Parks of Milwaukee facts for kids
Milwaukee is a city with many amazing parks! Most of these parks are owned and cared for by Milwaukee County. They are part of a big park system that covers the whole county. However, some parks are managed by other groups, like the state of Wisconsin, the city of Milwaukee, or even local neighborhood groups. These parks offer lots of fun activities and beautiful green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Milwaukee County Parks: Fun for Everyone!
The Milwaukee County Park system is really special! In 2009, it won a big award called the National Gold Medal Award for being excellent at managing parks and recreation. This means they do a fantastic job making sure the parks are great places for people to visit and play.
Here's a list of some of the parks in the Milwaukee County system:
| Park Name | Where to Find It | How Big It Is | Cool Facts | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcott | 3751 S 97 St | 16.9-acre (68,000 m2) | A nice park for outdoor fun. |  |
| Algonquin | 7850 N 51 St | 9.4-acre (38,000 m2) | This park in Brown Deer used to be next to Algonquin Elementary School. It has a playground and a wading pool. | |
| Armour | 6105 W Norwich Ave | 14.6-acre (59,000 m2) | A great spot for outdoor activities. |  |
| Back Bay | 2315 E Back Bay | 6.5-acre (26,000 m2) | This park offers amazing views of Lake Michigan. |  |
| Baran | 2600 S Chase Ave | 23.8-acre (96,000 m2) | Baran Park is mostly known for its baseball fields. It's a quiet green space in a busy part of Milwaukee's south side. |  |
| Barnard | 3300 W Barnard Ave | 10.1-acre (41,000 m2) | Located right next to Greenfield Middle School. |  |
| Bay View | 3120 S Lake Dr | 37.5-acre (152,000 m2) | A lovely park along the Oak Leaf Trail. |  |
| Bradford | 2400 N Lincoln Memorial Dr | 29.0-acre (117,000 m2) | This park has beach volleyball courts right on Lake Michigan. |  |
| Brown Deer | 7835 N Green Bay Rd | 362.6-acre (1,467,000 m2) | Home to the Brown Deer Park Golf Course, designed in 1929. | |
| Burns Commons | 1300 N Franklin Pl | 1.5-acre (6,100 m2) | One of Milwaukee's oldest parks, started in 1847. It has a statue honoring the Scottish poet Robert Burns. |  |
| Caesar's | 1939 N Warren Ave | 3.7-acre (15,000 m2) | This park is on the East Side along the Milwaukee River. It was named after Caesar Paikowski. |  |
| Cambridge Woods | Cambridge & Providence | 20.9-acre (85,000 m2) | Found in Milwaukee's East Side near University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, along the Milwaukee River. |  |
| Carver | 911 W Brown St | 23.2-acre (94,000 m2) | Parts of this park have been used as a park since 1853! It was once a popular beer garden called Schlitz Park. | |
| Cathedral Square | 520 E Wells St | 2.1-acre (8,500 m2) | This park is next to St. John's Cathedral. It's known for "Jazz in the Park" concerts in the summer. |  |
| Clarke Square | 2330 W Vieau Pl | 2.1-acre (8,500 m2) | This park was given to the city in 1837 by Nathaniel Brown and Norman and Lydia Clarke. |  |
| Clas | 930 W Wells St | 1.0-acre (4,000 m2) | Located next to the Milwaukee County Courthouse. It was named after Alfred C. Clas, an important architect and park commissioner. |  |
| Cooper | 8701 W Chambers St | 8.4-acre (34,000 m2) | Named for William H. Cooper, a park commissioner. It has a pavilion, softball fields, a playground, and a wading pool. |  |
| Cupertino | 2000 E Iron St | 7.1-acre (29,000 m2) | Named after County Supervisor Daniel Cupertino. It used to be part of Southshore Park. |   |
| Currie | 3535 N Mayfair Rd | 195.7-acre (792,000 m2) | This park has a golf course designed by George Hansen in 1927. | |
| Dineen | 6901 W Vienna Ave | 64.2-acre (260,000 m2) | Located on the northwest side of Milwaukee. It was named after Cornelius R. Dineen, a park commissioner. | |
| Doyne | 5300 W Wells St | 35.4-acre (143,000 m2) | A nice park for outdoor activities. | |
| Dretzka | 12020 W Bradley Rd | 326.0-acre (1,319,000 m2) | Named after Jerome C. Dretzka, a long-time park commissioner. It has a golf course, picnic areas, volleyball, disc golf, and cross-country ski trails. | |
| Estabrook | 4400 N Estabrook Dr | 122.0-acre (494,000 m2) | This park is along the Milwaukee River. The historic Benjamin Church House was moved here in 1938. |  |
| Euclid | 3200 S 88 St | 9.1-acre (37,000 m2) | A pleasant neighborhood park. |  |
| Gordon | 2828 N Humboldt Blvd | 25.0-acre (101,000 m2) | The City of Milwaukee bought this land for Gordon Park in 1907. It became a county park in 1937. | |
| Grant | 100 E Hawthorne Ave | 379.3-acre (1,535,000 m2) | Located in South Milwaukee, this large park was created in 1911. |  |
| Granville Dog Park | 11718 W Good Hope Pl | 25.4-acre (103,000 m2) | This was Milwaukee County's very first dog park, opened in 1998! | |
