Neighborhoods
Clarke Square • Silver City • Burnham Park • Layton Park
Welcoming, Thriving Neighborhoods
Our anchor community is on the ancestral lands of the Potawatomi, Menominee, and other Indigenous peoples, who continue to call this area home. Over time, the south side of Milwaukee has welcomed waves of new neighbors, from predominantly Polish communities in the early 1900s to people with roots in the Caribbean and Latin America by the late 20th century, creating the rich, diverse community we see today.
Since 1995, VIA has been grounded in the vibrant neighborhoods surrounding the headquarters of the School Sisters of St. Francis (SSSF), our founding partners. For many years, our work focused on three core neighborhoods: Silver City, Burnham Park, and Layton Park. In 2025, VIA expanded to include Clarke Square, growing our service area to four vibrant neighborhoods. We work alongside neighbors to celebrate the strengths and assets of these communities as we pursue fairness, opportunity, and flourishing for all.
Today, these neighborhoods are home to over 21,000 caring, creative, and dedicated individuals who enrich our community every day. Neighbors and visitors alike enjoy the charm of historic homes, the flavors and traditions of multicultural restaurants and markets, and a wealth of other local amenities.
Clarke Square
Overview & History
Located just south of Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, Clarke Square is one of the city’s oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods. Its name honors Norman and Lydia Clarke, who purchased 160 acres west of Walker’s Point in 1837 and later donated land that became Clarke Square Park in 1890.
The neighborhood is home to Mitchell Park and the iconic Mitchell Park Domes, three glass conservatories that have been a symbol of Milwaukee since the 1960s. Once settled by immigrants from Europe, Clarke Square has evolved into a culturally rich community with a strong Latino identity, alongside Southeast Asian families and other diverse neighbors who call the area home.
Bounded by the Menomonee Valley to the north, Sixteenth Street to the east, Greenfield Avenue to the south, and Layton Boulevard to the west, Clarke Square covers about 40 square blocks of primarily residential areas with thriving commercial corridors. The neighborhood features more than 60 acres of green space, including Mitchell Park, and is among Milwaukee’s most densely populated areas, home to nearly 8,000 neighbors and over 2,400 households.
Local Life & Amenities
Sixteenth Street serves as Clarke Square’s main cultural and commercial corridor, lined with locally owned Latino restaurants, markets, salons, and shops that reflect the neighborhood’s character. Nonprofits such as Journey House play an essential role in supporting families through education, workforce programs, and community events. Public art and neighborhood initiatives, including the Sixteenth Street Business Improvement District (BID) #38, continue to strengthen community pride and beautify shared spaces.
Clarke Square’s transformation over time, from a European immigrant community to a hub of Latino culture, is celebrated through public art, festivals, and vibrant street life along Sixteenth Street.
Silver City
Overview & History
Located on Milwaukee’s near south side, Silver City stretches from the Hank Aaron State Trail to Greenfield Avenue. The neighborhood’s name dates back to the late 1800s, when Menomonee Valley workers were paid in silver dollars, which they spent at nearby businesses along National Avenue, earning the area its bright nickname, “Silver City.”
Silver City is one of Milwaukee’s most diverse neighborhoods, home to Latino, Hmong, African American, and other communities. This cultural richness is reflected in the area’s restaurants, art, and community events.
Local Life & Amenities
National Avenue serves as Silver City’s lively commercial corridor, filled with restaurants, cafés, small businesses, and shops that represent the neighborhood’s global identity. Silver City is also home to Three Bridges Park, a 24-acre green space connected to the Hank Aaron State Trail and the Urban Ecology Center, offering neighbors access to nature, recreation, and community learning spaces.
Each year, VIA hosts Silver City Fest, a celebration of the neighborhood’s cultural diversity through live music, food, and art. The event has become a signature gathering that brings neighbors and visitors together to celebrate community pride and local talent.
Amenities
Burnham Park
Overview & History
Burnham Park is a vibrant neighborhood on Milwaukee’s near south side, celebrated for its rich history, cultural diversity, and strong sense of community. Developed in the early 20th century as part of the broader Layton Boulevard area, the neighborhood remains a welcoming place for neighbors and visitors alike.
According to local sources, Burnham Park was named after George Burnham, who moved to Milwaukee in 1843 with his brother Jonathan. Together, they discovered the light-colored clay used to create Milwaukee’s famous cream-colored bricks, giving rise to the city’s nickname, The Cream City. George later became a major landowner and, along with Daniel Rogers and John Becher, mapped out the neighborhood in 1871. Their influence lives on through the streets being named after them.
Today, Burnham Park is home to a predominantly Hispanic community, over 68% of neighbors identify as Latino or Hispanic , whose culture, traditions, and entrepreneurship continue to shape the neighborhood’s identity and vibrancy.
Neighborhood Boundaries – Greenfield Avenue on the North, Layton Boulevard on the East, Becher Street on the South, Miller Park Way on the West.
Local Life & Amenities
At the heart of the community is Burnham Playfield, a recently renovated park offering a full-size soccer field, futsal courts, playgrounds, and a historic fieldhouse. Burnham Park thrives with local businesses, including restaurants, shops, and community services. Its strong Latino presence is reflected in authentic Mexican restaurants and markets, adding to the neighborhood’s lively cultural atmosphere.
Amenities
Layton Park
Overview & History
Layton Park, on Milwaukee’s south side, takes its name from Frederick Layton and his father, John, who purchased land here in the mid-1800s for farming, residence, and running an inn. As the city expanded southward in the early 1900s, Polish and German working-class families built the neighborhood’s characteristic “flats, duplexes, bungalows, and workers’ cottages.” Over time, Layton Park has evolved into a vibrant, multicultural community with a growing Hispanic/Latino population, reflected in its culture, language, and local businesses.
Layton Park is roughly bordered by Becher Street to the north, Forest Home Avenue to the south, and South 27th to 35th Streets on the east and west. The neighborhood follows a mostly rectangular street grid, with gently rolling hills and the diagonal boulevard of Forest Home Avenue adding character to its landscape.
Local Life & Amenities
While formal parks within the neighborhood are limited, green space is accessible via Pilgrims Rest Cemetery and nearby Forest Home Cemetery. Local schools include private/religious options. Lincoln Avenue serves as a local commercial hub, featuring Latin-inspired restaurants such as Tu Casa Mexican Restaurant & Bar and small businesses that highlight the neighborhood’s multicultural flavor. Major retailers like Target, Aldi, and Menards are just a few miles away. Public transit via Milwaukee County Transit System connects neighbors to downtown and surrounding areas.
