Your Donations at Work!

Since 2008, FOHAST has sponsored summer bike camps for local schools in neighborhoods near the Hank Aaron State Trail. The purpose of the camps is to educate youth (ages 12 to 15) in safe biking habits and to encourage the use of the Trail for recreation and better health. FOHAST contracts with the Bike Federation's professionally trained instructors who provide training that goes from the classroom to neighborhood streets and finally to the Trail, progressing in distance while providing new destinations daily for a two week period of time. There are 15-25 youth participants in each group and FOHAST sponsors 4 camps each summer. All bikes, helmets, and equipment are provided. For some youth, this is their first time on a bike and may even be possibly the first time they have experienced seeing Lake Michigan. By the end of the camp, all of the youth have developed the confidence to ride the greatest distance they have ever travelled on a bike!

FOHAST is interested in expanding the number of participants and camps, since the Trail is within a 15 minute bike ride of over 415,000 people, of which 100,000 children are ages 18 and under. The adjacent neighborhoods are also home to some of the most at-risk for childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes, and a myriad of other health issues. Getting youth to be more active and learning the life-long skill of safe biking will enhance their lives and help improve their health.

Participants in the 2011 bike camps wrote thank you letters and these letters eloquently describe the difference these camps make in the lives of our youth:

"Dear Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail,

Thanks for sponsoring this awesome bike camp! I was so excited to learn that the Hank Aaron State Trail is where it is! The 94th Place end is just about 10 blocks from my house! My Mom is not a big biker but she has agreed to ride the Hank Aaron because it's SO close!

I loved all the rides on the trail with our teachers! The Marquette loop is so pretty, and I'll go back on it again. The Menomonee River was so much fun to ride by! We stopped and skipped stones TWICE! Thanks again."

"My favorite part of the Hank Aaron trail is origami cranes along the way."

"I've learned many things in the camp like fixing a flat and learning how to ride on the streets."

"Thank you for the bike program. It's the best thing I did all year."

Another 2.5 Miles Has Been Added to the Hank Aaron State Trail at Our West End

The newest extension of the Hank Aaron State Trail from 94th Place west to the connection with the Oak Leaf Trail at the Milwaukee/Waukesha County line was recently completed. This section has a crushed limestone base, as we will need to temporarily close major portions during the reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange about 4 years from now. When the Zoo Interchange work is being completed, the limestone areas of the trail will be paved with asphalt.

We are currently working with Milwaukee County Parks on establishing a parking lot nearby, but for now, the best parking for that connection is on Underwood Creek Parkway, along the Oak Leaf Trail just north of the connection with the Hank Aaron State Trail. A newly constructed Oak Leaf Trail underpass of busy Bluemound Road makes for a safe connection to the Hank Aaron State Trail just about 100' south of Bluemound Road. So, park on Underwood Creek Parkway north of Bluemound Road and take the Oak Leaf Trail underpass to the connection with the Hank Aaron State Trail, which is on the south side of Bluemound Road. There is also another connection to the trail off of 116th Street, in a light industrial Park that has access off of 121st Street.

Our new connection accesses the Oak Leaf Trail, which continues for over 100 miles around Milwaukee County. The connection at Underwood Creek is within one-mile of the Brookfield Trail system and just 2-miles to the New Berlin Trail. The New Berlin Trail goes to Waukesha, where folks can get on the Glacial Drumlin State Trail and continue all the way to Madison.

Whole Foods Community Support Day

A heartfelt thank you to WholeFoods for sponsoring a Community Support Day on October 25th to benefit the Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail and to all of our supporters who shopped on that day. It was a very successful fundraiser.

Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail

Hank Aaron State Trail maps are available! Download the map here.

The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, developing, and maintaining the Hank Aaron State Trail. The creation of the Hank Aaron State Trail along the Menomonee River and through a former industrial valley contributes countless opportunities for recreation and fitness, improvements to the environment, economic growth, and overall quality of urban life.

The Trail is ideal for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and skaters, and currently provides a 10-mile continuous connection via dedicated trails and marked streets between the lakefront and Milwaukee's west end.  The Trail starts at Lakeshore State Park near the Henry W. Maier Festival Grounds, winds its way through the Historic Third Ward and Menomonee River Valley, past Miller Park, and then points west by accessing the new bridge at 37th St. The Trail links to Milwaukee County’s 96-mile Oak Leaf Trail at both its east and west end, making it possible to bike from Lake Michigan, along several trails across the state, and eventually link to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and Military Ridge State Trail.

The new Western extension features a new bike/pedestrian bridge over Hawley Road, redecked bridges, and asphalt pavement. When work is completed on the Zoo Interchange, the remaining off-road section of the Trail west of 94th Place will be completed out to Underwood Creek and the connection to the Oak Leaf Trail.

Some points of interest along and adjacent to the Trail include Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, Milwaukee Art Museum, Lakeshore State Park, Summerfest & Ethnic Festivals, Historic Third Ward, Historic Walkers Point, Harley-Davidson Museum, Potawatomi Casino, Iron Horse Hotel, Marquette Playing Fields, Mitchell Park Domes, Miller Park, Menomonee Valley Stormwater Park, Soldiers Home Historic District, State Fair Park, Petit Ice Center, and the restorative peace of the Menomonee River.

The Hank Aaron State Trail Will Take You There!

The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail continues to be an advocate of the Trail, working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, local communities, organizations, and businesses, to bring the Trail to reality. From our annual Spring River Clean-Up and Planting, to the Hank Aaron State Trail 5k Run/Walk, to our hikes through history, the Friends helps people enjoy and appreciate all that the Hank Aaron State Trail has to offer.

We invite you to learn more about the Trail and our organization, and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the Hank Aaron State Trail.

Become a Friend of the Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail

Joining the Friends offers an opportunity to play an important role in bringing the Trail to its full potential. It provides a great forum for discussion and support of the Trail, and friends also receive newsletters and advance notification of special events.