Best parks in Milwaukee

Written by:
May 2, 2019
Tony Savino // Shutterstock

Best parks in Milwaukee

The phrase “a walk in the park” may conjure up images of childhood days in green spaces, a quiet place to sit on a bench and enjoy a book, or a brisk hike among woodlands with furry little animals. Now that the spring buds are blooming, it is the perfect time to explore the parks in Milwaukee. 



Parks are great places to enjoy fun family activities like feeding ducks, enjoying picnics, hiking a trail, or spending time in nature. Fresh air, wildlife, and botanical gardens are often free for the public to enjoy. A plethora of parks have museums, outdoor theaters, zoos, fruit-bearing trees, basketball courts, and pickleball courts. The list of amenities goes on and on.



The United States has a wide variety of parks, with Boston Common taking the title as the oldest city park. Washington D.C.’s National Mall is the most visited city park, and Union Square in San Francisco boasts the most visited city park per acre. 

A study by the National Recreation and Park Agency found that 55% of people visit their local parks to enjoy the benefits of nature. A performance review of the NRPA notes that on average there are 10.1 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and 2,181 residents per park.



While some city parks occupy almost 1 million acres like Chugach State Park in Alaska and offer hiking and fishing for residents; others—such as Mills End Park in Portland, Ore.—can be measured in inches (452). Some cities are brimming with dog parks, and others feature skateboard parks or community food gardens. 



Where can you go to find the best parks in Milwaukee? The Stacker team checked out  Foursquare’s algorithm to predict the best parks based on check-ins, rating signals, category matches, and photo trends, with data updated as recently as April 19, 2019. Take a walk through our park guide to find the best park in your neighborhood.

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#10. Lake Park

- Address: 3233 E. Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 8.3
- See more on Lake Park
 

#9. Estabrook Park Beer Garden

- Address: 4600 Estabrook Dr., Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 8.8
- See more on Estabrook Park Beer Garden
 

#8. Milwaukee Lakefront

- Address: Oak Leaf Trail, Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 9.1
- See more on Milwaukee Lakefront
 

#7. Cupertino Park

- Address: 2000 E. Iron St. (E. Russell), Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 8.6
- See more on Cupertino Park
 

#6. Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes)

- Address: 524 S. Layton Blvd (in Mitchell Park), Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 8.9
- See more on Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes)
 

#5. Henry Maier Festival Park

- Address: 200 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 8.8
- See more on Henry Maier Festival Park
 

#4. South Shore Park

- Address: 2900 S. Shore Dr., Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 9.0
- See more on South Shore Park
 

#3. Humboldt Park

- Address: 3000 S. Howell Ave. (E. Oklahoma Ave.), Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 8.9
- See more on Humboldt Park
 

#2. Veterans Park

- Address: 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr. (btwn Lagoon Dr. & Michigan St.), Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 9.2
- See more on Veterans Park
 

#1. Cathedral Square Park

- Address: 520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee
- Foursquare rating: 9.0
- See more on Cathedral Square Park
 

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