| Greenfield | 2028 S 124 St @ W Greenfield Ave | 282.3-acre (1,142,000 m2) | Located in West Allis, this park has a golf course and was home to the county's first outdoor swimming pool, opened in 1932. |  |
| Grobschmidt | 3751 W College Ave | 152.0-acre (615,000 m2) | This park has oak-hickory woods, a sedge meadow, and a pond called Mud Lake. It's mostly undeveloped with walking trails. |   |
| A.C. Hanson | 9100 N Maura Ln | 13.5-acre (55,000 m2) | This small park in Brown Deer has a fantastic playground. | |
| Hawthorne Glen | 1130 North 60th Street | 23-acre (93,000 m2) | Features a nature center museum, live native animals, and a self-guided nature trail. | |
| Holler | 5151 S 6 St | 15.4-acre (62,000 m2) | A good place for outdoor recreation. | |
| Holt | 3300 S 106 St | 20.6-acre (83,000 m2) | An undeveloped park located in Greenfield. |  |
| Humboldt | 3000 S Howell Ave | 70.2-acre (284,000 m2) | One of Milwaukee's first parks, opened in 1891. It was named after Alexander von Humboldt. |  |
| Jackson | 3500 W Forest Home Ave | 113.0-acre (457,000 m2) | Named after Andrew Jackson. This park has a cool statue called "The Pewter Lady." |  |
| Jacobus | 6501 W Hillside Ln | 26.0-acre (105,000 m2) | Renamed in 1932 to honor Charles C. Jacobus, who helped develop the park system. | |
| Juneau | 801 N Lincoln Memorial Dr | 15.8-acre (64,000 m2) | Named after Solomon Juneau. It overlooks Lake Michigan and is just north of downtown. |  |
| King | 1531 W Vliet St | 21.4-acre (87,000 m2) | Named after Martin Luther King, Jr.. It has a community center that opened in 1976. | |
| Kletzsch | 6560 N Milw. River Pkwy | 140.5-acre (569,000 m2) | Located along the Milwaukee River in Glendale. It was named after Alvin P. Kletzsch, a park commissioner. | |
| Kohl | 7603 W County Line Rd | 273.2-acre (1,106,000 m2) | This land was given to Milwaukee County by real estate developer Sydney Kohl. | |
| Kops | 3321 N 86 St | 8.2-acre (33,000 m2) | Named after Milwaukee County Supervisor Gerald Henry Kops. This park has a wading pool, playground, and softball fields. | |
| Kosciuszko | 2201 S 7 St | 33.6-acre (136,000 m2) | Named after General Tadeusz Kościuszko, and has a statue of him. |  |
| Kulwicki | 10777 W Coldspring Rd | 28.2-acre (114,000 m2) | Created in 1996 to honor NASCAR racecar driver Alan Kulwicki, who was from Greenfield. |  |
| Lake | 3233 E Kenwood Blvd | 138.1-acre (559,000 m2) | Designed by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. It's home to the historic North Point Lighthouse. |  |
| Lincoln | 1301 W Hampton Ave | 312.3-acre (1,264,000 m2) | This large park is home to several TV station towers. | |
| Lyons | 3301 S 55 St | 12.4-acre (50,000 m2) | A nice park for local recreation. |  |
| Manitoba | 2941 S 49 St | 3.7-acre (15,000 m2) | A smaller park in the area. |  |
| McCarty | 8214 W Cleveland Ave | 52.1-acre (211,000 m2) | Located in West Allis, with a part of the Oak Leaf Trail running through it. |  |
| McGovern | 5400 N 51 Blvd | 61.0-acre (247,000 m2) | Named after William R. McGovern, a park commissioner for many years. | |
| McKinley | 1750 N Lincoln Memorial Dr | 103.3-acre (418,000 m2) | A large park near the lakefront. | |
| Melody View Preserve | 7300 N 91 St | 13.9-acre (56,000 m2) | This land was donated to Milwaukee County by Walgreens. A walking path was planned here. | |
| Mitchell | 524 S Layton Blvd | 61.0-acre (247,000 m2) | Home to the famous Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, also known as "The Domes." |  |
| Mitchell Airport | 4446 S Logan Ave | 18.8-acre (76,000 m2) | Located just north of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. |  |
| Noyes | 8235 W Good Hope Rd | 71.6-acre (290,000 m2) | This park has a par 3 golf course and a great playground. | |
| Oakwood | 3600 W Oakwood Rd | 276.0-acre (1,117,000 m2) | This park has an 18-hole golf course, which is the county's longest course. | |
| O'Donnell Park | E. Wisconsin Avenue & Prospect | 9.3-acre (38,000 m2) | Offers amazing views of the lakefront and downtown Milwaukee. It's home to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum. |  |
| Pere Marquette | 900 N Plankinton Ave | 1.9-acre (7,700 m2) | Located across the Milwaukee River from the Marcus Center. It's named after Father Jacques Marquette. |  |
| Pompeii Square | Interstate 794 @ N Van Buren St & N Jackson St | 0.4-acre (1,600 m2) | This park is where the "little pink church" (Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church) used to stand. |  |
| Popuch | 8500 W Granville Rd | 11.6-acre (47,000 m2) | This small neighborhood park is a green oasis with a playground that is easy for everyone to use. | |
| Red Arrow | 920 N Water St | 1.2-acre (4,900 m2) | Named after the symbol for the 32nd Infantry Division. It now has a public outdoor ice-skating rink! |  |
