MillerCoors will donate $500,000 to clean up Milwaukee’s South Shore Park, the company announced today.
Chicago-based brewery MillerCoors manufactures much of its product in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee County parks and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences will also assist with the revitalization project, which was first announced last week and will take place over the next five years.
The entities have formed a long-term plan for sustainable improvements to water and beach quality, preserving the park and offering a safe recreational space.
“Water is an essential ingredient in beer, so at MillerCoors we are deeply invested in water stewardship efforts,” said Tami Garrison, MillerCoors manager of Community Commerce and Partnerships. “Lake Michigan is in our Milwaukee Brewery’s backyard, so we are proud to partner with the School of Freshwater Sciences and the Parks Department to preserve this vital community resource for years to come.”
The project will include migratory bird management, beach clean-up and maintenance and a beach health and water quality educational kiosk. The School of Freshwater Sciences will research and monitor water quality.
“We’ve been studying water quality at South Shore Beach for more than 10 years, and we are very committed to finding ways to improve conditions at the beach so the Milwaukee community can enjoy one of our region’s greatest assets, Lake Michigan,” said Sandra McLellan, School of Freshwater Sciences professor and the scientist leading the research team. “What makes this effort remarkable is the commitment by MillerCoors and the collective effort among community organizations to get this done.”
South Shore Park is on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood, and includes 47.4 acres of recreational areas, sand beaches, public boat launches and a public art display. It has frequently been closed in recent years because of E. Coli contamination.
“We are thrilled to have this high level of commitment from MillerCoors to improve the quality of our water, beach and park for the enjoyment of the whole community,” said Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive. “This partnership shows the value we all place on creating sustainable green spaces for future generations.”
