Marv Letven, Board President

​Executive Board
Jim Chambers, Vice President
Shawn Erickson
Katie Geiger
Kathy Karabetsos
Kathryn Knoff
Marvin Letven
Brian O’Connell, Treasurer
Mary Pierrello
Diana Raucina
Laura Schulz
Mera Yi
Marybeth Zulhke, Secretary

Board Advisors
​Mollie Jones
Anuja Patil

The Root River Council started out in 2006 as a conversation among various community members concerned about the Root River. These ‘River Enthusiasts’ researched the successes of communities around the globe and strategized ways that the City of Racine and all of Southeastern WI could implement best management practices to revitalize the Root River. The conversation grew into community workshops, and in 2008 a year’s worth of community input was compiled into the Back to the Root: An Urban River Revitalization Plan.
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Our goals and plan is to outline recommendations for the City of Racine to return to its Root. The focus area spans from the Racine Harbor to Quarry Lake Park (below the Horlick Dam) in Racine. The plan has four main goals:

• Create a sense of place
• Stimulate economic growth
  
• Improve water quality
  
• Allow public access and interaction
  

Since these goals were adopted, the Root River Council has partnered with area agencies to construct the 'Dawning' sculpture (1300 6th Street), facilitated the completion of a 'river-district' property inventory, participated in the County-wide Root River Restoration Planning Group, facilitated the construction of a mosaic mural on the 6th Street bridge, partnered to organize several public paddling events, and assisted with riparian restoration projects. 

The approach Root River Council takes is to find individuals and organizations that do things well and propose they do those same things, well... on the Root River. Take me to the River!

​Root River Council's Purpose:
The Root River Council is committed to the revitalization and redevelopment of the Root River to create a sense of place, promote economic growth, improve water quality, and increase public access and interaction in the City of Racine. 

The Root River Council shall build relationships with business and professional associations, environmental groups, educational institutions, government agencies, arts, community organizations and the general public to make the Root River a vibrant focus of urban life. 

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Said corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. 
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