Lakeshore State Park Capital Campaign Receives $200,000 Boost
The vision for a year-round gateway to Wisconsin’s only urban state park is moving closer to reality. The Friends of Lakeshore State Park have announced two major $100,000 donations to the capital campaign for the upcoming Visitor and Education Center (VEC). These generous contributions come from two vital partners in the protection of our local environment: Veolia and The Fund for Lake Michigan.
Investing in the Future of Freshwater
For nearly two decades, Lakeshore State Park has served as a “living laboratory” for thousands of Milwaukee students and visitors. Currently, educational programming is often limited by the seasons and the lack of a permanent indoor facility. These new gifts represent a profound investment in the community and the next generation of environmental stewards by helping to create a permanent home for freshwater education that will be accessible to everyone.
The Friends of Lakeshore State Park invite the entire community to join these leaders in supporting the campaign. Every contribution brings the park one step closer to breaking ground on a facility that will serve as a hub for recreation and conservation for decades to come. To view the architectural renderings or to learn how you can support the new center, please visit the official campaign page.
Partners in Conservation
The Fund for Lake Michigan
The Fund for Lake Michigan, a private foundation based in Milwaukee, was established in 2011 as part of an agreement between We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric, WPPI Energy, Clean Wisconsin and Sierra Club to safeguard the lake and improve water quality in the region. The Fund supports efforts, particularly in eastern Wisconsin, that enhance the health of Lake Michigan and its shoreline and tributary river systems for the benefit of the people and communities that depend upon the system for water, recreation and commerce. The Fund has awarded more than $50 million in grants to restore habitat, improve beaches, clean up rivers and streams, and revitalize waterfronts in the Milwaukee area and in other communities within Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan basin.
“This investment reflects the Fund for Lake Michigan’s commitment to protecting and restoring the health of Lake Michigan,” said Vicki Elkin, the Fund’s Executive Director. “By incorporating a green roof, native plantings, and other green infrastructure into the new visitor’s center, the Friends of Lakeshore State Park is demonstrating how thoughtful design can reduce runoff, improve water quality, and create habitat in an urban setting. We’re proud to support a project that not only enhances the visitor experience but also serves as a visible, educational example of how communities can build resilience and safeguard our shared freshwater resources.”
Veolia
Veolia is contracted by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) to operate and maintain its regional wastewater treatment system serving over 1 million people in 29 municipalities. Their 216 employees manage the 2 water reclamation facilities, conveyance system including the deep tunnel, and manage the biosolids program on behalf of MMSD.
In 2024, Veolia opened a regional office in the Enerpac Center to house 150 employees in finance, IT, human resources, and legal, serving as a hub for their regional operations.
Veolia is proud to support Lakeshore State Park’s Visitor and Education Center that will provide a platform to educate the community about Milwaukee’s water infrastructure and environmental stewardship—topics that are at the heart of our mission. By investing in this facility, we’re helping to create a space where residents and visitors can learn about the critical role clean water plays in our city’s past, present, and future.
Ghassan Korban, Vice President of Large Projects for Veolia.