Earth Day at the Urban Ecology Center

With the plethora of Earth Day events taking place lasts weekend, I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate Mother Earth than at the Urban Ecology Center (UEC).

The neighborhood-based, non-profit community center is located in Milwaukee’s historic Riverside Park. The center is dedicated to educating locals about the environment by offering multifaceted outdoor recreation, environmental resources, and science and ecological schooling.

The day was calling for rain, but around noon the skies were still pretty clear, so Eric and I rushed to get to the UEC to partake in their Earth Day festivities before the rain had a chance to spoil the day.

We found parking along Locust Street near the entrance to Riverside Park. This niche of the East Side once was a little ragged and the park was pretty underused and overgrown, but that afternoon you wouldn’t have been able to tell. Although there were marks of graffiti left on some picnic tables, the swing sets and jungle gyms were alive with kids.

As Eric and I strolled along the sidewalk and into the park, we began to get a little confused about where all of the alleged Earth Day events were taking place. We were in the right place at the right time, but aside from the kids on the playground, no one was around. That is, until we came upon a handsome, four-story, metal-sided timber building abuzz with face-painted children competing in a bean bag toss and making crafts at tables along the sidewalk outside.

Most environmental education centers have been set in the country, usually in a nature preserve surrounded by bountiful and vigorous wildlife habitats in order to better connect with nature. However, the UEC is an exception as it’s located in a dense city neighborhood amid several acres of once-decrepit parkland.

We followed the path around the building and past a stunning 40-foot climbing wall where brave kids and adults scaled its vertical course. We wound around a rainwater-retention pond and a garage built of salvaged brick, and then we found the main entrance.

Through the front door we entered straight into the main hall where we were warmly welcomed by a lady at a table who provided us with a schedule that was jam-packed with crafts, classes, demonstrations, music and so on.

With its high ceilings and spacious rooms, the UEC was able to accommodate the several dozen visitors there that afternoon. The crowd itself was extraordinary, but more notable was the fact that almost everything in and on the building was made from natural or recyclable materials. Everything from the wood paneled walls and wooden beamed ceiling, to the recycled-rubber carpet and the rustically elegant brick chimney was delightful and “green”.

The atrium’s grand chimney is especially charming because it pays homage to the long history of Milwaukee’s brick making industry. The entire chimney is built from signature bricks made by local brick makers and each brick displays the name of the creator. This seemed to me a great way for the UEC to connect the community to its organization. By the look of the crowd, it was evident that this connection is building a convivial community around the center.

Such reclaimed materials bring priceless stories to the UEC which invites guests to discover them. Can you imagine finding your great grandpa’s name on one of the old bricks adorning the chimney? Or perhaps you had your first dance or played an important basketball game on the old school gym floor that now makes up the second floor balcony at the UEC.

The entire building was brimming with a rich history and radiating a holistic beauty. Also in the foyer were community booths scattered about the floor where you could learn simple ways to “green” your home. In addition, there were numerous bark-framed couches and chairs where you could take a load off from chasing your excited kids around.

Of course, the UEC is for all ages, but it definitely appeals to children. There’s a small “secret” door on the north side of the building that leads to dual racing slides that empty out in the main lobby and a passageway painted with a mural of a stream and its banks – it’s an imaginative, habitat-themed playground created to get kids in touch with nature.

Besides the rock wall, games and crafts, the building also has a room on the main level that houses reptiles – turtles, frogs, snakes, even a salamander. On Saturday, kids were allowed the chance to feed food pellets to a box turtle named Peanut and watch a UEC volunteer feed a dead mouse to an enormous garter snake. Eric and I also caught sight of a grass snake choking down an earthworm that was almost as big as he was. Yeah, it was a little disgusting, but for some reason I couldn’t stop watching it feast.

At that point it was time to do our own scarfing. Not even slightly grossed out by the worm-devouring snake, we followed the scent of grilled hot dogs to the second level. Upstairs and across the balcony floor were mammoth wooden dining tables where families sat to unwind and eat lunch or listen to folk songs played by Ken Lonnquist that resounded throughout the entire building.

After gobbling up our hot dogs and listening to a few more tunes, we ventured out to the 75-foot observation tower for an elevated perspective of the surrounding parkland and Milwaukee River and the post-industrial and neighborhood areas.

It wasn’t the warmest of spring days and the wind at that height was a little biting, so most people weren’t willing to climb the several flights of stairs to the top. Instead, they took advantage of the controllable web cam atop the tower that provides virtual access from inside the building. The cam is a fun way to see what’s going on outside on chilly days, but even more appropriately it is for those who are physically unable to ascend the many steps.

As the wind whistled around us, Eric and I took advantage of the sight. Besides a great view of Milwaukee’s landscape, we noticed the city grid-connected solar paneling system on the UEC roof. I read that it generates over 9,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year and thousands of dollars in revenue, according to information found here. I think solar paneling was a great addition to the building as it’s proving to be a great way to conserve energy.

Besides the solar-paneled roof, the UEC has a rainwater collection system that captures water to flush the building’s toilet and to fulfill other non-drinking needs. The bathrooms are designed to be “water misers.” Eric said that the urinals were waterless and when I used the lady’s room, I discovered that the toilets give two options for flushing – you press one button for a half-flush if you only need to go number one and the other for a full flush if you go number two.

From a solar-paneled rooftop to waterless urinals, the UEC is the epitome of a “green building.” Each “green” feature helps to keep southeastern Wisconsin’s air and water clean for future generations, while at the same time, contributing to the state’s economic growth through the use of renewable energy technologies.

For several years the UEC has been working to motivate Milwaukee to go “green” and to stay there. While it’s still an ongoing process, the UEC has already revived the park area and the surrounding community by offering a public place steeped in local history and environmental edification where children and families can go to learn and play.

While some of the activities at the Urban Ecology Center seem to target families with children, I still had a lot of fun and I’d recommend people of all ages to check it out. With the weather getting nicer it’s time to get outside and have some fun with nature. And if you didn’t know, if you become a member – an individual membership costs $25 – you can borrow their canoes, skis, mountain bikes, and other adventure equipment, as well as tools, at your leisure and celebrate Mother Earth year-round!

Comments

[Amanda]

I'm all for going green around here. The UEC is a great addition to the city!

[wfbdoglover]

i'm glad you made it!! Sorry we missed this years event.

Sounds like you enjoyed.

BTW, my goal is to start researching solar energy for my house.

[Erin]

I'm spoiled, because my parents live across from the UEC...god, I can't wait to move back to town. Best thing (out of many) about the UEC? Free kayak rentals for members!

[Karen]

I think solar paneling is a good idea. The systems aren’t quite as unattractive now – I think that was one of the community's biggest gripes – so why the heck not? It's a great alternative.

Also, I want to go kayaking this summer, so I'm thinking about getting a membership for the UEC. Like you said, Erin, the free rentals are one of the best things about the center (besides the turtles) and it’s a great incentive to become a member since you can use their equipment over and over.