HARBOR VIEW PLAZA
HARBOR DISTRICT, MILWAUKEE
600 E Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee
Harbor View Plaza, located at the end of Greenfield Avenue at the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences is a nontraditional park in an exciting location. The park not only overlooks the Kinnickinnic River, but features a dock for launching boats, so bring yours along if you like. My kids love hanging out on the dock and watching boats as well as the industrial work often going on across the water.
To get to the park, drive all the way east down Greenfield Ave and you’ll find parking on the street in both directions - there’s a circle to turn around just at the park entrance. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the giant orange tower with red curly slide. This structure is the main “playground” feature of the park. At the bottom of the tower you’ll see maps comparing the Milwaukee Harbor in 1852 and 2019. Around the corner, head up the small stairs and there’s a tiny slide perfect for babies and toddlers up just three steps. Keep climbing (or use the larger stair entrance on the other side) and you’ll reach a series of platforms with benches, ship’s wheels, portholes and lookouts. The tower goes pretty high, so be prepared if you’re wary of heights. There are strong bars and walls all the way up, so don’t worry about kids falling. On the middle tier is the entrance to the curly slide, which takes several turns before spitting you out on the river side of the park.
The slide and tower are fun, but our favorite part of the park is the water feature. Amid the concrete paths of the park is a section of stone blocks and basins of differing heights, intermixed with wooden cubes and troughs filled with small rocks. At the top of this area there are two water pumps. Pump the handles and water spits out - it’s easy enough for elementary age kids to do, but younger kids might need some help. Water spills out of the pumps and into the troughs, trickling downward through angled troughs that encourage downward water flow. Depending on time of year, weather and other factors, this area is sometimes filled with water all around, and other times mostly dry unless you start pumping, but either way it’s exciting, and offers kids the opportunity to play and splash while also experimenting with and learning about how water flows. There’s even a little bridge that runs over the water’s path, separating the upper section with the pumps from the lower section with the rocks and basins.
Between the tower, the water feature and the river traffic, our kids can play at this park for hours. It’s something so unique and different from other playgrounds, while still appealing to kids’ interests so perfectly.
Other features of the park: the fabulous entrance gates with cut out fish and boat detailing; green space and trees for shade; water fountain with bottle filler; trash and recycling bins; plenty of benches and picnic tables throughout with different vantage points. The terrain around the tower is rubberized flooring, otherwise there are grassy areas and concrete paths. The park is fenced on three sides, but the gate opening to the boat launch dock is easy for kids to get through, so be sure to keep an eye on kids around that area, since the dock is fully open to the water. There are no bathrooms available.
The park hosts frequent art installations, as well as events throughout the year including Harbor Fest and Summer en la Plaza - free, family friendly public events like concerts, art exhibitions, nature shows and dramatic performances. Head to the Harbor District website for more information.
