Our Parks.

Our Community.
Our Future.

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Go Green for Parks

September 15, 2026

Milwaukee County does not have the funds to maintain our parks properly. That means thousands of residents could lose equitable access to safe parks and parks programming. Milwaukee Parks Foundation (MPF) is dedicated to building a more vibrant and equitable parks system that benefits all.

ABOUT US

Our Priorities

High Impact Projects

Some parks require transformative investments to address critical maintenance and inequities. Our High-Impact Projects create vibrant, safe, and accessible parks in neighborhoods that need them most.

Trails & Trees

Nature in our parks supports mental health, physical activity, and environmental resilience. Our Trails & Trees initiatives restore access to natural spaces while promoting equity and sustainability.

Youth Enrichment

We invest in programs and facilities that give young people safe spaces to play, learn, and grow. From pools to ballfields to basketball courts, these projects help children develop skills, stay active, and build community connections.

Seeds investments contribute to the long-term sustainability of our County Parks System. By investing in system-wide solutions, MPF plants seeds for a parks system that can be enjoyed for years to come.

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Sprouts Resident-Centered Park Activation

Sprouts investments harness the power of community. By investing in resident-led catalytic projects, MPF sprouts ideas, activation, engagement and ownership across our parks system.

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Support our parks!

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Nature Notes

Honoring Black history in our park

As we wrap up Black History Month, I find myself reflecting on what green spaces mean to me as a Black person. How do my experiences impact my work in the role? How does the work we do as a collective impact communities of color around Milwaukee and surrounding...

Meet Kelly Martyka

Hello! I am Kelly Martyka, the new Director of Development! I am AMPED to be here! And I love parks. I grew up on the south side of Milwaukee – and parks were KEY to growing up! I swam regularly at Wilson Park Pool or Pulaski in winter. Road bikes with my brother to...

Pedaling Through Parks: A Perfect October Ride on the Oak Leaf Trail. David Schneider

AUTHOR: David Schneider There are few better ways to spend a warm October day than in the parks and Milwaukee’s Oak Leaf Trail delivers the perfect route for park lovers. A few friends and I kicked off our Sunday morning on October 5th at Greenfield Park in West...

Framing Our Future: How Collaboration and Community Engagement Can Breathe Life into Milwaukee’s Parks

Author: Regan Andersen What does it take to build something joyful, sustainable, and community-led in Milwaukee Parks? A lot of people working together for all of the right reasons. Picture this: you are standing under a 8×12 foot, hand-built, wooden picture frame,...

A Unique Way to TRI

Author: Anne Ballentine Conquering a triathlon can be a little intimidating, but what if you could kayak instead of swim in a lake and hike instead of run? Combine those activities with a chill bike ride and you have the Outdoorsy Triathlon. Then add a post-event...

2024 MPF in the news

Aquatics Ambassadors – TMJ4 Aquatics Ambassadors – Emilio Perez – TMJ4 Parks Foundation, Molson Coors Raising $500,000 For Parks – Urban Milwaukee Molson Coors launches fundraising campaign for Milwaukee County Parks – 620WTMJ Beer garden at South Shore Terrace opens...

2023 MPF in the News

Lucille Berrien mural. Photo by Graham Kilmer. Nonprofit Spotlight – BizTimes Sherman Park Harvest Fest – CBS58 Molson Coors Innovation Showcase – FOX6 Johnson Controls Foundation commits $1.2 million to four Milwaukee nonprofits – BizTimes Fund for Lake Michigan...

Meet Dawn

Our parks, our community, and our future are at the core of what we do. This focus on people is the inspiration behind People in the Parks, a new video series highlighting stories of community in parks. You can also view and share them on our YouTube channel.Parks are...

Meet Zaynab

Our parks, our community, and our future are at the core of what we do. This focus on people is the inspiration behind People in the Parks, a new video series highlighting stories of community in parks. You can also view and share them on our YouTube channel.At the...

Meet Esperanza

Our parks, our community, and our future are at the core of what we do. This focus on people is the inspiration behind People in the Parks, a new video series highlighting stories of community in parks. You can also view and share them on our YouTube channel.Meet...