Hank Aaron State Trail’s annual 5K brings much needed funding to Menomonee River Valley projects

The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail will welcome more than 1,300 people to the Menomonee River Valley on August 11 for the 19th Annual Hank Aaron State Trail 5K, a Trail’s signature fundraising event to enhance the Trail and send more than 100 kids to Bike Adventure Camp each summer.

The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail, a nonprofit group dedicated to sustaining and enhancing the trail, will host the 19th Annual Hank Aaron State Trail 5K Run/Walk, the Trail’s signature fundraising event. The 2018 Run/Walk route weaves through the Menomonee River Valley in Three Bridges Park, through restored prairie with blooming native plants, and crosses the Menomonee River, providing a dramatic view of Miller Park in the home stretch.

The route is steeped in history, located along Milwaukee’s former rail and industrial corridor. The restoration of the trail and adjacent areas has provided greenspace for recreation, wildlife habitat, and improved ecology.

“The community support for this event is so great,” said Melissa Cook, trail manager of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Everyone at the event is helping achieve the overall goals of the Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail organization.”

The Hank Aaron State Trail is named after one of baseball’s greatest players—Hank Aaron (#44). A man of enormous accomplishments and integrity, Hank Aaron holds more major league batting records than anyone in history and hit 755 home runs, many of them as a Milwaukee Brave and Brewer. Hank Aaron also broke many racial and cultural barriers, and the Trail, which also connects the diverse neighborhoods of the greater Milwaukee community, exemplifies his legacy.

The Hank Aaron State Trail runs through the heart of Milwaukee and connects neighborhoods from the Lakefront at Discovery World west to the Waukesha County Line. The Trail passes by many of Milwaukee’s top tourist attractions including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Discovery World, Harley-Davidson Museum, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Mitchell Park Domes, VA Grounds, Pettit National Ice Center, and State Fair Park.

The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining, promoting, and enhancing the Hank Aaron State Trail. The 13-mile paved trail runs through the heart of the city and is within a 15 minute bike ride for over 400,000 Milwaukeeans.