Well used and lovely park, see Jerry's review for one of the best historical summaries I've read on…read moreYelp. Those of us from Chicago are familiar with the Polish war hero, and this beautiful park is an appropriate tribute in a town that owes much to our Polish immigrants. It's a big park, and it's pretty well maintained though the County has trouble staffing lifeguards for the pool so it's often closed. There are no Polish restaurants around here but nearby is an Eastern European grocery store if you want to pack a picnic or there are many good Mexican restaurants near by to get take out for al fresco dining.

General Thaddeus Kosciuszko was born in Poland on the lower end of the upper class which placed him…read morein military training. He was trained in military engineering but he was also a passionate man who loved liberty. When the American Revolutionary War broke out, the 30 year old Kosciuszko came to the colonies to help out. He spent six years as part of the Continental Army, working as an engineer to fortify American facilities and also fought on the line. He befriended Thomas Jefferson. At the end of the Revolutionary War, the grateful Americans gave him a plot of land in Ohio and named him a General. He returned to Poland but left word that upon his death, his American holdings should be sold and the proceeds used to free and educate slaves. (That was a pretty radical concept in the 18th Century!) As Poland was an inviting target for invading armies, Kosciuszko returned to the Polish army and fought to repulse the invading Russians in 1792. The Polish king surrendered, Kosciuszko was wounded and captured. He was exiled in 1796 and was never able to return to his homeland. A hero in both America and Poland, Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a central figure in Polish communities all over the world. A statue of him can be found in any city with a large Polish community, and Milwaukee was no exception. A collection was made to raise funds to commission Gaetano Trentanove to create a statue of the Polish hero. Gaetano Trentanove was born in Florence, Italy on February 21, 1858. By way of Chicago's 1893 Columbian Exposition, Trentanove wound up in Milwaukee where he had a studio and taught at the Layton School of Art. Trentanove statues can be found around the world but also in Milwaukee's Wahl Park, Oshkosh and Lancaster, Wisconsin. In 1903, Trentanove's statue of Kosciuszko was cast in Florence and shipped to Milwaukee in two pieces - the horse and Kosciuszko, to be reunited in Lincoln Avenue Park, in the center of the Polish community of Milwaukee's south side. (The park was renamed in honor of General Kosciuszko about the same time the monument was placed here.) The years have passed, the community has changed from Polish to Hispanic, but Kosciuszko remains. The statue was showing its age. Patina hid many details, damage was causing deterioration, his spurs were broken off and his scabbard was missing. The monument was in need of some serious restoration help. A group was formed to that end, called the "Restore the Kosciuszko Monument." The group documented the statue and collected the funds needed to restore the statue. The monument underwent a thorough restoration in 2013. The bronze statue was removed and taken to a specialist in Ohio, where the patina was removed, repairs were made and missing parts were recreated. The missing scabbard was located. Meanwhile, the pedestal was cleaned and polished, in anticipation of the return of General Kosciuszko. See: http://www.rkmmilwaukee.org/ for the story of the restoration. Incidentally, most people pronounce his name as "kozz-ee-ESS-ko" but my Polish friends taught me long ago to call him "ka-ZHOOSH-ko" which I still endeavor to do.

Hawthorn Glen is a 23-acre nature center that primarily serves as a field trip location on weekdays…read morefor 12,000 children annually. Natural features include steep bluffs, flood-plain hardwood forest, spring-fed wetland, and a restored prairie. Visitors to this urban nature center can explore five different habitats interconnected by a trail system. The public is welcome to utilize the facility and the well-marked ¾ mile self-guided nature trail in the evenings or on weekends (the lower trail is mostly blacktopped and ADA accessible). Many seasonal programs are offered on the weekends. Trails are designated for hiking only. Hikers are reminded to leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories, and watch for wildlife. Hawthorn Glen is home to deer, foxes, raccoons, opossum, rabbits, chipmunks, woodchucks, two species of hawks, many migratory birds, and songbirds of all kinds year-round. The website states, also, "Come visit our Nature Museum and see native animals of Wisconsin, including tree frogs, several species of turtles and our six foot bullsnake. It is open weekdays (4:00-5:00 pm) and weekends (11:00-11:45 am and 3:00-4:00 pm). Admission is FREE." Check out the Hawthorn Glenn YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru99rqELBcA

A lovely and unexpected sanctuary in the middle of the city. Located in Wauwatosa, Hawthorne and…read moreGlen is a perfect place for families, couples, or anybody who wants to go on a hike, have a picnic, or go into their little educational center. If you're just up for a short, beautiful hike, I recommend going here. You will not feel like you are in the middle of the city. It is beautiful, and we had an incredible hike! It would be a beautiful place to have a picnic, or bring your kids as they have children's playgrounds and the educational center. They even have goose ducks and a few animals that you can go look at.

Wonderful spot for a paddle! The park has much more to offer but went to use the kayak launch which…read morewas so easy! Even for a paddle board just had to make sure fins went in first. This location also has a self service kayak rental station so if you don't personally own kayaks but want to go kayaking or have a friend that wants to go along it's a great spot. Bathroom located right off the parking- was nice and clean for a park bathroom. The river was a great route! We did just under 2.5 miles. Saw lots of turtles and a family of ducks.