| Riverside | 1500 E Riverside Pl | 25.4-acre (103,000 m2) | Also designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It's where the main offices of the Urban Ecology Center are located. |  |
| Rose | 3045 N Dr M L King Jr Dr | 9.6-acre (39,000 m2) | Originally named after James A. Garfield, it was renamed in honor of County Supervisor Clinton E. Rose. |  |
| Servite Park Preserve | 8501 N Servite Dr | 20.2-acre (82,000 m2) | This land was meant to be a natural prairie. A walking trail here was inspired by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. | |
| Sheridan | 4800 S Lake Dr | 131.8-acre (533,000 m2) | This park in Cudahy was given to the city by Patrick Cudahy in 1914. It sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. | |
| South Shore | 2900 S Shore Dr | 44.4-acre (180,000 m2) | Offers beautiful views of Lake Michigan. |  |
| Uihlein Soccer Park | 7101 W Good Hope Rd | 67.2-acre (272,000 m2) | A special stadium built for soccer in 1994. The Milwaukee Wave soccer team sometimes practices here. | |
| Veteran's | 1010 N Lincoln Memorial Dr | 103.5-acre (419,000 m2) | Located along Milwaukee's Lakefront, just south of the McKinley Marina. |  |
| Walker Square | 1031 S 9 St | 2.1-acre (8,500 m2) | This park was originally given to the city by George H. Walker in 1836. |  |
| Washington | 1859 N 40 St | 128.5-acre (520,000 m2) | Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1892. It used to be the home of the Milwaukee County Zoo until 1963. |  |
| Webster | 4521 N Mayfair Rd | 4.5-acre (18,000 m2) | This park is owned by Milwaukee County but leased to the City of Wauwatosa. The Oak Leaf Trail goes through it. | |
| Wedgewood | 7201 W Wedgewood Dr | 6.1-acre (25,000 m2) | A pleasant park for the neighborhood. |  |
| Wehr Nature Center | 9701 W College Ave | 250-acre (1,000,000 m2) | Located near Boerner Botanical Gardens. It's a great place to learn about nature. | |
| West Milwaukee | 5000 W Burnham St | 21.1-acre (85,000 m2) | A park located in West Milwaukee. |  |
| Whitnall | 5879 S 92 St | 625.4-acre (2,531,000 m2) | This is the largest park in the county system! It's home to the beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens and was named after city planner Charles B. Whitnall. |  |
| Wilson | 1601 W Howard Ave | 76.7-acre (310,000 m2) | Named in honor of Woodrow Wilson. | |
| Wilson Recreation | 4001 S 20 St | 51.5-acre (208,000 m2) | This park has an indoor ice arena that's used all year round. The Milwaukee Admirals hockey team practices here! | |
| Zablocki | 3717 W Howard Ave | 45.0-acre (182,000 m2) | A nice park for various activities. |  |
| Zeidler Union Square | 301 W Michigan St | 1.2-acre (4,900 m2) | This was Milwaukee's first public park, started in 1835! It's now named after Milwaukee's 33rd mayor, Carl Zeidler. |  |
Other Cool Parks in Milwaukee
Besides the county parks, there are other great parks in Milwaukee managed by different groups. Here are a few:
| Park Name | Where to Find It | How Big It Is | Cool Facts | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Bertschy Kadish | 909 E. North Ave. | 24-acre (97,000 m2) | This park is home to the Selig-Joseph-Folz Amphitheater. | |
| Enderis Playfield | 76th street to 67th street Center to Burleigh/Lisbon | 326.0-acre (1,319,000 m2) | Named after Dorothy Enderis, who believed in creating playgrounds for every child. It's home to the Magic Grove sculpture. | |
| Erie Street Plaza | E. Erie St | 0.25-acre (1,000 m2) | Opened in 2010 in the Historic Third Ward. It offers views of the Hoan Bridge and the harbor. |  |
| Garden Park | E Locust St & N Bremen St | 0.3-acre (1,200 m2) | Located in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood. It hosts a summer farmers' market and concerts. |  |
| Henry Maier Festival Park | 200 N. Harbor Drive | 75-acre (300,000 m2) | This is where Summerfest, one of the world's largest music festivals, takes place! Many other festivals happen here too. |  |
| Kaszube's Park | S Carferry Dr at Jones Island | 0.15-acre (610 m2) | This is the smallest park in Milwaukee! It's a tiny reminder of a fishing village on Jones Island. |  |
| Kilbourn Reservoir | 750 E North Ave | 35-acre (140,000 m2) | This park was created after an old underground water reservoir was removed. The land was donated by Mayor Byron Kilbourn. | |
| Lakeshore State Park | N Harbor Dr & E Polk St | 22-acre (89,000 m2) | This green space opened in 1998 and is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It's a great place to enjoy nature downtown. |  |
| Snail's Crossing | 3000 N Bremen Street | 0.5-acre (2,000 m2) | This park in the Riverwest neighborhood has a playground. It was known as "Baby Park" until 1990. | |
| Three Bridges Park | South bank of the Menomonee River, from approximately S. 35th St. to just east of S. 27th St. | 24-acre (97,000 m2) | Opened in 2013 on what used to be old rail yards. It's managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Urban Ecology Center. | |
