1000 Friends of Wisconsin is the new host of the Wisconsin Active Together Network!

Wisconsin Active Together (WAT) was formed in 2017 by a diverse and multidisciplinary group of state-level and community-based partners from across Wisconsin to encourage and recognize the many active transportation initiatives occurring in Wisconsin. WAT has strived to recognize ongoing active transportation work while also encouraging communities to make policy and systems changes at the local level.

As you know, 1000 Friends has been working on transportation reform and accessible transportation advocacy for some time. Because of our history and connection to the Wisconsin transportation landscape, we believe our organization is the perfect fit to lead this exciting effort. We look forward to moving Complete Streets legislation forward at the state and local level, sharing success stories from WAT communities, and empowering their work to continue building the coalition of active transportation initiatives throughout Wisconsin!

Wisconsin Active Together provides recognition to any community group or coalition that is making it easier for people to walk, bike and be active and meets basic criteria to demonstrate that commitment.

If you're not already a member group - check out the website and see how you can apply!

https://www.wiactivetogether.org/

Fourth in Gregg May's blog series

Transportation Connection (Pt. 4) Local Ordinances

This is the fourth article in a series on the connection between land use and transportation in Wisconsin communities.

Residential Streets Widths

Take a look out the window. Consider the width of the street. Does it need to be this wide? Does it include on-street parking that it is rarely used in an area where most homes have garages?

As auto-oriented development became the status quo, cities began to mandate wider roadway widths on local streets to better facilitate the movement of vehicles. All too often these width requirements are too large. “Street Design Guidelines for Healthy Neighborhoods” found that 18’ widths are best for residential streets without parking and 26’ widths are best to incorporate street parking.

This article will explore street width preferences, which have an outsized impact on our land use patterns.

Don't stop now - read the 5th in our Land Use & Transportation series...

Urban Ecology Center

Summer Online Intensive

Abe Lenoch, 1000 Friends Community Project Coordinator, participated in the Urban Ecology Center’s (UEC) first ever Summer Online Intensive. Typically, UEC hosts an in-person multi-day workshop for environmental community leaders, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was held virtually. Abe participated in the class with other community leaders from Madison, Milwaukee, Washington DC, Baltimore, Atlanta, Mexico, and many other places to learn strategies to benefit the Leopold Green Schoolyard Project and other Green Infrastructure initiatives. 1000 Friends would like to thank UEC for their environmental leadership and this great class. Now, see if you can find Abe in the Zoom class photo!

We Support Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund Re-authorization

Join Team Knowles Nelson

In 1989, Governor Tommy Thompson and the Wisconsin Legislature created the Stewardship Fund to preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation. In 1993, the Stewardship Program was renamed the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Fund after two of Wisconsin's most revered conservation leaders, Warren Knowles and Gaylord Nelson .

From its inception, the Stewardship program has funded not just DNR land acquisition and recreational development, but a family of grant subprograms through which local communities and nonprofits, matching the state investment dollar-for-dollar, have expanded parks and public nature preserves. Stewardship dollars have been invested in every one of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

1000 Friends of Wisconsin supports a full 10-year reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund at the current level. We signed a letter, along with 57 other organizations, to Gov. Tony Evers supporting the reauthorization. You can read the letter here

Gathering Waters, a statewide conservation organization, has created a postcard campaign. It’s as easy as 1,2,3! Click on the picture below to follow a link to their website where you can create a postcard to be sent to your lawmakers. Make your voice heard!

1000 Friends of Wisconsin | 608-259-1000 | 1kfriends.org

We are working remotely so please contact us via email at

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