Guy Smith

Dive into Perks! Parks Hosts Lifeguard Training for the 2025 Season with Exciting Incentives

Supervisors Withdraw Sade Robinson Memorial

Supervisors pull support on behalf of family after racist messages and abuse.

Milwaukee County Parks Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with “We are the Change” Event

Milwaukee County Parks Celebrates a Year of Enhancements and New Beginnings

County Lifeguard Training Begins For Summer 2025

Parks department has lacked full complement of lifeguards for years.

Calling All Strong Swimmers! Milwaukee County Parks Announces Lifeguard Recruitment is Underway for the 2025 Summer Season

Ice Skating Starts Friday at Red Arrow Park

Free 'Slice of Ice' experience will be open as long as weather allows.

Milwaukee County Parks Opens Slice of Ice at Red Arrow Park with Free Skate Rental on Opening Day

Milwaukee County Parks Hosts Two “Breakfast with Santa” Events This Weekend

Milwaukee County Parks Welcomes Biggby Coffee to Red Arrow Park with December 3rd Grand Opening

Calling All Strong Swimmers! Milwaukee County Parks Hosting New “Express” Lifeguard Training Sessions

Ribbon Cutting on New Lyons Park Playground

New southwest side playground improves accessibility for children and families.

Supervisor Adds Domes Project to 2025 Budget

Board advances plan to redevelop the Domes, transfer operations to nonprofit.

Historical Marker Being Removed From Milwaukee’s Last Indigenous Burial Mound

Milwaukee County Parks removing marker in Lake Park.

Paving the Way to Progress: Groundbreaking for Little Menomonee River Parkway Trail Project Begins

Milwaukee County Parks to Respectfully Remove Indigenous Burial Mound Marker in Lake Park

Milwaukee County Replacing Its Oldest Playground

And it's only happening after a special design flourish was added.

Supervisor Eckblad to Participate in Mitchell Airport Park Playground Groundbreaking Monday

Milwaukee County Parks Seeks Public Input in New Trails Initiative to Promote Equity, Health, and Environmental Stewardship

China Lights “Year of the Dragon” Opens in September

Annual festival will include many new lanterns this year, including a brand new dragon.

Parks Opens New Playground at Vogel Park

Neighborhood park on northwest side gets new ADA-accessible park.

Community Celebrates Opening of Vogel Park Playground with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Molson Coors, Pabst Theater Group and Milwaukee County Parks Announce Vivarium in the Park Concert Series

The FREE Concert Series Starts on July 31 at The Vine Humboldt Beer Garden

Parks Department Joins Pickleball Mania

Free, outdoor pickleball comes to the county parks system.

Parks Planning 10 Miles of New Trails by 2026

Parks sets ambitious goal, plans to focus trail development on "historically underserved communities."

Federal Funds Turn Zablocki Golf Course Synthetic

Synthetic tee boxes and greens at golf course are another ARPA success story.

Officials Celebrate Kletzsch Dam Fish Passage

$3 million project connects fish to 54 miles of habitat that's been out of reach for 80 years.

Parks Foundation Says Donors Uninterested in July 3 Fireworks

Parks foundation has been working with county to find sponsors for annual event.

Zablocki Golf Course Reopens With Synthetic Greens

New greens should save money on water, labor and fertilizer at county-run 9-hole course.

July 3rd Fireworks Canceled

Without a sponsor, annual event is called off by Milwaukee County.

McKinley Beach Reopens After Four Years

Adding and shaping 11,000 cubic yards of sand to create safer, shallower swimming area.

Parks Updating Countywide Trail Plan

Planning process seeks citizen input on future of Milwaukee trail system.

Juneau Park Beer Garden Opens Friday

Beer garden opens for second season in downtown park with lake views.

Cudahy Nature Preserve Receives Old-Growth Forest Designation

Nature preserve recognized by national network of old-growth forests.

Boerner Botanical Gardens Opening 50th Summer Season

The prized public gardens open for the season Wednesday, May 1.

Whitnall Park Beer Garden Opens This Week

Beer garden offering 24 taps and summer pig roasts opens May 1.

Parks Announces Discount Days for Domes, Wehr Nature Center

Special days each month aim to attract more visitors.

Public Golf Courses Open for the Season

12 of 13 county golf courses have opened. Golf has become cash cow for Parks.

South Shore Beer Garden Opens Wednesday

County's 2024 beer garden season begins at South Shore Park.

See The 2024 Traveling Beer Garden Schedule

New stop added at Kops Park.

Whitnall Beer Garden Opening This Weekend

With unseasonably warm weather, Parks hosting first beer garden pop-up since 2017.

Milwaukee Parks Foundation and Milwaukee County Parks Announce the Launch of Aquatics Ambassadors MKE

New Initiative to Enhance Lifeguard Recruitment and Foster Aquatics Engagement in Greater Milwaukee

Board Funds Crisis Housing in Uptown Neighborhood, Demurs On Southside Dog Park

Plus: A controversial penguin project is funded, funding for southside dog park is paused and 'high-impact' parks projects are funded.

Supervisor Vincent Supportive of Southside Dog Park, Will Continue to Advocate for Approval

New Runway Dog Park? Maybe Not

Funding source and timeline raise concerns, but county board may be split on the issue.