| Victory Over Violence Park | 2601 N N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr | Opened in 2000, this park is a special place for the community to gather and heal. | ||
| Wisconsin State Fair Park | 640 S 84th St | 190-acre (770,000 m2) | Located in West Allis, this park has hosted the Wisconsin State Fair since 1892! |  |
| Zillman Park | S Kinnickinnic Ave & E Ward St | 0.7-acre (2,800 m2) | Located in the Bayview neighborhood. It has a historical marker honoring the immigrant workers of Bayview. |  |
Images for kids
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Alcott Park
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Armour Park
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Baran Park
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Barnard Park
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Bay View Park along the Oak Leaf Trail
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Bradford Beach and Lake Michigan
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Cleopatra's Wedge sculpture in Burns Commons
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Caesar's Park
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Cambridge Woods
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Cathedral Square Park during Bastille Days
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Clarke Square Park
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Clas Park
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Photo of the Cooper Park pavilion from SE
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Looking North into Cupertino Park
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View of Lake Michigan from Cupertino Park
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Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park
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Euclid Park
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Grant Park in the fall
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Greenfield Park forest
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Grobschmidt Park Sign
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Mud Lake, Grobschmidt Park
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Holt Park
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Humboldt Park
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Jackson Park
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Solomon Juneau statue in Juneau Park
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Kosciuszko Park
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Kulwicki Park
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Lake Park view from stairs
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Lyons Park
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Manitoba Park
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McCarty Park
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Mitchell Park
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Mitchell Airport Park
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The Calling sculpture at O'Donnell Park
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Pere Marquette Park
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Pompeii Square
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Red Arrow Park
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Oak Leaf Trail in Riverside Park
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Rose Park
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View of Lake Michigan from South Shore Park
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Veterans Park lagoon
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Walker Square Park
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Washington Park
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Wedgewood Park
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West Milwaukee Park
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Whitnall Park pond
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Zablocki Park
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Zeidler Union Square Park
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Erie Street Plaza
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Public art sculpture in Garden Park, Riverwest
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Summerfest at Henry Maier Festival Park
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Kaszube's Park
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Bridge in Lakeshore State Park
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Wisconsin State Fair Park
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Zillman Park
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Parks of Milwaukee Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.