails. Hunting is also now
permissible in designated greenway lands in cooperation with State and local hunting laws. Information online at:
http://www.waukeshacounty.gov/hunting/

Greenway Purpose and Vision
The vision of the Waukesha County Greenway Project is to create a system of corridors along the County’s major
rivers and streams, which will protect the high quality natural resource-based elements; connect major State,
County, and local parkland and other community social and cultural amenities; manage storm water; and provide
recreational and educational opportunities for present and future generations.

The Greenway corridor serves as a river/stream buffer to:
1. Protect water quality by filtering and removing sedimentation, organic matter, pesticides and other
pollutants from surface runoff and subsurface flow through deposition, absorption, plant uptake,
denitrification or other processes.
2. Create, enhance and protect wildlife habitat and provide a corridor for the movement of a wide range of
species.
3. Protect and stabilize the riparian land and reduce floodwater velocity.
4. Protect high quality plant communities, including upland woods.
5. Provide non-motorized trail opportunities.

Greenway Cross-section
The Greenway Cross-section (See Figure A-1) was developed to ensure the preservation of the greenway corridors,
and to guide the development of trails within the greenways, which give people access to enjoy these areas. The
Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use assembled a committee representing: Waukesha County
Planning and Land Resources Divisions, WDNR, residents of the Town of Vernon, private Non-Profit Organizations,
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), SEWRPC, Farm Bureau, and UW-Extension. This committee met
thirteen times over a two-year period to discuss standards and to voice concerns regarding greenways. Park staff
took into consideration the input generated by the committee and refined it to develop the Waukesha County
Greenway Cross-section. The Greenway Cross-section document is to be used as a tool to implement the
development of the Greenways.

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