Parks For All Abilities
Milwaukee County Parks is committed to making facilities and attractions accessible to all visitors. Read on for highlights of accessible venues and activities within the park system.
- Milwaukee County's Office for Persons with Disabilities: Provides details on accessibility throughout the County.
- Wil-O-Way Recreation Centers: Milwaukee County sponsors recreational activities designed for people with disabilities at two facilities located in county parks in South Milwaukee and Wauwatosa. Recreation programs are offered during the spring, summer and fall seasons to individuals with disabilities ages 16 and up.
- Boerner Botanical Gardens & Mitchell Park Domes: Garden facilities have a mixture of accessible paved pathways. The grade may be challenging for persons using manual wheelchairs and walkers.
- Aira: Through the free Aira app, people who are blind or have low vision can access highly-trained, remotely-located agents for instant access to visual information. Available year round at Boerner Botanical Gardens, The Domes and Wehr Nature Center. Available seasonally at the Beer Gardens, Bradford Beach, Veterans Park and major concert series locations.
Oak Leaf Trail
The OLT system includes more than 135 miles of paved, accessible multi-use trails. Some branch lines do have challenging road crossings. Branch lines with the fewest road crossings include the Zip Line, South Shore Line, and Milwaukee River Line between Estabrook Park and downtown Milwaukee.
Handcycles: Accessible handcycles are available for rent (April - Sept) through Wheel Fun Rentals at Veterans Park South, on the Lake Loop section of the Oak Leaf Trail.
Adaptive Bikes: Bublr bike-share stations offer adaptive bikes at select locations, including Cathedral Square, Red Arrow Park, Walker Square and Zeidler Union Square. Check the Bublr website for availability.
Bradford Beach
A permanent concrete ramp allows access to the beach, and seasonal portable rollout mats provide access to the water.
Beach Wheelchairs: Feature wide tires that take you across the sand and into the water. Reserve by calling Joe Bugbee, General Manager at The Dock at Bradford Beach, at (414) 791-5440.
Adaptive Wheelchairs
We believe nature is for everyone, and we’re dedicated to making it a reality. Explore accessible park features, including a 1-mile All Abilities loop trail with a hard surface boardwalk, an accessible pier overlooking Mallard Lake, and an observation blind under expansion all at Wehr Nature Center. Visit the Wehr Nature Center website accessibility+ page to learn more about their programming and mobility corner.
All-Terrain Wheelchair: Reserve the chair at Wehr or use the chair and enclosed trailer for towing to another site – all for free. Get details and reserve the chair through Access Ability Wisconsin.
Adaptive Ice Sleds
If you've dreamed of gliding around an ice rink, the adaptive ice skating sleds are available during open public skate times at the seasonal outdoor Slice of Ice Rink and the indoor Wilson Ice Arena.
Thank you to our partner, The Ability Center and its RampUp program for bringing the ice sleds to Red Arrow Park and Wilson Rec Center.
Adaptive Golf Cars
Reserve an adaptive golf car at Currie Park Golf Course or Greenfield Park Golf Course and swing while seated! The fee is the same as the rental for a standard golf car. A Paramobile golf car, that helps you stand to golf, is available at Currie Park, to pre-qualified players who have a disability.
Call the course to request a golf car at least 48 hours in advance:
Currie): (414) 453-7030
Greenfield: (414) 256-4010
Paramobile Application Information: (414) 453-6890
Playgrounds for All
Play areas and playgrounds are designed so that children with disabilities have easier access and use of the play equipment — and more interaction with other kids! All play areas are ADA compliant to the year of installation or upgrade. Many playgrounds have rubber surfaces. Find adaptive swings at 15 play areas.
Pools & Splash Pads
Visit Cool Waters Aquatic Center in Greenfield Park, David F. Schulz Aquatic Center in Lincoln Park or Pelican Cove Aquatic Center in Kosciuszko Park for zero-depth entry and lots of interactive water features. McCarty, Noyes, Pulaski and Wilson pools all have entry ramps into the pools from the deck edge. All of the free splash pads let you roll into the fun too!
Accessible Fishing Piers
Find accessible piers at Holler Park and Scout Lake Park, or fish along the seawall at Veterans Park. All of these locations are stocked by the Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery and the WDNR. If you are 16 or older, you'll need a fishing license and inland trout stamp from the WDNR.