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Looking for easy, free summer fun for your kids? Each year, Milwaukee Recreation runs a citywide playground program that offers supervised play, enrichment activities, water fun, and free meals for youth across Milwaukee.
It’s one of the simplest ways to keep kids active, social, and engaged all summer long — without signing up for camps or stretching the family budget.
💡Looking for more ways to get outside? Explore our guide to the Best Playgrounds Around Milwaukee and our roundup of Free Things To Do in Summer With Kids for even more family-friendly ideas.
How the Program Works
Milwaukee Recreation operates a network of playground and playfield sites across the city each summer. Most locations offer:
- Daily enrichment activities
- General on-site supervision for youth who choose to stay
- Free meals, typically lunch and a snack
- Water play (wading pools or splash pads at select sites)
- Special pop-up programming
The program is free, drop-in, and open to kids ages 6–17.
Drop-In Structure (Not Child Care)
Kids can come and go freely throughout the day. Staff lead games and activities, but the program does not function as childcare or a registration-based camp.
Free Meals
Most sites offer twice-daily meals, served seated and consumed on-site due to federal guidelines.
Water Play
Many locations include splash pads or wading pools. These generally stay open through August each year, with some remaining staffed an extra week depending on the season.
Typical Summer Schedule
While specific dates vary year to year, families can expect:
- Late June through mid-August
- Monday–Friday
- 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily
Some playgrounds and wading pools traditionally remain open one additional week into late August.
Milwaukee Playground Locations & Amenities
Here are the playground, splash pad, cool spot, and wading pool sites that Milwaukee Recreation typically features in its summer programming. Amenities may shift slightly each season, but this list reflects the most current structure.
Wading Pool Locations
- Burbank Playfield – 6225 W. Adler St.
- Harriet Tubman Park – 4750 N. 48th St.
- Holt Playfield – 1716 W. Holt Ave.
- Carver Park – 911 W. Brown St.
- Merrill Playfield – 461 N. 35th St.
- Mitchell Park – 2200 W. Pierce St.
- Ohio Playfield – 974 W. Holt Ave.
- Enderis Playfield – 2938 N. 72nd St.
Splash Pad Locations
- Green Bay Playfield – 3818 N. 8th St.
- Burnham Playfield – 1755 S. 32nd St.
- Carmen Playfield – 7320 W. Carmen Ave.
- Clarke Square Park – 2300 W. Vieau Pl.
- Clovernook Playfield – 6594 N. Landers St.
- Columbia Playfield – 1345 W. Columbia St.
- Stark Playfield – 4951 N. 40th St.
- Southgate Playfield – 3350 S. 25th St.
- Franklin Square Playfield – 2643 N. 13th St.
Cool Spot Locations
(Cool Spots offer shaded, staffed activity areas.)
- Whittier School Playground – 4382 S. 3rd St.
Special Activities
Each summer, Milwaukee Recreation adds citywide programming to keep things fresh:
- Roving Playground Activities – pop-up games and enrichment brought directly to sites
- Traveling Adventures Field Trips – special trips offered at select locations
- Water play days at wading pool and splash pad sites
These opportunities vary each season but are a consistent part of the summer experience.
Planning Your Visit
The free playground program is designed to be flexible. Families can drop in for a few minutes or stay for hours — whatever fits your summer rhythm. Because participation is informal, it’s a great option for:
- Filling long summer afternoons
- Giving kids a place to meet friends
- Adding water play into your routine
- Mixing structured enrichment with open play
For the latest seasonal information, including exact dates, meal times, and current renovation updates, visit Milwaukee Recreation’s website before heading out.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
