Bader Philanthropies Awards $250,000 Grant to Restore and Enhance Shorewood Nature Preserve
Shorewood, WI — The Surfrider Foundation, in partnership with the Friends of Shorewood Nature Preserve, the Surfrider Milwaukee Chapter, and the Village of Shorewood, has been awarded funding from Bader Philanthropies to support Phase I of the Shorewood Nature Preserve Restoration Project, a major restoration and enhancement effort along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The two-year, $250,000 grant will advance ecological restoration and public access improvements across 6.5 acres of the preserve, strengthening forest health, improving shoreline resilience, and expanding opportunities for community stewardship and outdoor learning. Surfrider Foundation and partners thank Bader Philanthropies for supporting this important community-driven effort to restore and enhance one of Shorewood’s most ecologically significant natural areas.
“This preserve is a special place for our community,” said Roland Schroeder, President of the Friends of Shorewood Nature Preserve. “We’re excited to work alongside Surfrider and our partners to restore its ecological health while improving safety and access in ways that preserve the natural character that makes this place so special.”
Shorewood Nature Preserve is a beloved community space for connecting to nature, and it supports a rich mosaic of native plant communities and wildlife habitat along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The preserve includes mature hardwood forest and shoreline edge habitat that provide critical resources for birds, pollinators, amphibians, and other wildlife. In recent years, it has become less accessible due to evolving safety considerations, hazardous tree conditions, and trail wear. With support from Bader Philanthropies, the project will help restore and enhance the preserve as a welcoming place where both people and nature can thrive together.
Phase I of the two-year restoration effort will focus on improving public safety and access while laying the foundation for long-term ecological recovery. Key activities include removing hazardous trees, managing invasive species, applying mineral supplements for the white pines, enhancing trails, controlling erosion, and constructing a new shoreline access stairway. In alignment with the Village of Shorewood’s 2023 Nature Preserve Land Management Plan, the project will implement carefully sequenced restoration actions designed to balance habitat protection with low-impact public access.
“This investment represents an important step in restoring Shorewood Nature Preserve as a safe, resilient, and welcoming natural space,” said Surfrider Foundation’s Great Lakes Regional Manager, Sarah Damron. “By combining ecological restoration with improved public access and community engagement, we are helping to ensure the forest and shoreline can be enjoyed and cared for for generations to come.”
Community engagement will be central to the project, with residents invited to participate through volunteer events, educational outreach, and hands-on restoration activities throughout the grant period. These efforts will build long-term stewardship capacity and deepen community connection to the shoreline. The Surfrider Foundation will lead project implementation in collaboration with the Milwaukee Chapter and Friends of Shorewood Nature Preserve, with Marek Landscaping serving as the primary design and construction contractor.
While Phase I focuses on urgent safety and access improvements, the broader vision includes continued invasive species removal, improved shoreline access points, and long-term habitat restoration guided by the Village’s land management plan. Surfrider Foundation and partners will continue pursuing complementary funding to advance future phases of the project.
“This project is an important first step toward restoring the preserve’s ecological health while making it safer and more accessible,” said Surfrider volunteer Zoe Finney. “We’re excited to build on this work with our partners and community to care for the preserve for years to come.”
Join us to learn about the Shorewood Nature Preserve Restoration Project, upcoming restoration work, and how you can get involved.
Shorewood Nature Preserve Restoration Project Community Meeting
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Village Center Meeting Room
3920 North Murray Avenue, Shorewood
For more information: Check out our webpage
As Great Lakes and Texas Regional Manager, Sarah provides chapters with support, training, and resources that they need to further the organization's mission. She thrives at fundraising, recruitment, team managemen, program and campaign planning, and policy and advocacy work.