Milwaukee County Parks

Storm the Bastille, Milwaukee’s Only Downtown, Nighttime 5K Run/Walk Returns for 2023

As many as 5,000 participants will help celebrate 40 years of Milwaukee’s French Festival

The Roundhouse Kicks Off Second Season

McKinley Marina beer garden and snack stand will host grand opening on May 25.

County Programs Win 5 National Awards

National Association of Counties' non-competitive awards praise Milwaukee's innovations.

Milwaukee County Wins Five 2023 NACo Achievement Awards

Awarded for Mental Health Emergency Center, Credible Messenger Program, Electronic Patient Care Records System, Strategy Dashboard, and Parks Foundation

27 Pools, Splash Pads and Water Parks Opening in Milwaukee

County boosts the number of facilities it will open for 2023 season.

Parks Adds More Lifeguards For Pools

Pool openings to be announced in the coming week.

Jazz in the Park Is Back Thursday Nights starting June 1

“Milwaukee’s Original Date Night” in Cathedral Square Park celebrates over 30 years with jazzy new lineup

Parks Rethinking Its Building Portfolio

System maintains old, unused buildings as it struggles with inadequate budget. Could some buildings be eliminated?

Red Arrow Park Roller Rink Opens

Downtown ice rink now a roller skating rink seven days a week during warm months.

Johnny’s Hot Sauce Popping Up at 1840 Brewing

Plus: Funky Fresh goes wholesale, Third Space adds food, Juneau Park adds beer garden.

Parks Plans to Rebuild Washington Park Bridges

Aggressive construction timeline to replace two lagoon bridges by end of year.

Chairwoman Nicholson Celebrates Success of Roller Skating Initiative at Red Arrow Park

New Beer Garden Opening in Juneau Park

No longer traveling, downtown park will have a summer-long beer garden.

Parks System Hits Record Revenue

Golf, beer gardens and facility rentals keeping the parks system afloat.

Parks for People or Pavement?

Parks department wants to reduce the paved footprint in Milwaukee County.

raSmith Provides Multi-Disciplinary Services for Reconstruction of Root River Parkway

Collaboration With Milwaukee County Parks and Milwaukee County Engineering Leads to Enhanced Safety, Access, and Sustainability

Supervisor Vincent Invites Residents to Enjoy Newly Renovated Whitnall Park Beer Garden

Parks Planning More Aquatic Facility Openings This Summer

The department is planning to open more splash pads and wading pools, and to focus lifeguards on waterparks.

Jazz At The Vine Music Series Expands To 6 Concerts This Summer Beginning May 25

Lincoln Creek Road-to-Trail Project Beginning

Parks department will convert roadway to bicycle and pedestrian trail.

Parks Department Planning to Improve Restroom Access This Summer

Department unable to open all public restroom facilities in recent years, prompting resident complaints to county supervisors.

Chill on the Hill Announces 2023 Lineup

Diverse Lineups Released for Musical Mondays’ 25th Season and Wonderful Wednesdays Shows in Lake Park This Summer

Special opera performance to kick off 2023 summer music in the park

Board Approves Harley Park Deal

Plus: County board approves Juvenile Justice Center redevelopment, Sherman Park projects and settlement for opioid lawsuit.

Harley-Davidson Foundation’s $350,000 Investment, Highland Park Renaming Approved by Board

Zablocki Golf Course Getting Synthetic Turf

Will become first public course in county to get artificial greens and tee boxes.

Supervisors Back Sherman Park Overhaul

Funding for Sherman Park improvements approved by powerful Committee on Finance.

Highland Park To Become Harley Park

The Harley-Davidson Foundation offers $350,000 for park improvements and 10 years of maintenance.

Planned Wetland Project Pays for Itself

County plans new wetland in Oak Creek Parkway on county-owned agricultural land.

Board Wrings Extra $8,000 Out Of We Energies Deals

Supervisors, parks department gain more money for two utility easements.

WMSE Announces 2023 Backyard BBQ Concert Lineup, Date

Bob Mould Band – featuring legendary artist, and founding member of Hüsker Dü – to headline

Parks Finishes Trails Plan for Northwest Side

Plan would dramatically increase access to trails for majority-Black neighborhoods.