Very nice county park Went recently for the beer garden with…read moreRaised Grain. We had several grandchildren along that made great use of the large slide and other equipment- suitable for a wide range of ages We will go back

tl;dr A gorgeous 8.8 acre park filled with history, giant shade trees, the gentle pleasant sound of…read morewater as it moves along in the Bark River, a crazy unique wooden playground themed after a fort, multiple war memorials, huge shade trees, and a bathroom with drinking fountain. The playground is titled 'Fort Cushing' and is an all wood structure, with primarily a mulch surface and a few minor spots with a rubber surface. Within the playground there are separated areas for the little kids side and the big kids side. The little kids side is fairly small, and consists of two slides, a sandpit, and a few swings. Safety note, the baby swings are crazy high off of the ground since the mulch has been worn down so much, so make sure your kiddo is secured as it would be a huge drop. The big kids side has a variety of slides, bridges, monkey bars, giant tires to climb through as well as a tire swing, and more. Note: The drop off of the covered twist slide also has a huge drop at the end from the worn down mulch. It's definitely a unique playground but if you have little kids you can't trust yet on their own you'll definitely have to be flexible and fast to get through it all. There is a huge open area filled with mature shade trees, a tall monument dedicated to the three Cushing Brothers, as well as an obelisk, and a few other memorials. The park is also situated along the Glacial Drumlin Trail. Oh, and dogs are allowed here! Plus, they have bags available for cleanup. If you're in the area, this park is definitely worth the stop!

Went here because it was listed as one of the best playgrounds in the MKE metro, and it is indeed…read morethat. All wood, and lots of twists and turns, but fenced in so you can't lose the kids too easily.good amount of parking, but nice bike/walking access through the Lake Country and Ice Age trails. Clean bathrooms. Nice view of the Bark River. Definitely worth a trip out here, plus Delafield is a cute town.

Best park in Germantown, Now they even have a sand volley ball courts…read more Also has 1. walking path around entire perimeter of park. 2. Disc Golf Course 3 Playground equipment 4 Bathrooms and shelter 5 Dual B Ball court 6 Dual Tennis court 7 full size soccer field I am probably forgetting some stuff but this is literally the best park I have been to in a while. Lots of stuff to do in the warmer months and all for free. I think they also just installed new lighting in the park as well. This park is always well kept and very clean. Take your kids here for a full day of fun without opening your wallet.

Lime Kiln Park - A Hidden Gem in Menomonee Falls…read more We took a hike through Lime Kiln Park today and absolutely loved it! Tucked away in Menomonee Falls, this park feels like a peaceful little escape with just the right mix of nature, history, and fresh air. We explored both the upper and lower falls, and the views did not disappoint--especially with the sound of the rushing water and all the lush greenery around us. The trails are paved and easy to follow, which made our walk feel more like a relaxing stroll than a workout. There's something really cool about walking past the historic lime kilns--like you've stepped back in time for a moment. Between the rock formations, bridges, and little scenic spots to pause and take it all in, we found ourselves stopping often just to appreciate the beauty around us. It's the kind of place where you can go for a walk, clear your head, or bring the family for a peaceful afternoon. We even saw a few people playing disc golf and lots of birds hanging out near the water. If you haven't been yet, Lime Kiln Park is totally worth the visit. Bring your walking shoes, your camera, and a little curiosity--you'll leave refreshed and maybe even a bit inspired.

Very beautiful path way along a river, also a historical landmark in Menomonee Falls... beautiful…read morewalkway through down but is the feel of being in the country... the sound of the stream is so relaxing... right smack dab in the middle of town but yet hidden to the point I've been around the areas for many years and just recently found this amazing place

The Carl Schurz Memorial Park is beautiful, and the German-American Day was lots of fun. Our group,…read morethe Milwaukee Damenchor, was invited, and a number of members attended. We enjoyed having a table to sell some of our fundraiser items and meet some of the lovely people in attendance. I especially compliment the Deutche Schule for their activity! They invited participants to translate German phrases that were not easy to translate, but ensured each person's success by breaking up each long German word. As a former educator, I commend them! As to the entire event, the food, parade, and music were delightful! I hope to attend next year!

Carl Schurz Park is pretty amazing - you've probably never been there because it's private and open…read moreto the public like twice a year. Yesterday was my first visit and I was impressed by this hidden gem on Moose Lake. Membership is something like $300/year + 25 hours of volunteer service. Those volunteer hours seem to be put to good use as the grounds are immaculate. There's a surprising amount of buildings here - several bars, a bunch of tiny cabins and a big beer hall. A few times per year, they open to the public (there's a Chicken Fry as well as German American Day) for various fundraisers. It's definitely worth a visit - beautiful lake frontage, gorgeous grounds and great (cheap) food & drinks.

tl;dr A gorgeous park filled with history, giant shade trees, a good playground with rubber playing…read moresurface, and a recently upgraded bandshell that hosts a ton of free concerts, all of which is directly in front of the public library. This park is one of my favorites to walk through as I head downtown. Giant shade trees overhead as I walk meandering trails around burial mounds, Civil War monuments, and more. Plus, my kiddo loves this Arthur themed playground The playground is separated into two areas, with the little kids side and the big kids side. Note, the big kids side is very tall with steep slides, so you definitely need to keep an eye on your child. There are two little kid swings, and two big kid swings, along with a teeter totter. Safety note, the teeter totter goes below the rubber playing surface. Make sure your kiddos feet do not get stuck under there! This has been brought to the attention of the library board, so it should be fixed soon. The bandshell hosts a multitude of free concerts throughout the summer, from the symphonic bands, to rock and country tribute bands and more. If you're in the area, definitely stop and check out this park.

It's so small that you can walk right through it without noticing! I almost did…read more There is a playground on one end, a few pathways criss-crossing the park, and the Les Paul performance center on the other end. Beautifully maintained landscaping and a generous amount of old shady trees to sit beneath. I noticed some earthen mounds that, after searching, I believe to be burial mounds. Pretty cool. Be respectful though, don't sit on them! According to the city website, this park plays host to movie nights and musical tributes! http://www.waukesha-wi.gov/1527/Tribute-Tuesday-Concerts If you are into chasing fireflies, I have it on good authority(myself) that this is a good park for it.