1 Mile of 100 with Mayor Tom Barrett

"Hey, I wanna walk with the Mayor!" a young resident yelled as he noticed Mayor Tom Barrett and a group of over 100 residents, children and employees from the Near West Side walking through the Merrill Park neighborhood where he lived. "Let's go!", said Mayor Barrett and within a matter of seconds the man had hopped up from his porch and joined the group, laughing and conversing with his fellow neighbors.

The walk, held last Thursday, June 22nd at 12pm in Merrill Park, was a collaborative effort between the Near West Side Partners team and Mayor Barrett, as he continues his "100 Miles in 100 Days" campaign to get Milwaukee residents out and about, engaging and exercising. Also joining and helping with the walk were the Merrill Park Neighborhood Association, Marquette University's Center for Peacemaking, the Milwaukee Center for Independence, Milwaukee Public Schools, Neighborhood House and MKE Plays. These groups were in attendance to help out and get feedback from residents on a number of different projects involving Merrill Park and the surrounding neighborhood.

While walking, residents got a chance to take photos and even talk with Mayor Barrett about issues that were important to them and their community. Free Near West Side T-shirts were passed out to everyone in attendance, and even 20 Summerfest tickets were raffled off.

At the conclusion of the walk, Shannon Mattox, the Director of Near West Side Partners Keith Stanley, along with Mayor Barrett held a press conference attended by local media outlets to kick off the new “Drive Safe” campaign. “Drive Safe” yard signs were given to all the residents of the Near West Side who attended the walk and will be placed throughout the seven historic neighborhoods of the Near West Side, reminding people driving through to slow down and drive safe.