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    Kilbourn Park

    4.4 (7 reviews)

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    Lisa A.

    Does anyone remember when this place wasn't really a park? When it had a vaguely menacing barbed wire fence around it and weird antennas and signs that said keep out, but then also these flowers beds on the eastern side of it? I think there might have been some weird mystique around it, like maybe there were aliens or nuclear experiments gone awry being hidden up there. (Then again, it was back in the 90s and I was watching a lot of X-files [man, that was good TV] so that might explain where I'm getting this idea from.) Sort of kidding here, but I remember never understanding what was going on up there & why it was off limits to the public. I strictly identified it to people as "you know that big hill on North Avenue you have to go around to get to my apartment?" Anyhow...back in 2014.... So, today I turned down some street in Riverwest and came upon the park by happenstance. I stopped in my tracks, turned and looked around--because it occurred to me I had NEVER been on that street near the park in all the nearly two decades I lived here. Crazy! Now, because I'm a big nerd I googled the history of it and found out that it used to be a reservoir (so giant body of water atop the hill.) Then it was filled in sometime after the 1940s and briefly was a park with tennis courts etc until that park was closed and it was rendered off limits in the 1990s (the X-File years, I'll call them.) And today its a park again. With a playground and basketball courts and paved paths leading you up to a truly spectacular 360 degree view. From the top of that hill, North Avenue to the lake looks like a street in San Francisco. But in doing my very important internet historical research on the park, I also learned that it is, after all, a somewhat secluded park in the middle of the city...so daylight hours are probably the best (and safest) times to check it out. Still, an unparalleled view of the city in a place with quite a bit of historical significance.

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    Buchner Park - Lazy River/Fitness Channel and Water Slides

    Buchner Park

    4.5(4 reviews)
    16.4 mi

    Great pool! Love the seperate kiddy pool and the lazy river! (Also love that we dont get blasted…read morewith music at this pool, thankyou!)

    This review is specific to the pool area…read more Honestly, this pool is probably the best public pool in the area. It was recently renovated, and it is clean and modern and expansive. There are multiple swimming areas available for use. There is a lap lane, a diving well, a lazy river, an aqua jogging area, two water slides, a few areas for general swimming activities, a handful of water bikes, and a kiddie pool. There are also lots of lifeguards sitting in raised chairs, as well as actively patrolling the edge of the pool deck. Though there is plenty of seating around the pool deck, the lounge chairs aren't particularly comfortable or stable. The chairs have those rubber slats across the length of the chair that make it uncomfortable to sit on without a towel underneath you. However, you are allowed to bring in your own chairs if you'd prefer that. The kiddie pool is a really great space for parents to watch their children. It is completely fenced in with a zero-depth end and a small slide with a fountain. The gate clicks closed behind you when you enter, so kids can't just push right through and go to the main pool. There are umbrellas and lounge chairs around the kiddie pool as well. I also counted five family restrooms, which is a good amount considering the large capacity of the pool. The locker rooms themselves are very spacious and clean. The individual showers have curtains, which provides lots of privacy. There is also a swimsuit dryer inside the locker room. There is a snack shack around the side of the building and there are water fountains (one with a water bottle filler) inside near the locker rooms. Something unique about Buchner Pool is the activities they offer members in the mornings. From 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the current channel (where the lazy river is) can be used for water walking. Additionally, lap swimming is available between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. One thing to be aware of is the lack of parking. There is no parking lot attached to the park, so you have to park on the street. There are four handicap parking spaces near the building. On particularly hot days, there will be a line to get into the pool. Sometimes the employees divide the line into a queue for people with a membership and a queue for people paying in cash for a daily pass, but don't count on it.

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    Buchner Park - Main Swimming Area and Rear View of Pool House

    Main Swimming Area and Rear View of Pool House

    Buchner Park - Great pool for family and kids

    Great pool for family and kids

    Buchner Park - Children's Area

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    Children's Area

    Reservoir Park

    Reservoir Park

    5.0(4 reviews)
    7.4 mi

    Great park for young children! My son is 13 months and was actually able to enjoy the smaller…read moreplayground, crawl up, use tunnel, make noise, and SLIDE (with an assist). There is also a double swing for both toddler and parent to swing together which he loved!!!

    tl;dr An older neighborhood park with fenced baseball diamond with bleachers and lights, park…read moreshelter with bathrooms and drinking fountain. Plus, a brand spanking new (2017) Landscape Structures branded, baseball themed, playground with rubber playing surface. I hadn't planned on going to this playground, heck, I had never heard of it before... But, our plans to head to the zoo got foiled by the massive lines from the free Senior day. So, I opened Yelp, searched for playground, and this beauty popped up. Yelp, you saved the day, yet again! The little kids side (2-5) is unique, but in a positive way. I feel like most little kids areas are the same basic=boring setup. It sorta reminded me of the old woman who lived in a shoe, with a sloped roofline and misshapen/unbalanced look. This area had ringing music notes, a track to run little cars/balls down, a crawling tube, a spinning giant glass marble, on top of the slides, climbing ladders, etc. Plus, there was a dedicated little kids swing set, with two toddler swings, two regular swings, and then the much loved yet hard to find toddler/parent combo swing!!! The big kids side includes a four seat seesaw, an accessible swaying "boat", multiple climbing walls, a standing gravity spinner, five slides, "concessions stand", a dedicated big kids swing set with accessible swing, and more. All of this included old shade trees, overlooked the diamond, and was a short walk from the bathrooms. Kudos to West Allis for installing a truly great and unique playground.

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    Reservoir Park
    Reservoir Park
    Reservoir Park

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    Kilbourn Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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