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$2 Million Emilie Park Project aims to reduce flooding in Green Bay
By Breanna Reinhart | September 2026 | WFRV
Green Bay is moving forward with plans to restore wetlands at Emilie Park as part of a broader effort to reduce flood risk along the East River.
The East River Emilie Park project has been in the design phase for several years. City officials say the project is expected to cost about $2 million and could begin construction next spring, depending on funding, permitting, and weather.
The project would restore about 11 acres of wetlands within the roughly 13-acre park. The area historically served as a floodplain wetland before it was filled in decades ago, according to Melissa Schmitz, the city’s flood resiliency coordinator. The city plans to remove the fill, restore wetland habitat, and build boardwalks through the area.
“It would also capture stormwater from the neighborhood there,” Schmitz said. “So essentially it’s for flood storage or stormwater runoff storage.
Schmitz said the project is currently about half funded through grants. The city is waiting to hear about another grant worth about $1.4 million. If awarded, that funding would provide nearly all of the remaining money needed for the project.
Valerie Joosten, Green Bay’s director of Public Works, said the city hopes to complete the final design this year and put the project out for bid early next year. Construction could begin in the spring or summer of 2027.
The Emilie Park project is one piece of a larger flood-resiliency effort along the East River. A separate project at Van Beaver Park is in the engineering and design phase and has a preliminary cost estimate of about $8 million.
City officials say multiple projects will be needed to address flooding across the watershed.
“We know it’s going to flood again because we’ve experienced repetitive flooding along the East River for a very long time,” Schmitz said. “It’s not just one project that will help resolve and solve the problem. It’s going to have to be multiple projects.”
The city is also working with the East River Collaborative, which includes Wisconsin Sea Grant, NEW Water the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, and The Nature Conservancy, on projects throughout the watershed.
Another effort involves developing a flood warning system for the East River. Schmitz said two flood gauges are currently collecting data, with a third expected to be installed within the coming year. The system could eventually provide real-time warnings to first responders and residents.
Officials say the system could be operational within two years, although it will need additional data to calibrate.
Flooding also affects water quality in the Fox River and Green Bay. Jeff Smudde, director of environmental programs at NEW Water, said heavy rain, snowmelt, and flooding can carry additional nutrients and sediment into waterways.
“Every part of the landscape has an impact on downstream water quality and, ultimately, flooding,” Smudde said.
He said efforts to help water soak into the landscape upstream can reduce runoff, sediment, and nutrients reaching local waterways.
“Sediment from flooding can get into the stream and create more algal blooms. Those can be toxic to our pets and citizens,” Smudde said. “It can also create a situation where there’s less clarity in the water, which ultimately impacts the vegetation that grows. So, it impacts the entire ecosystem.”
The East River Emilie Park project is designed to help slow water upstream while restoring habitat and preserving recreation in Green Bay.