Viewing entries tagged
basketball

Marcus DeBack Playground

April 30, 2022

Marcus DeBack Playground

Uptown Neighborhood, Milwaukee

2461 N 55th Street, Milwaukee

Marcus DeBack Playground is another of the playgrounds revitalized by the MKE Plays initiative (along with Arlington Heights Park, Foundation Park, Trowbridge Square, and eight others). The playground is named for the nine year old child who was killed while protecting another child on the playground in 1995.

The park is located on Wright street stretching from 55th to 56th St, just a block south of Lisbon. It offers a nice basketball court that’s almost always in use, grassy space with sidewalks around and through the middle, and a playground area. Street parking is available along both 56th Street and Wright.

Equipment on the playground includes the longest, highest zip line in the Milwaukee area - two people will need to work together to use the full length - which is fun even for much older kids (or adults!), and several different spinning apparatus which can be used individually or by a group of children. There’s also a row of swings including a web swing, two flat-bottomed swings, an infant swing and an accessible swing, along with a climbing structure with slides and a giant spiderweb climber. Tucked in and under both the spiderweb and the play equipment are more swinging options, along with a rope bridge. The spiderweb climber is way more than just a web - it has lots of nooks and perches, varying thicknesses and arrangments of ropes, and stretches quite high.

This playground has something for everyone, from the youngest climbers to older kids. The terrain is wood chips. There are plenty of trees to sit under, plus several picnic tables, and benches. No bathrooms or drinking fountain are available.

Liberty Heights Park

October 27, 2021

Liberty Heights Park

West Allis

1540 S 62nd Street, West Allis

Liberty Heights park is located in West Allis just three blocks east of the West Allis farmer’s market and about a mile from the West Allis library. Located on 6.5 acres, the park offers a baseball field, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts and a skateboarding zone.

Street parking is available all around, but 62nd is the best street if you want to be near the playground area. Head down the steps into the park and grab a spot on one of the shaded benches next to the updated playground structure. The orange and yellow playground equipment includes lots of rope features and obstacle-course style climbers along with traditional slides, rock walls and ladders. While the stairs have safe bars that keep young children from falling, there is a high bridge with only rope barriers at the edges that could be hazardous for younger toddlers - my 18 month old navigated it carefully but some might not be comfortable with that.

There are several different style spinners, and a very well done toddler play area with smaller versions of climbers and slides along with a tunnel and musical themed equipment. Rubber flooring is used under the main playground area, and a sidewalk encircles this zone. Adjacent is a pyramid-shaped web climber with wood chips beneath, and a stretch of swings including three standard, two infant and one accessible swing (with rubber flooring under the swings).

A short ways away there’s another set of swings with four infant swings and a rocking ride-on horse and motorcycle - this area has wood chips underneath. Another zone nearby features a carnival-reminiscent springing ride with seats for three surrounded by sand with a bench.

The park is partially fenced, and offers plenty of trees, benches and pincic tables. There is a covered picnic area and paved paths throughout. At the center of the park is a fenced wading pool with a center water sprayer. Portable restrooms were available. If you are visiting during school hours, this playground is used by the students at nearby Horace Mann Elementary school for recess times, so you might be joined by an enthusiastic pack of kids for 20 minute stretches midday.

Sherman Park

September 8, 2021

Sherman Park

Sherman Park neighborhood, Milwaukee

3000 N Sherman Blvd, Milwaukee

Sherman Park, named after the neighborhood in which it resides, is located on Sherman Boulevard between Burleigh and Locust. While there is ample street parking along 41st Street to the east, there’s also a parking lot. The entrance is off Burleigh, and there’s also a circle drive perfect for drop offs and pickups (designed for those coming in and out of the Boys & Girls Club branch at the center of the park). The parking lot is nestled between the baseball field and basketball and tennis courts. A wading pool and small community garden are also located near the entrance.

The playground is full of exciting features: wide archways, triangular web climbers, balance obstacles, mini zip line, suspended tunnels, spinners, rock walls and tall slides. Next to the main structure is a smaller playground geared toward the younger kids.

Four regular swings and two infant swings are available, as well as three benches. The terrain is rubber flooring. Portable restrooms are available.

The south half of the park is green space with paths running through, as well as an exercise area with equipment.

Doyne Park

August 31, 2021

Doyne Park

Story Hill Neighborhood, Milwaukee

5300 W Wells Street

Doyne park is tucked between the Menomonee River and the Oak Leaf trail just north of Story Hill in Milwaukee. The park features a golf course and soccer golf course along with basketball hoops, its own parking lot, and a bathroom building.

With the Oak Leaf trail running through there are often bikers, pedestrians and plenty of dogs passing through. Lots of room to ride bikes around the paths or the paved space.

The playground is surrounded by shady trees, though the placement of the two benches is not ideal. The terrain under the playground is sand, which provides another entertaining piece, but can get hot in the summer.

There is a row of swings to one side, and a large playground structure with various slides and climbing options, including monkey bars and tunnels. While it has some neat spots for the youngest climbers, the bridge across the middle has high bars that offer minimal side support and can be hazardous for inexperienced children.

The playground equipment isn’t especially remarkable, but this park has a fabulous hiking path that takes you through the woods right along the Menomonee River, with several neat lookout spots and bridges. We love doing the full loop from the Oak Leaf trail around the hiking path and back to the park - and sometimes we’re lucky to glimpse a train going by or kayakers on the water. You can jump on the path from the Oak Leaf trail to the west, or head to the east end of the park and enter the trail through the wooded area just a short way off the path. Continue along the Oak Leaf trail and you’ll be at Jacobus Park. Two blocks south of Doyne park are some great restaurant options on Bluemound - Story Hill BKC, Caliente, and several sports bars.

Doyne park is also a great place to fly kites, or bring your sleds for some fun in the winter. The sledding hill is a nice size - not too high for the younger kids to climb but still a good ride down.