Overview

"Milwaukee loves the Oak Leaf Trail, a 125-mile escape to nature connecting the major Milwaukee County parks. But many have not heard the history behind the trail. Believing parks to be the ""lungs of the people,"" long-range thinkers like Charles Whitnall advocated for the verdant spaces the trail would later snake through. To promote biking as an alternative to precious gasoline during wartime, Harold ""Zip"" Morgan designed a route that 1960s riders built on. Years later, bicycling enthusiasts worked overtime with local leadership to get a 76-mile route ready for the country's bicentennial, creating the beloved 76 Bike Trail. The Oak Leaf story continues today as local volunteers and politicians advocate for extensions, repairs and other improvements. Join local author Jill Rothenbueler Maher as she uncovers the previously untold stories of a Milwaukee County treasure."

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9781540238481

Table of Contents

Reviews

Maher's concise book (roughly 140 pages of text and 16 pages of illustrations) is truly the seminal work on the Oak Leaf Trail for no other study has tackled the topic before. Even the recently completed Encyclopedia of Milwaukee has entries on bicycling, parks, and land use and planning, but offers no treatment specifically of Milwaukee's foundational and most widely-used recreation infrastructure. For this reason alone, Maher's book should be applauded for filling the gap in our historical understanding and will easily become a favorite read for any Milwaukeean with even a passing interest in bicycling or local history. Following a delightful and mood-setting introduction, Maher's book is organized into three parts. The first of these operates essentially as the core of the study as it uncovers with great care the historical evolution of the Oak Leaf Trail, from its embryonic phase in the late 19th century all the way to contemporary improvements that have been implemented in just the last few years. It is in this part of the book where Maher's attention to detail and skill at crafting a cohesive historical narrative really shine. Bay View Compass

Author Information

Jill Rothenbueler Maher grew up jogging, biking and cross-country skiing with her family in southeast Wisconsin. After moving to Washington, D.C., she enjoyed the Washington and Old Dominion Trail and logged countless hours training for duathlon races. Back in Milwaukee, she enjoys sunrise runs and Saturday rides with friends on the Oak Leaf Trail. She regularly writes for the Bay View Compass and has degrees from the University of Minnesota and Georgetown University. Milwaukee County's Oak Leaf Trail is her first book.

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