pools

Milwaukee County

If we're not complaining about the cold in Wisconsin, we're griping about the heat. Thank goodness there's something we can do about it. Many Milwaukee County parks have either a wading pool or a splash pad that can be used FREE of charge. They all open in mid-June for the summer season.

Pool and pad hours vary. Most open by 11:00 a.m., but Algonquin, Cannon and Rose open at 10:00 a.m.; Sherman, Pulaski (near the indoor pool) and Tiefenthaler open at noon, and McCarty and Holler open at 1:00 p.m. Most stay open until at least 4:00 p.m., and all are staffed during open hours. Each wading pool has adjacent restroom and changing facilities. Splash pads or wading pools are located in the following parks:

Wading Pools
Wading pool hours are updated Monday through Friday during open season. Hours may be extended during extreme hot weather.

Please check here for hours specific to each location: www.county.milwaukee.gov/router.asp?docid=9148

  • Alcott, 3751 S. 97 St.
  • Algonquin, 7850 N. 51 St.
  • Cannon, 303 N. 95 St.
  • Columbus, 7301 W. Courtland Ave.
  • Cooper, 8701 W. Chambers St.
  • Greene, 4235 S. Lipton Ave.
  • Hales Corners, 5765 S. New Berlin Rd.
  • Holler, 5151 S. 6 St.
  • Humboldt, 3000 S. Howell Ave.
  • Jacobus, 6501 W. Hillside Lane
  • Kops, 3321 N. 86 St.
  • LaFollette, 9418 W. Washington St.
  • Lindsay, 4360 N. 87 St.
  • Lyons, 3301 S. 55 St.
  • McCarty, 2567 S. 79 St.
  • Mitchell, S. 22 St./W. Pierce St.
  • Pulaski (Cudahy), 5400 S. Swift Ave.
  • Pulaski (at the indoor pool)
  • Rainbow, 700 S. 119 St.
  • Rose, 3045 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
  • Saveland, 3700 S. 2 St.
  • Sherman, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd.
  • Smith, 5462 N. 33 St.
  • Tiefenthaler, 2501 W. Galena St.
  • Tippecanoe, 1411 E. Warnimont Ave.
  • Vogel, 8601 W. Lancaster Ave.
  • Wahl, 4750 N. 48 St.
  • Walker Square, 1031 S. 9 St.
  • Washington, 1859 N. 40th St.
  • Wedgewood, 7201 W. Wedgewood Dr.
  • West Milwaukee, 5000 W. Burnham St.

Splash Pads
The splash pad schedules can change daily. This web site is updated Monday through Friday during the summer with open hours: www.county.milwaukee.gov/router.asp?docid=9148

  • Carver Park Splash Pad (414) 342-0215 911 W. Brown St Daily, noon to 4:00 p.m.
  • Clarke Square Splash Pad (414) 643-0120 2330 W. Vieau Place Daily, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
    Includes a giant mushroom waterfall, ground water jets, spray posts, and water-spray spirals.
  • Dineen Park Splash Pad (414) 871-4020 6901 W. Vienna Ave Daily, noon to 4:00 p.m.
  • Gordon Park Splash Pad (414) 263-9170 1321 E. Locust St., Daily 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
    Includes a whale's tale, giant mushroom waterfall, ground water jets, spray posts and water-spray spirals.

For-fee wading pools & playground
There are also for-fee wading pools in the County, and a water playground that charges a small admission fee.

  • Sheridan, 4800 S. Lake Drive
  • Carver Park Water Playground, 911 W. Brown St.

Indoor Pools
The Milwaukee Parks run two indoor pools that are open year round for open swim times, as well as classes and lessons. These pools do charge fees.

The indoor pool admission fees are $2.00 for children ages 3 to 11, children 12 and older $3.00. Token-operated lockers are available for a small fee.

  • Noyes Pool, 8235 W. Good Hope Road, (414) 353-1252
  • Pulaski Pool, 2701 S. 16 St., (414) 645-2328

Summer hours for open swimming are Monday through Friday between 12:30 and 5:00 p.m.On Saturday, open swimming is between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Outdoor Pools
Milwaukee County operates more than a dozen outdoor pools and water parks, all of which charge an admission fee. For kids ages 3 to 11, admission fee is $2.00, kids 12 and older $2.50. It costs an additional $3.00 per person to use the water slides at McCarty. Night Swim, where available, occurs Monday through Thursday between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The fee for Night Swim is $1.00. All the pools charge $0.50 for their locker/basket/clothes check service. Season passes are available.

