Where is your "special" outdoor place in Milwaukee? A particular clearing in Lake Park? The trails along the Milwaukee River? Picture Milwaukee Places, a new online scrapbook collecting photos and stories about places that move Milwaukeeans, wants to know.

Picture Milwaukee Places organizers hope the project will encourage more public art pieces in Milwaukee.

"We're documenting the history and significance of Milwaukee's hidden treasures: the square where you learned to ride a bike, the nook or cranny that serves as your secret sanctuary and the sidewalk you strolled when you first fell in love," said Picture Milwaukee Places organizer Jennifer Geigel.

Picture Milwaukee Places is a part of Milwaukee Makes Place, a collaboration among a growing list of community-based organizations including neighborhood groups and arts institutions. The concept was conceived by a diverse group of artists, policymakers and citizens seeking to improve the process for commissioning, preserving and interpreting public art.

"Milwaukee Makes Place represents a new way of thinking for Milwaukee. Connecting artists, designers and policymakers to the neighborhood residents early in the planning process is the key to art that better articulates the social meaning of Milwaukee places," said Brian Reilly, a Department of City Development staffer supporting the initiative.

At present, Milwaukee County's Percent for Art Program requires 1 percent of total budgeted construction costs of projects exceeding $500,000 to be used toward public art. The City's Milwaukee Arts Board, the nonprofit Spirit of Milwaukee and other private agencies also play a role in developing public art projects.

Picture Milwaukee Places aims to collect 300 pictures and stories by September 30. Photos and stories may be contributed via e-mail to picture@milwaukeemakesplace.org. Stories should be no longer than 250 words, and digital files should be no larger than 500K. In addition, photos and stories will be accepted via mail at Milwaukee Makes Place, PO Box 324, Milwaukee, WI 53201. For returns, please include a SASE. All contributions should include the place name and location as well as the contributor's name.

For more information, go to www.milwaukeemakesplace.org