Strong Community
Center Peace is made up of a diverse group of individuals who have come together in mutual care for each other and the neighborhood. As a community, Center Peace strives to encourage values of peace and caring through green space and neighborliness.
Click here to learn more about the community.
Click here to learn more about the community.
Parks and Gardens
Scholar's Park - Located across from the Milwaukee College Preparatory School, Scholar's Park is home to a little free library and beautiful landscaping thanks to HOME GR/OWN.
Unity Orchard - Unity Orchard stands on the corner of 38th and Wright and is also a product of HOME GR/OWN. This green space acts as both a community garden and orchard, housing community events from time to time. Butterfly Park - Butterfly Park stands at the corner of Center Peace on 38th and Meinecke and is a large open park with a central playground. Peace Gardens - Scattered throughout the community are garden beds promoting peace and community. Sherman Park - Sherman Park is located further to the north, on Sherman and Locust and houses multiple recreational facilities. A Milwaukee Boy's and Girl's Club, community garden, and multiple sports fields and courts provide recreation to surrounding communities. |
Thriving Businesses and Organizations
Ronnie’s Barber Shop - 3712-14 W Center
Sistah Café - 3717 W Center Asha Family Services - 3715 W Center Holy Cathedral COGIC-2677 N 40th Street Philip’s Apparel - 3812 W Center Center Street Nail Bar - 3817 W Center Fresh Fast And Delicious - 3831 W Center |
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Historically Rich
As early as the 1880s, this area was settled by German and other west-European immigrants due to the factory jobs along the railway to the south. These immigrants mostly built duplex homes, as they flexibly allowed for rental income or housing for extended family. To the west, on Grant and Sherman Boulevard, more ornate single family homes were built by upper-middle class families in the 1920s. The rich diversity of the area began to grow in the 1930s when a number of Jewish immigrants settled in the area. By the 1940s, the area was mostly settled and North and Center were established commercial corridors. With the 1960s came more diversity with the rising African American population which was welcomed by the newly founded Sherman Park Community Association. In the 1970s, the land to the immediate north of North Avenue was cleared to make way for the Park West Freeway. The freeway was eventually stopped by the efforts of nearby communities with the help of the Sherman Park Community Association in 1977. This strip of land has been recovering ever since. Since then, deindustrialization has led to a downturn in the local economy and a resultant foreclosure crisis in the early 2000s. Recent efforts by members of the community and the city have turned these problems around and see vacant lots and homes as opportunities.