Milwaukee County Parks and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District are asking for the public's help in identifying suspects behind the removal of about 100 newly planted trees from county land between the Menomonee River and the Menomonee River Parkway on Wauwatosa's north side.
The trees had been planted as part of a restoration project just north of Burleigh Street in one of the Tosa neighborhoods hit hardest by the devastating flooding of August 2025. They were planted in partnership with Milwaukee Riverkeeper.
"The removal of these trees undermines restoration efforts intended to improve habitat, strengthen the parkway’s natural areas and protect the long-term health of the Menomonee River corridor," Milwaukee County Parks said in a social media post on Sept. 11.
Parks staff reported the incident to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 9. The removed and damaged trees were valued at $4,000 to $6,000.
"Both Milwaukee County Parks and MMSD takes the unauthorized removal or damage of trees and other natural resources seriously," the parks announcement said. "Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to report it to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office."
Urban Milwaukee reported that a neighborhood volunteer discovered the damage while going to water the trees, finding only stumps. The trees appeared to have been cut down, their wire cages neatly stacked nearby.
“We’ve had other instances where trees have been yanked out or cut down, but nothing to this scale. … This person is skilled," Peter Bratt of Milwaukee County Parks told the news website.
