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Milwaukee County Parks
 

Lake Park- view of Lake Michigan from the bluff

Overview of Milwaukee County Parks and Parkways Ordinances

Read the full list at Milwaukee Municode, Chapter 47

Animals in Parks

  1. All wildlife is protected within the park system: collecting, releasing, trapping, or hunting are prohibited (Section 47.08)
  2. Unless within a designated dog exercise area, all dogs in parks and trails MUST be leashed. Any adult person may report loose dogs by complaint to any Parks employee or police officer (Section 47.06).
  3. No person shall ride horseback in any park or parkway (Section 47.12).
  4. No person shall take, capture or kill fish of any variety, or fish for fish by means other than hook or line. (Section 47.07)
  5. No one shall feed any waterfowl, game birds or seagulls within any of the parks or parkways of Milwaukee County. (Section 47.07)
  6. Feeding deer is a violation of state law within Milwaukee County. (Section 47.07)

Milwaukee County is within the Chronic Wasting Disease region, so feeding deer may result in spreading the disease and killing deer. With Avian Flu endangering wild bird populations, concentrating birds around bird feeders may result in the spread of Avian Flu.

Foraging - Section 47.08

Removing any part of a native plant or fungi from any parkland is prohibited. This includes tapping maple trees, hunting for edible mushrooms, naturally growing fruits and collecting wildflowers, or removing trees and plants.

Natural areas provide the last sanctuaries for plants, wildlife, fungi, etc. in a heavily urbanized county. Wisconsin native specie populations have been reduced by over 90% in the last 150-years as the county has been urbanized. It is best conservation practice to preserve and protenct little is left. Notably, there are a large number of state properties in SE WI where foraging is allowed, and those sites are within easy driving distance for Milwaukee County residents.

Digging - Section 47.21

Soil disturbance for activities such as metal detectors, building trails, or erecting temporary structures in parkland is prohibited unless with a written Parks permit. Shallow-buried utilities or contaminated soils may be present, and digging can permanently damage sensitive natural areas.

Camping - Section 47.25

No person shall sleep, or camp, or lodge in any park or parkway.

Dumping - Section 47.41

While it may be obvious that dumping garbage, tires, and furniture is not allowed, also prohibited are such things as depositing yard waste, letting airborne or waterborne debris to flow onto parkland, discharging sump water, gravel, and concrete- essentially all non-naturally occurring materials. Park property includes water features, playgrounds, golf courses, trails, parkways, beaches, natural areas, and all buildings comprising the parks and recreation system.

Encroachment - Section 47.42

Storing any personal property, erecting any structure, paving, landscaping, fencing, pruning or cutting trees, constructing a curb or driveway, or installing drainage facilities, is prohibited unless by written permits, contracts, or easements.