Valley Park

Project Update

Thank you to all who attended the November 20, 2024, Valley Park Levee Open House. The presentation and posters from the Open House are posted below under “Resources.” The presentation covers:

1) The importance of the levee and its role in reducing the flood risk,

2) Needed tree removal maintenance so the levee can continue to provide the reduction of flood risk and meet FEMA standards and

3) MMSD's plans to plant trees on MMSD properties near Valley Park.

MMSD's project team is moving forward to finalize tree removal maintenance plans for the Valley Park Levee. This work is currently estimated to occur in the early 2026 timeframe. MMSD will provide a future update ahead of the work. This maintenance is important to protect the flood risk reduction benefits the levee provides and to meet FEMA levee standards.

In response to the Valley Park neighborhood’s interest in trees, MMSD plans to plant new trees on several parcels of land that MMSD owns near the Valley Park Levee. Thank you to all who participated in the tree planting survey. The results of the tree planting survey will be incorporated into the tree planting plan. MMSD will provide future communication on when the tree planting will happen and how to participate.

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Project Overview

Completed in 2001, the $12 million Valley Park Flood Management Project created a levee and floodwall to help protect 133 homes that were ravaged by floods in 1997 and 1998. The project is part of a group of projects that work together to reduce the risk of flooding on the Menomonee River.

The Valley Park levee uses a hybrid levee and floodwall approach to protect residents. There is a seven-foot-high and 800-foot-long earthen embankment levee and a five-foot-high, 750-foot-long reinforced concrete floodwall.

To construct the levee and floodwall, MMSD acquired 18 homes. Some of the homes acquired by MMSD were replaced within the neighborhood, but outside of the floodplain. MMSD staff worked closely with neighborhood residents to develop a relocation plan. Residents were involved in selecting an architect and working closely with the contractor on home designs and met frequently with District staff.

The construction of the Valley Park Levee along the Menomonee River expanded the original Valley Park area managed by Milwaukee County Parks from 1.5 acres to 3 acres. A new 10-foot-wide access drive was built atop the levee for maintenance and security. The Valley Park Levee system includes a one million gallon underground storage tank at the south end of Valley Park to collect storm water from the neighborhood. An underground pump station sends the storm water collected in the underground storage tank to the Menomonee River.

Project Map

Project Benefits

Reduce the risk of flooding in the Valley Park neighborhood.

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Project Timeline

Construction – Completed in 2001
Levee Maintenance – on-going

Partners

City of Milwaukee DPW

Project Resources

Valley Park Levee Open House Presentation November 20, 2024
- Valley Park Levee Construction Poster
- Valley Park Levee Potential Tree Planting Areas
Valley Park Levee Tree Survey Map
- Blue dots indicate vegetation and trees that are not in the levee maintenance area and will remain; yellow dots indicate vegetation and trees being evaluated further to see if they can remain or if they need to be removed to protect the levee.
Valley Park Levee Tree Survey - Park Focused
- Blue dots indicate trees and vegetation that will remain; yellow dots indicate trees and vegetation being evaluated further to see if they can remain or if they need to be removed to protect the levee.
Valley Park and Neighborhood
- Before and after the construction of the Valley Park Levee.
So You Live Behind a Levee -- American Society of Civil Engineers

Views of the levee from the riverbank.
Views of the levee from the riverbank.

MMSD surveying team marked a line along the border of the levee maintenance area with white paint. The trees to the riverside of the painted line are being evaluated for the levee standards; the trees streetside of the line are not within the maintenance area and will remain.
MMSD surveying team marked a line along the border of the levee maintenance area with white paint. The trees to the riverside of the painted line are being evaluated for the levee standards; the trees streetside of the line are not within the maintenance area and will remain.
MMSD surveying team marked a line along the border of the levee maintenance area with white paint. The trees to the riverside of the painted line are being evaluated for the levee standards; the trees streetside of the line are not within the maintenance area and will remain.