Root River Parks

RACINE, Wisconsin – On March 6th, 2025 the Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Root River Parks in Racine (Racine County) on the State Register of Historic Places. The historic district encompasses Island, Riverside, Cedar Bend, and Washington Parks.

The Root River Parks were designed by Jens Jensen, a nationally recognized Midwestern landscape architect, to take advantage of scenic vistas from the existing natural waterway. They include characteristic features of the Prairie style of landscape architecture including native vegetation, a central water feature, gently curving circulation pattern, and long open meadows. Park facilities—including athletic fields, playgrounds, and a golf course—demonstrate the evolving