Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Beginning June 20, Milwaukee Recreation will provide enrichment activities, play opportunities, and free meals for ages 6-17 at playground sites across the city. Staff will be on site from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekdays, organizing fun games and creative activities, coordinating lunch and supper each day, and maintaining a safe environment for the youth.
All playgrounds are operated as a “free, drop-in” program. Though locations are staffed and provide many enriching games and activities for youth, general supervision is only provided for young people who choose to stay on site. The playgrounds program is not a substitute for child care or similar attendance/registration-driven programs.
All sites closed on July 4. See below for more information about the program.
Milwaukee Recreation is staffing 19 playgrounds this summer! Click the link above to see the full listing of each site, or view the interactive map below.
Cool off with Milwaukee Recreation this summer! Through our summer playgrounds program, Milwaukee Recreation staff offer supervised water play opportunities for youth.
Wading pools are open to ages 8 and under. Summer 2024 wading pool locations include Burbank Playfield, Enderis Playfield, Harriet Tubman Park, Holt Playfield, Merrill Playfield, and Ohio Playfield.
Cool spots are standard garden hoses and sprinklers that are run out of the fieldhouse. Staff at our cool spot sites can turn the water on or off at the request of a parent or child. Summer 2024 cool spots include Emigh Playfield, Mitchell Park, and Whittier School Playground.
Splash pads are a safe and exciting way to cool off during the summer! Splash pads spray water from in-ground fixtures to help kids beat the heat. All splash pads are set up on a timer to help reduce water waste. Open to ages 6-17. Splash pads can be turned on and off by the user from Sunday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., from early June through early September. Summer 2024 splash pads include Burnham Playfield, Carmen Playfield, Clovernook Playfield, Columbia Playfield, Franklin Square Playfield, Green Bay Playfield, Lucille Berrien Park, Southgate Playfield, and Stark Playfield.
Free Meals
Free meals are available for ages 6-17 at 15 of the 19 Milwaukee Recreation summer playground locations! Beginning June 20, our staff will serve two free meals to young people every summer weekday. To find the exact times free meals will be available at your summer playgrounds site, visit this link and select your playfield.
Due to federal regulations, all provided meals are served seated and must be consumed by youth at the playground. Community members can also text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 to learn more about where you can find free meals in the city of Milwaukee.
This summer, Milwaukee Recreation is bringing fun and interesting activities directly to our playgrounds!
Returning this summer will be Milwaukee Recreation's Rec. 'N' Roll Mobile, as well as partnerships with the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation, Milwaukee Public Library, Betty Brinn Children's Museum, and Artists Working in Education (AWE). Use the link above to view the full playground activities schedule.
In addition to the the traditional activities at our summer playgrounds, Milwaukee Recreation staff members will also lead young people on several engaging field trips throughout the summer! See below for a list of field trip opportunities. Speak with your playground leaders for more information.
Thursday, July 11: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field
Thursday, July 18: Brown Deer Pond
Thursday, July 25: Incredi-Roll (West Allis)
Thursday, Aug. 1: Milwaukee Public Museum
Thursday, Aug. 8: Milwaukee County Zoo
Thursday, Aug. 15: Action Territory (Kenosha)