back to the root

Back to the Root

Back To The Root is an urban river revitalization plan brought to you by the Root River Council, a group form by concerned community members and public officials. The council’s focus is a revitalized waterfront that will cater to not only the public, but also to the economy.

Back To The Root is a project limited just to the “urban” corridor and areas that fall in the downtown city sections of the river. These are not the residential neighborhoods but rather the heavy use industrial areas of the past and present.

the target area

Here they have proposed a plan to increase public access with parks and an expanded river path and bike trail. By remediation of hazardous industrial areas, controlling runoff, and promoting “green” solutions the council hopes to improve the quality of the water that flows from the city back into the river and ultimately into the big lake.

This newly created waterfront, the city hopes, will attract some higher rent clients and boost tax revenue across the board. This is a similar plan to that of Milwaukee’s Menomonee River where their restoration boosted property values by 1400% but also claimed an extra million dollars in tax revenue per year. In my mind, this is a win-win situation for everyone.

From the perspective of an angler, these lower reaches are perfect for crank bait and slip bobber fishing. This will open up a whole new destination within the city for anglers to target some fresher fish from the lake. If done right, it will provide fishing access to those who spin fish and don’t necessarily have the mobility to climb the rocks in Racine Harbor.

Interested in learning more?

Visit the Root River Council's website-

Download a detailed PDF file-