Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Congratulations to Milwaukee Recreation mobile units supervisor Kali Norton, who was included in the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2026 "30 Under 30" cohort!
More than 100 recreation professionals from 29 states were nominated and evaluated through a competitive scoring process that considered their impact on their community, contributions to the professional development of the parks and recreation field, and innovative ideas, programs, or research in the field. Norton, age 29, is the only one of this year’s honorees to come from Wisconsin.
Since joining the Milwaukee Recreation team three years ago, Norton “has made an undeniable impact on Milwaukee Recreation and the broader community,” Milwaukee Recreation playgrounds and community centers manager Derek Donlevy wrote when nominating her.
Donlevy described Norton as a “rising star” who has shaped her role into “one of innovation and growth.” Norton built on and modernized Milwaukee Recreation’s mobile recreation tradition, which dates back to 1965. She introduced esports and inflatable gaga ball pits to the program and enhanced the department’s revenue generation through rentable carnival games.
Norton also expanded the reach of mobile recreation, increasing access for children living in shelters, group homes, and rental assistance complexes. Under Norton, Milwaukee Recreation’s Rec 'N' Roll Van operates as a “playground on the move,” bringing sports equipment, arts and crafts activities, music, and games to those who would otherwise have difficulty accessing them.
Norton “is known for going above and beyond to create memorable community experiences,” Donlevy said. In 2025, she earned the Milwaukee Recreation Collaboration Award for her partnership efforts inside and outside the department, including teaming up with local STEAM organizations and the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum to bring engaging and educational mobile programming to Milwaukee Recreation summer playground sites. Norton also collaborated with the department’s therapeutic recreation team to host a festive, multi-site pumpkin scavenger hunt and decorating event that participants thoroughly enjoyed.
In addition to overseeing mobile units, Norton added a new special event to Milwaukee Recreation’s lineup last year. “Taking the lead, she organized a team of peers to design and execute the first-ever Family Day of Play, a successful new event celebrating families of every kind,” Donlevy said. “Her leadership, creativity, and commitment to inclusion were evident throughout the planning process, and the event instantly became a new favorite within the community.”
Norton has also served on the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association’s annual conference planning committee and currently assists with WPRA’s DEI committee.