Domes Annual Spring Show Debuts April 8

"Metamorphosis: The Lives of Frogs and Butterflies" captures the creature' lifecycles amid an explosion of colorful spring flowers.

Parks Lifeguard Recruitment Improves

Milwaukee County ahead of last year's recruitment, though not on track for full staffing.

Radio Milwaukee hires Jay Burseth as Director of Major Giving & Grants, names Kris deFelice as Director of Underwriting & Partnerships

Pair brings over two decades of experience to revenue generating roles at non-profit station

Harley-Davidson May Revamp Highland Park

Would pay for improvements but may seek new name for park near corporate campus.

Parks’ Former Barn Youth Hostel Could Be Redeveloped

Seeking developer for barn and residential building on site located on Root River Parkway.

Milwaukee Parks Foundation Launches Resident-Led Park Activation Fund

Foundation calls for residents to submit requests for park projects up to $10,000

Underwood Park Wading Pool Could Become Splash Pad

Splash pad would save money and be more accessible to people in wheelchairs.

Sherman Park Could Get $2.2 Million Overhaul

Partnership of county and Boys & Girls Club would rehab park, add new amenities.

Wisconsin Avenue Park May Be Renamed

Park designed for people of all abilities already has raised $4.1 million in private funds towards its $7 million project cost.

Parks Foundation Boosts Reforestation Effort

Molson Coors, Fund for Lake Michigan funding reforestation staff with donation.

County Transportation Building Going Solar?

Seeking consultants to study installing solar panels at site in Wauwatosa.

South Shore Breakwater Could Be Partially Repaired This Year

County looking for a contractor to repair 2020 storm damage. Feds rejected FEMA aid.

Jackson Park Project Faces Resistance

Some residents oppose plan to convert roadway to pedestrian-bike trail along KK River Parkway.

Supervisors Burgelis and Martinez to Host Public Meeting on Jackson Park Drive Project

Should Road Through Lake Park Be Pedestrianized?

A survey of nearby residents found great support for a pedestrian and bicycle-only Ravine Road.

Superheroes and A Touch of Arendelle On Tap For Red Arrow Park’s “Slice of Ice” Rink

Downtown Ice CAPE-ade and “Broadway Skates” featuring Disney’s FROZEN among the themed skating events for February

Is Hales Corners Ice Rink Project Dead?

The leader of private/public project says so, now that county demands its $75,000 back.

Board Releases Funds for Park Projects

County board approves $1.3 million in maintenance, repairs and new projects for parks.

County Board Funds $1.3 Million in Vital Park Maintenance Projects

Supervisors Stall, Inflate Cost of Sea Wall Project

Cost of McKinley Flushing Channel rises as county board second guesses engineers.

Free Golf For Parks Employees?

Finance Committee approves free and reduced-price golf as a benefit for parks employees.

Cathedral Square Now Features Ice Bar, Immersive Art Exhibit

Milwaukee Downtown plans additional activities, including Broadway-themed ice skating, in coming months.

County Has Open Call for Lifeguards

Parks department hopes to improve lifeguard numbers, open more pools this year.

South Milwaukee Baseball Diamond Getting Upgrade

South Milwaukee School District maintains baseball diamond owned by the county.

County Planning Habitat Restoration in Milwaukee River Greenway

Project will clear invasive species, improve habitats for plants and wildlife.

Washington Park Bridge Replacement Project Moves Forward

Deteriorating Bridges Spanning Washington Park Lagoon will be replaced in late 2023

Jackson Park Boathouse To Become Open-Air Pavilion

Boathouse being redesigned as part of MMSD stormwater project in the park.

Attempt To Clear Parks With Goats Fails

It's cheaper to use humans because they can operate chainsaws.

Ways to Support County Park Tree Planting in 2023

Donate to annual planting effort or volunteer to help get them in the ground.

Board Approves Waukesha Water Deal After Revisions

Board grants Waukesha access to one-acre of county land for $300 million drinking water project.

Board Approves Studying Demolition, Other Options For The Domes

Policy does not support demolition, which many supervisors remain opposed to.

Brewers Donates Scoreboards to Parks

Brewers Foundation and U.S. Cellular donate $44,000 for new scoreboards in Lincoln and Sherman parks.

“Lightfield” Immersive Art Coming to Cathedral Square

It's art and mathematics. 24 light-emitting sculptures will illuminate park next year.

