Viewing entries tagged
spiderweb

Marcus DeBack Playground

Marcus DeBack Playground

 

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.

Arlington Heights Park

Comment

Arlington Heights Park

 

Arlington Heights Park

Silver City, Milwaukee

3429 W Pierce St, Milwaukee

Arlington Heights Park is located in the Silver City neighborhood in Milwaukee. This park, which was revitalized through the MKE Plays Initiative, has so much to offer! Its location almost underneath the 35th Street Bridge adds extra excitement, and the playground has it all.

The fenced play area includes an obstacle-course style section with climbing wall, spiderweb, tall slide, monkey bars and plenty of climbing bars and places to balance and dangle.

IMG_0005.jpeg

The park also has swings (one infant, one accessible, two standard), a sand area, and a smaller playground with slides as well as an awesome set of low-down monkey bars perfect for early learners. A third play area offers a hanging spinner, and exercise equipment-like structures including a balance beam, rolling log and hanging bars.

The park has trees for shade, along with a boardwalk through a landscaped area with plants and large rocks which my kids love to climb on and explore - don’t miss the balance beam logs running through as well! There are three benches with trash cans nearby along the path, as well as a built in picnic table with benches under a tree near the smaller playground. No bathrooms or drinking fountains are available. The terrain beneath the play structures is loose synthentic rubber “wood” chips. There is sidewalk that runs through to the boardwalk, but not a lot of space for biking or scooting.

Bonus lookout spot and slide!

Bonus lookout spot and slide!

The park includes a large grassy area for running around, and don’t miss the stairs up to an overlook with a bonus slide down!

This park is located an easy four block walk from the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center, the entrance to the Hank Aaron State trail that leads to Three Bridges park, and the beautiful murals painted there. There are also murals under the 35th street Bridge at both ends of the park. Parking is plentiful under the bridge as well as on Pierce.

Comment