By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers Published Aug 27, 2024 at 12:46 PM

The Great Milwaukee Summer is HERE! Your guide to what you'll be doing, where you'll be drinking, who you'll be hearing and how you'll be getting a sweet tan this summer is on OnMilwaukee. The Great Milwaukee Summer guide is brought to you by Geis Garage Doors and Peoples State Bank!

Wisconsin winters steal all the attention, but the summers in Sconnie can be intense too, bringing the heat and humidity. So it's a good time to remind you that Milwaukee County Parks has a great selection of water-based recreational opportunities – including public pools – open for the season.

Whether you test the waters first or jump right in, check out our Milwaukee public pool guide and find the perfect place to cool off this summer. Note: You may want to call ahead to ensure that your local pool is still open later in the season.

Outdoor pools

Three outdoor oases are currently open for the summer:

Kosciuszko Park (Pelican Cove) – 2201 S. Seventh St., (414) 257-8077
Sheridan Park – 4800 S. Lake Dr., (414) 481-4731
Wilson Park – 4001 S. 20th St., (414) 281-4498

Sheridan Park and Pelican Cove at Kosciuszko Park is open every day from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., while the former is open 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for night swim sessions while the latter is just open Mondays and Wednesdays. Wilson Park, on the other hand, offers different times for weekends, weekdays, open swim, night swim and lap swim sessions. Full hours can be found at Milwaukee County Parks' website – but in all cases, hours are weather permitting, and kids age 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Prices range are $5 for single open swim and lap swim visits while evening swim sessions cost $3 across the board. Children under 2 years old and younger are free in all cases, while those younger than 12 as well as 60 years old and beyond receive a discount at $3.) A season pass for unlimited entry to the outdoor pools – plus discounts at Cool Waters and Schulz Aquatic Park – costs $55 for an individual adult pass or $110 for a family pass up to four members, with each additional child costing $15. For more information, visit the County Parks website.

Hoyt Park/Tosa Pool, found at 1800 N. Swan Blvd., is also currently open for the season, with daily entrance costing $12 per person for daytime open swim and $10 for evening open swim. (Children two and younger are free.) Open swim is available Mondays through Thursdays from 1:30-4:30 p.m., Fridays from 1:30-6 p.m., Saturdays and holidays from 1-6 p.m., and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. For more details on lap swim, evening swim and season passes, click here.

Water parks

Schulz Aquatic Park in Lincoln Park and Cool Waters Aquatic Park are both open for all your summer swimming fun needs!

Opened for the summer on June 8 at 1301 W. Hampton Ave., Schulz Aquatic Park is open daily from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The venue also offers night swims on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m., as well as tot time (aka pool time reserved for families with children under 7) and lap swim hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10-11 a.m. Open swim costs $8.50 for Milwaukee County residents ages 12-59 and $7.50 for residents younger or older than that range. (For non-residents, open swim costs $10.50 and $8.50.) Night swim costs $7 across the board, while tot time costs $4 for all and lap swim sessions cost $5 for all. For more information on pricing and season passes, visit the park's website.

With waterslides and fun water obstacles, Cool Waters Aquatic Park – found at 2028 S. 124th St. in West Allis – is currently open for summer weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Night swim sessions are also available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – and beginning July 1, both water exercise and lap swim sessions will run 9-9:50 a.m. on the same set of days. For adult Milwaukee County residents, open swim costs $8.50 while sessions cost $7.50 for residents younger or older than that range. (For non-residents, open swim costs $10.50 and $8.50.) Meanwhile, night swim costs $7 for all attendees, while exercise or lap swim sessions cost $5. For more information, visit Cool Waters' website.

Indoor pools

Both Noyes Pool (8235 W. Good Hope Road) and Pulaski Pool (2701 S. 16th St.) are available this summer season, offering lap swim, water exercise, space for parties and rentals, and more. The former is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon, while the latter is open from 6-11 a.m. on the same days. Single visit open swim sessions cost $4.50 for adults at both locations, while lap swim and water exercise sessions are available mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For more specifics on pricing ranges, passes, lap swim hours and more, visit the County Parks indoor pools page.

Splash pads and wading pools

Many Milwaukee County Parks feature splash pads, which are free to use and generally open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. – all tentatively expected to open for the season on Thursday, June 20. For daily status updates, visit Milwaukee County Parks website or call the pools hotline at (414) 257-8098.

Carver Splash Pad – 911 W. Brown St.
Clarke Square Splash Pad – 2330 W. Vieau Pl.
Dineen Splash Pad – 6901 W. Vienna Ave.
Gordon Splash Pad – 2828 N. Humboldt Ave.
Lucille Berrien Splash Pad – 3629 N. 16th St.
Madison Splash Pad – 9800 W. Glendale Ave.
Moody Splash Pad – 2201 W. Auer Ave.
Washington Splash Pad – 1859 N. 40th St.

Milwaukee County Parks also offers several wading pool locations, opened for the season on Thursday, June 20 and running seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. depending on attendance and weather. (Wading pools typically open when the forecast maintains over 72 degrees during a location's posted hours.) For daily status updates, visit Milwaukee County Parks website or call the pools hotline at (414) 257-8098.