First time visiting this park and it was for the 4th of July weekend…read more The organizers put on a really nice show, fitting for the scenery and location. This park, perfectly situated overlooking Lake Michigan is perched on a plot of that land gives great 360 degree views of the area. There is plenty of parking, a playground, an expansive green space perfect for picnics and a pavilion with restrooms.

Lake Vista Park: Located in Oak Creek and nestled along the shore of Lake Michigan, this park has…read moresomething for everyone. First, there is a modern playground for kids along with a spacious field for recreational activities. A pavilion that can be rented for social events (parties) is also available near the playground. For nature enthusiasts, a handicap accessible paved walkway leads down to the lake, but for more adventurous parkgoers, there are also trails through the dense forest. The views of the lake can be spectacular at the right time of day and when the weather cooperates. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. I can't wait to visit in the autumn when the peak color changes occur.

Bender Park: Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Oak Creek, this park offers some lovely…read moreviews of the lake and scenic trails. While it is a nice park, I prefer Lake Vista Park, which is located directly next door to the north. If I visit Bender Park in the evening, I've noted on multiple visits that certain drivers tend to speed recklessly through the parking lot. The other plus to Lake Vista is it does have a playground for kids, while Bender does not. Only other complaint is that the WE Energies plant to the south is a bit of an eyesore in an otherwise scenic location.

Great Park, there is cool beach, two brand new shelters and rocks with sparkles on them. Super cool…read moreplace with fantastic view of the Oak Creek Power plant.

On this amazingly beautiful May day, I took the grands to Grant Park beach. Love this spacious…read morepark, but the long road in is so full of potholes I nearly lose my fillings when I choose to go that way. "Jump into the hole," I said.

Grant is wonderful. The drive is scenic. I've only ever truly gone for the beach. ( huge!) Today…read morethe waves were wavy to say the least. I think from the storm yesterday is why there were so many pebbles in the sand, but it made easy to throw at the seagulls that got to close. I think they should maybe put a "don't feed the gulls" sign out because there were a bunch of people/kids tossing snacks their way. I'd like to explore this park some more. Great place for good sun and good company.

One of the wilder Milwaukee County Parks, you can really get lost to the world inside of this 40…read moreacres. A footpath system runs throughout both halves. One solid wood bridge links the north half, full of hickory, beech, and oak, to the back half, full of oak, maple, fallen elm, and ironwood. Many species of ground cover best seen in May, a real woodland treat. Bring binoculars if you have them, many birds. Occasional sound from Airport which has a run way adjacent to the east. Called Cudahy Woods by DNR and most others, Designated as a State Natural Area in 2002, this is truly one of the best of the best that's left. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/naturalareas/index.asp?sna=351 A bit hard to find, DNR can help clue you in, the large park sign at chained entry has fallen over and not yet been replaced. But is it worth it? Every bit of it.

Cudahy Nature Preserve: This 42-acre forested area located near Milwaukee Mitchell International…read moreAirport was designated a State Natural Area in 2002. It's one of three such areas in Milwaukee County. I was unable to find an explanation, but it's odd that the preserve is in the city of Oak Creek and not the city of Cudahy. The area is comprised of a small parking lot, shelter, and two distinct woodlands separated by a stream. I included a picture of the map to help illustrate, but a single trail with two loops goes through each section of the forest. According to the information provided by the state online, the north section is a dry-mesic forest dominated by red oak, white oak, black cherry, and shagbark hickory trees. The south woods are moister and supports an old-growth forest containing sugar maple, American beech, red oak, white ash, and ironwood trees. It was a nice enough trail, but my first visit was in July and not only were the mosquitos bad (especially in the south woods), but I was continuously bombarded by flies like a piece of dog poop. Sorry for the crude analogy, but it's pretty accurate. I'll need to visit again in the fall when the colors are in full swing and the bugs are long dead. As I mentioned earlier, there is a tiny parking lot, but it currently has no parking spaces painted on the ground. I was not a fan of the narrow and blind turn into and out of the lot connecting it to College Avenue either. The Nature Preserve itself is nice, but this is a below average lot that needs some care. Overall, this is a short trail that those looking for somewhere new to explore might enjoy. Personally, I recommend driving five minutes further east to either Grant or Warnimont Parks on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Franklin Woods' playground area has greatly improved since they put in Kayla's Playground- a…read morehandicap-friendly and large playground to suit many ages. This playground and nearby picnic area is much improved, and they've also doubled the size of the parking lot, which is nice, and the playground is really a popular attraction. I've been coming here to hike the woodland trail for years, and it's a nice secluded hike with one main trail and a short offshoot. It's dog friendly, and we like to hike it year-round. If hiking in the winter, wear boots, as the trail can get icy. It's a nice secluded trail that connects to the neighborhood nearby. The paved loop around the marsh is nice as well. I would like to see them bring back the interpretive nature sign by the woodland path that told you about the numbered trees in the trail. The signs that do remain look unused, and the one by the marsh is broken with a small beehive inside. Small improvements to the "nature center" part of this area would make it five stars.

This park has greatly improved from what it was just a few years ago. It started with a tiny…read moreparking lot and trails through the woods. Then a playground and walking track was added. Now there is a big parking area and a handicap accessible playground- but my favorite part is still the original woodsy trails. From spring through fall(not a fan of winter walking) I have walked these woods, watching the birth, life and death of so many cool plants and foliage. In spring there is an impressive Trillium bloom that can be seen from the road. The trails are good for walking dogs too, but please clean up after them! The walking trail is very flat so anyone of any age can enjoy it. I can't speak for the playground as I'm a bit too old to partake, but the swings were always fun ;)

A nice neighborhood park with plenty to offer. There are two small jungle gyms, a couple swings, a…read morebasketball court, tennis court, and a hill for sledding in the winter. More adventurous kids might want to explore the woods to the south.

This is such an incredible park! They have a parking lot, picnic tables in shade, walking trails…read morearound the water, views of the Wehr nature Center, a golf course clubhouse, and even some seasonal things like sledding, Halloween decorations, etc. Expect to see a lot of hikers or bird watchers when it's nice!

Whitnall Park- the Crown Jewel of the MKE County Park system? Perhaps! We've hiked here often, come…read moreto the seasonal Sprecher beer garden, brought the kids to the Wehr Nature Center and Boerner Botanical Garden. This place really has something for everyone. Frisbee golf? You got it. Golf golf? You got it. Sledding? You got it. XX Skiiing. BYO, but got that too! Hiking here is a pleasure, and there are so many trails and different types of landscapes. Blue Loop is a wooded wonderland. But is there a way around the Yellow Loop without having to walk on water? LMK! Can't wait to get back to Whitnall Park.

A nice building for an outdoor get together. It worked week for our group of approx 75 people.read more

Very nice multi-use Milwaukee County Park! I came here for a run, and it fit the bill on a nice…read morepaved path and also on the mowed grass trail. The area is perfect for a run, walk, hike with pup, or for an extended bike ride on the trail, heading north of Puetz Road. If you enter via 51st, there's a large parking lot closer to the nice newer kid's playground (not to be confused with the handicap accessible Kayla's Playground, nearby at Franklin Woods). There's also a small covered picnic area, bathrooms, and a frisbee golf course. The frisbee golf course just got paved "tee off areas", and I saw volunteers tending to them, and a few "golfers" out on a recent warm day. You can also access from the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. Froemming Park is top notch, and a nice example of adapting park use for local residents.