Special admission rates are available for Recreation Providers. Providers are defined as licensed day care centers or organizations with a state tax exemption number. These special rates are only available with advance purchase. Call the Milwaukee County’s Aquatics Department at (414) 257-8098 or visit www.county.milwaukee.gov/RecreationProviderRa22490.htm for more information.

Also, FREE admission to the pools happens occasionally throughout the summer as part of the "Summer Splash" program. To find out where and when Summer Splash is taking place—so kids can swim FREE—call the Pool Hotline number below. You can also call Milwaukee County's Aquatics Department at (414) 257-8098 or the Parks Information Line at (414) 257-6100.

The pools and water parks in Milwaukee County open in mid-June, weather permitting, with the exception of Cool Waters and the David F. Schulz Aquatic Center in Lincoln Park, which open Memorial weekend. On weekdays, at all the outdoor pools, open swim is between noon and 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Please be aware that inclement weather conditions may cause the pools to be closed. Call the Pool Hotline below to verify the status of the pool.

For more information about all the area's swimming pools and pads, call the 24-hour Pool Hotline at (414) 257-7230 or visit www.countyparks.com or www.county.milwaukee.gov/Pools9145.htm

Standard Pools

  • Dineen, 6901 W. Vienna Ave., (414) 466-7870
  • Grobschmidt (formerly Oak Creek), 2600 16th Ave., (414) 762-9523
  • Hales Corners, 5765 S. New Berlin Road, (414) 425-9888
    The village of Hales Corners operates the Hales Corners pool. For information, call (414) 529-6161
  • Holler, 5151 S. 6th St., (414) 481-7160
  • Washington, 1859 N. 40th St., (414) 344-5400
    PLEASE NOTE: Washington is closed to the public Tuesdays until 1:00 p.m.
  • Wilson, 4001 S. 20th St., (414) 281-4498

Pools with Drop Slides
Drop slides end several feet above the water. To use the drop slide, you must have general swimming ability. There is no additional charge to use Drop Slides.

  • Jackson, 3500 W. Forest Home Ave., (414) 672-1470
  • Sheridan, 4800 S. Lake Drive, (414) 747-9491

Pools with Water Slides
To use the water slides, a child must be at least 48 inches tall. The lifeguard may waive the height requirement if a child is very close to this height and an adult or a lifeguard waits at the bottom of the slide to catch the child. There is an additional fee of $3.00 per person to use these slides.

  • McCarty, 2567 S. 79th St., (414) 543-9240

Water Parks

  • Pelican Cove, Kosciuszko Park, 2201 S. 7th St., (414) 384-9498

    This park operates Monday through Thursday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. It operates Friday through Sunday and on holidays between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. only. This outdoor pool opens Saturday, June 12.

    The admission fee for children ages 3 to 11, and those 60 and over, is $2.00. For kids 12 to 59, admission is $2.50. Night Swim is $1.75 for all ages. Hand stamps are available, and allow exit and re-entry to the pool, for those who want to swim and picnic or play in the park.

  • Cool Waters, Greenfield Park, 2028 S. 124th St., (414) 321-7530

    Operates Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday through Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Friday through Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

    The admission fee for kids ages 3 to 11 is $5.00, and those 60 and over, is $5.00. For kids 12 to 59, the fee is $6.75. Night Swim is $4.00 for all ages. Season passes and Recreational Provider rates are available.

  • David F. Schulz Aquatic Center, Lincoln Park, 1301 W. Hampton Ave., (414) 257-7230.

    This is Milwaukee’s newest water park. The Aquatic Center operates Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday through Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, including holidays, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

    The new Center features heated water, body slides, tube slides, and a Lazy River to float along when you need a break. Small swimmers will enjoy the interactive water toys. There’s also a leisure pool that includes lap swimming and water basketball.

    The admission fee for kids ages 3 to 11, and those 60 and over, is $5.00. Kids ages 12 to 59 $6.75. Night Swim is $4.00 for all ages. A season pass is available, see the website for details.