Neighborhood Work

UW Cooperative Extension’s educational outreach is critical to the preservation of the city’s traditional central city neighborhoods.  Extension works with residents to identify challenges and issues, working with them in developing solutions.  This results in a sense of pride and place to these neighborhoods along with economic stability and reinvestment.  This is important both from the standpoint of tax base and long-term neighborhood sustainability. 

-Steve Crandell, 2011 as City of Waukesha Community Development Director, Interim City Administrator.

That’s right, Waukesha County Community Educators of UW-Extension, are actively engaging residents of Waukesha’s central city utilizing a variety of methods–we need YOU!   For over 10 years, resident involvement with UW-Extension programming have shown to positively influence neighborhood safety and security, community engagement and economic viability.  Please explore our Haertel Field, Phoenix Heights and Tower Hill (formerly West Side) neighborhood pages and this slide show for more information!  And.Get.In.Volved!

Block Clubs:

In 2009-2010, Waukesha Block clubs organized gatherings of 75+ people, planned a neighborhood clean-up, removed graffiti, contacted the city to prune trees/shrubs covering street created a community garden on   a vacant lot.  Essentially, block clubs are neighbors working together to create vibrant neighborhoods that enhance the quality of life for residents!  Consider joining or creating a block club in your neighborhood.  What do you say?

 Community Gardens:

UW-Extension has learned that community gardens are a perfect opportunity to engage residents in educational programs while increasing interaction among neighbors.

For example, The Tower Hill Community Garden is in its seventh year of providing a gardening opportunity for residents in the Tower Hill Neighborhood (neighborhood surrounding Waukesha Memorial Hospital). The lot is owned by Waukesha Memorial Hospital.  While Waukesha Memorial Hospital mows the lawn and provides the water at the garden, Waukesha County UW Cooperative Extension provides weekly horticulture and nutrition education as well as the vegetables and seeds.  Tower Hill residents work together to plant, maintain, and harvest the vegetables.  And click here for more background on this community garden.

The vegetables growing in the West Side Community Garden must love all of the hot weather we have been having! We are almost ready to pick our first red tomatoes, onions, squash, and peppers! 

Neighborhood Crime Watch:

Public safety is often a common interest in neighborhoods so the UW-Extension has actively supported collaboration of residents and the Waukesha Police Department!   Through active citizenry, the City of Waukesha Crime Watch continues to make our community a safer place to live.  Who does not want safer communities?