“Lightfield” by HYBYCOZO coming to Cathedral Square Park in January

World-renowned art duo bringing 24 light-emitting sculptures to Milwaukee for an immersive experience

Supervisors Stall Waukesha Drinking Water Project

Waukesha needs access to one acre of county land. Committee votes to delay this.

New Policy Would Require County To Study Demolishing The Domes

County board considering replacing repair-focused 2016 policy after limited progress.

Parks Plans $3 Million King Center Rehab

Repairs to community center on 15th and Vliet part of a larger investment in neighborhood improvements.

Crowley Vetoes Lake Park Bluff Proposal

Should neighbors have rights to maintain bluff forever? Crowley says no.

Winter Chalets Return to South Shore Park

Heated chalets allow year-round use of South Shore Beer Garden.

Lake Park Ravine Road Bridge Successfully Reopened

Will Public Pools Open in 2023?

Board adds funding to budget, but lifeguard shortage could still be a problem.

Board Adopts 2023 County Budget

Board spent nearly 12 hours debating amendments, what passed?

Lake Park Neighbors Seek Control of Bluff

Wahl Ave. residents have already clear cut top of bluff, now want special access to all of it.

First Annual Harvest Fest Draws Hundreds to Sherman Park

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival kicks off Nov. 17 with magical lineup

Kickoff ceremony to feature holiday acts, fireworks and Santa at Pere Marquette Park

Chairwoman Nicholson Applauds New Olmsted Way in Washington Park

Lake Park Bridge Open For First Time In 6 Years

Pedestrians can once again cross the historic foot bridge in Lake Park.

Supervisor Burgelis Authors Budget Amendment to Replace Doyne Park Playground

Federal Rules Shut Down County’s Largest Dog Park

Runway Dog Park to close Nov. 1. County looks to create replacement, seeks citizen input.

Two New Oak Leaf Connections Planned for 2023

One trail would extend network on city's far northwest side while another would connect Milwaukee and Racine counties.

Renovated Green Bay Playfield Opens

MPS-owned park located near Interstate 43 and Capitol Drive

County To Get a New Plan For Trail Network

County receives grant funding from the state to update its Trails Network Plan.

County Finds Success With Beer Gardens

Over past decade, county revived history of beer gardens in Milwaukee. And it paid off.

State Awards $4.4 Million for Oak Leaf Trail Projects

Projects include a new connection, trail flooding mitigation and trail modernization.

A Summer-Long Beer Garden for Juneau Park?

As long as Milwaukee County Parks doesn't violate federal tied house prohibitions.

County Parks Fights Ash Borer With Reforestation

Milwaukee County has removed 25,000 trees, but is ramping up its replacement effort.

Crowley Introduces 2023 Budget Laden With ‘Tough Decisions’

Budget increases parks, other departments funding, but shows that cuts are on the horizon.

Massive Tree Planting & Wetland Restoration Program Inaugural Event to Reduce Flooding Risks in the Region

County To Seek Historic Designation for Domes

Board wants National Register of Historic Places listing. A first step toward saving Domes?

DNR, WHEDA Host Home And Habitat Fest At Havenwoods State Forest

Event Unites Housing And Natural Resources

Lake Park Bridge Overhaul Nears Completion

Bridge to reopen next month after six-year closure

Wisconsin Avenue Park Will Be Area’s First With Universal Access

First in southeastern Wisconsin where everything full accessible for those with disabilities.

Supervisors Demand A Domes Plan

Parks Committee recommends pursuing historic designation. But then what?

Task Force Rejects ARPA Funding for Domes

Supervisors want to use $19 million in pandemic stimulus funds to begin fixing Mitchell Park Domes.

Supervisors Martinez, Zerpa, and Martin Disagree with ARPA Task Force Decision to Reject Funding the Mitchell Park Domes

“I am disappointed that our historic domes weren’t guaranteed a future today. This landmark is not only beloved by the south side of Milwaukee, but it is an iconic structure that is enjoyed by visitors from around the world.” said Supervisor Zerpa.  

Could Domes Get National Historic Designation?

Supervisors draft legislation to start the nomination process.

Should County Parks Serve Wine, Spirits?

State law prevents this. County officials pushing legislators to allow this as a revenue generator.