Ice Skating Returns to Red Arrow Park

Free, outdoor ice rink is finally open.

Slice of Ice at Red Arrow Park to Open on Friday, January 5th

County Parks Hiring Lifeguards for 2024, Offering Strong Pay and Incentives

Supervisor Burgelis Commends Board Decision to Allocate Surplus Revenues to Park Maintenance and Capital Projects

Supervisors Hopeful for Pool Openings in 2024

Committee adds funding to Parks budget for this, but more pools are not guaranteed.

So Much for That Free Bike Trail

Supervisors consider killing deal for pedestrian infrastructure that Wauwatosa would pay for.

Supervisor Burgelis Commends Decision to Allocate Surplus Revenues to Park Maintenance and Capital Projects

Supervisor Pushes Kletzsch Park Dam Overlook

$309,000 project would increase access to river, allow portage for canoes, kayaks.

Enjoy These Family Activities at Your Milwaukee County Parks Over Winter Break

Glow Skate, Indoor Skating, Winter Sports at Whitnall, Winter Hiking at Wehr, Indoor Pools, Breakfast with Santa, and Open Gym at the Sports Complex

Parks Hiring Lifeguards for 2024 Summer Season

Offering bonuses to overcome shortage. Training starts in January.

Could Park Friends Help Prevent Illegal Dumping?

County officials think neighborhood groups could watch for and report dumping.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Largest Ever Clean-up under EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to Address Milwaukee Area of Concern

Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, new funding agreement between EPA and partners will invest an estimated $450 million to cleanup of nearly two million cubic yards of contaminated sediments

Domes Costs Shock Supervisors

'I think we're just in shock,' supervisor says on estimate of up to $100 million for Domes.

DNR Funding New Beach for South Shore Park

New South Shore Beach could be constructed in 2024.

Parks Launches Mitchell Park Campaign

Public engagement campaign aimed at building support, awareness for The Domes, Mitchell Park and a potential project.

Groundbreaking Held For Moss Universal Park

First park in county, and perhaps in U.S. that's wholly accessible for people with disabilities.

Fireworks Return to Milwaukee’s Lakefront on July 3rd

27 Pools, Splash Pads and Water Parks Opening in Milwaukee

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

Johnny’s Hot Sauce Popping Up at 1840 Brewing

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

New Beer Garden Opening in Juneau Park

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

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

Highland Park To Become Harley Park

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

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

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.

Washington Park Bridge Replacement Project Moves Forward

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

Brewers Donates Scoreboards to Parks

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

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.

County Finds Success With Beer Gardens

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

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?

Parks May Convert Roads to Bike, Pedestrian Trails

Plan would convert 1.3 miles of Little Menomonee and Lincoln Creek parkways.

Vincent Lyles Brings Expertise to MyPath Board of Directors

July 3 Fireworks Return!

After a two-year hiatus, fireworks return to Milwaukee's lakefront.

Seasonal Worker Shortage Hurts Parks System

Decades of staff cuts forced parks to rely on a now-disappearing seasonal workforce.

Lifeguard Shortage Limits Pool Openings Again

No lifeguards at beaches in 2022, limited pool openings.

Supervisor Burgelis Encourages Residents to Visit Villa Terrace Olmsted Exhibition

Red Arrow Park Could Be Summer Roller Rink

Parks will develop a plan to operate a roller rink for when winter ice skating shuts down.

Milwaukee Preservation Alliance February 2022 Milwaukee County Supervisor Candidate Survey

Candidates share views on historic preservation, future of Mitchell Park Domes

How to Save Our County Parks

Citizens can get involved and make a difference.

Parks Finishes New Kegel-Alpha Trail Plan

Proposal for controversial trail modifications in Mangan Woods in Greendale finalized.

How Can Milwaukee Save Its Parks?

Policy researchers, public officials say new tax revenue, and public-private partnerships.

County Can’t Afford Park System

Fewer local tax dollars available for parks. Officials call for new revenue sources.

Future of Two Golf Courses in Question

Fate of Doyne and Noyes golf courses unclear, given financially hobbled parks system.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich joins with American Family Insurance, other partners to support Milwaukee’s Beckum Stapleton Little League

Saga Of The Domes Continues

Years after task force report and consultant analysis, county officials finally reviewing the options.

What They’re Saying: Wisconsin Businesses Beg for Help as Assembly Considers Veto Override

Milwaukee County Parks Traveling Beer Garden Returns

Rare non-casualty of pandemic has run annually since 2014.

Wilson Park ‘Car Garden’ Approved

27th Street BID would create unique garden with plantings, paths and shells of classic cars and trucks.

County Micro-Managing At Its Worst?

Board proposal to oversee all county parks bike trail changes is a head scratcher.

Supervisors Push To Be Bike Trail Czars

Parks committee approves resolution giving it approval power over bike trails maintenance, alterations.

Wilson Park Garden Project Delayed

Parks still hasn't inked agreement after two months. Supervisors tell department to move quicker.

Milwaukee County Parks Seeking Over 500 For Summer Jobs In The Parks

‘Classic Car Garden’ Planned for Wilson Park

The proposal from the business district almost bogged down by administrative red tape.