Liberty Heights Park

 

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.

Doyne Park

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.

Bridge along the river hiking path

Bridge along the river hiking path

Sand

Space to ride around

Sledding hill

Hiking path along the river

Train view

Path along river

Kite flying

Swings

Monkey bars

Enderis Playground

 

Enderis Playground

Enderis Park Neighborhood, Milwaukee

2938 N 72nd Street, Milwaukee

Enderis Playground has so much to offer. This is not just a playground on a city block. Bordered by 72nd street to the west, the park stretches from Chambers Ct to Locust St and features a baseball diamond, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, soccer nets, horseshoe courts, paved walking paths, a wading pool, and more.

There is parking on 72nd, but you can also park on Chambers Ct. or in the small parking lot off the court near the baseball field. Across from the baseball field there is a paved lot with my kids’ favorite: a giant painted United States map. They love to travel the country, running from state to state. Four square courts are also painted on, as well as a snail-like spiral hopscotch game. There’s a set of swings here for those who just want to swing without the rest of the playground stuff.

Continue along the path past the building in the center (the park hosts a Farmer’s Market, summer concerts and other events) to the main playground area and you’ll see all the exciting play options. More swings! Natural sandpit area! Huge web swing! Giant spinner! Besides the main playground (which has cool climbing areas tucked underneath the slides and platforms), there are a few pockets with more slides and climbing equipment. Everything is bordered by upended log chunks of varying heights which offer an additional balancing challenge.

Trees surround the play area for plenty of shade, and there are lots of benches. A little free library is near the swing area. The terrain is mostly rubber with wood chips in places. There are logs and large rocks to scale, and grassy areas to run around. Paths are always busy with dog walkers and other pedestrians, and there’s a network of stone archways with built in benches and picnic tables. My kids love to run under them and they’re great for a picnic lunch.

A network of signs along the walking path offers fun activities and suggestions, with corresponding painted sidewalk decorations.

In the summer, cool off in the wading pool. The pool is fenced and has a giant mushroom raining water down at the center. No changing clothes or diapers in the pool area - use the nearby bathroom building. The pool is staffed but does not provide lifeguards.

Take a walk to the south end of the park to check out the Magic Grove - a steel sculpture installed in 2004 that has become iconic of the park and neighborhood. The park (and the neighborhood) are named for Dorothy Enderis, an MPS teacher who championed recreation and education programs. You can learn more about the park and its events and offerings from the Enderis Park Neighborhood Association.

If you’re walking nearby, Triangle Park at 67th & Emory and Squirrel park at 72nd and Hadley are lovely green areas to walk through in the Enderis Park neighborhood.

Sand area