Milwaukee City Wire

Milwaukee Recreation reported a wide range of activities and initiatives during the 2025 summer season, aiming to promote healthy lifestyles and provide educational experiences for community members. The department offered free and low-cost programs, with an emphasis on outdoor activities for youth and families during the warmer months.

Among the highlights, Milwaukee Recreation recognized three recipients of the 2025 Trek Pathfinders scholarship: Emmitt Houston, James Northway, and Noah Martinez. Each was awarded a Trek mountain bike, NICA membership stipend, race fees, gear including helmet and accessories.

The department hosted 25 boys and girls 18U basketball teams in Summer Stars leagues at North Division High School and South Division High School. Free youth football clinics were organized in partnership with current and former NFL players Eric Murray, Dare Ogunbowale, and Gilbert Brown, serving nearly 600 participants over the summer.

A five-day basketball clinic was held with the Milwaukee Bucks for children aged 7-14 at North Division High School. Evening sports programs included men's basketball Late Night Leagues, men's soccer leagues for ages 17-29, as well as Twilight soccer leagues for younger participants.

The annual Iron Tiger Triathlon took place at Riverside University High School with participation from community members. In collaboration with the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Recreation sent Special Olympics athletes to compete in a flag football tournament at Titletown District in Ashwaubenon.

Other new offerings included Boundless Baseball for youth facing disabilities. T-ball programs reached over 400 young athletes across five locations. Track and field events brought together more than 1,200 participants at Vincent High School during May and June.

A volleyball clinic was organized in partnership with Good Karma Brands Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin women’s volleyball team at Vincent High School for MPS students. The inaugural Milwaukee City Conference summer basketball league featured high school teams from across the area.

Additional educational opportunities were provided through welding workshops conducted twice weekly at North Division High School in collaboration with MATC. Hygiene instruction was delivered to nearly 300 students at Twilight Centers.

Community health initiatives included guided walks through MilWALKee Walking Club and over fifty Community Bike Rides promoting active lifestyles among more than three hundred individuals this summer.

Wellness classes continued through partnerships with Medical College of Wisconsin at local community centers focusing on fitness education sessions related to healthy eating and cancer prevention. New wellness offerings addressed topics such as breastfeeding preparedness, infant bonding, massage therapy, and women's health.

Field trips were planned for playground participants to destinations including local zoos, museums, parks, farms, and activity centers. STEAM Milwaukee joined efforts by visiting four playgrounds as part of roving activities programming.

At fifteen playgrounds throughout Milwaukee Recreation’s network—supported by Hunger Task Force and Milwaukee Center for Independence—over twenty-four thousand meals were served to youth during an eight-week program period.

Aquatics remained popular with more than two hundred fifty classes enrolling approximately twenty-seven hundred participants; swim safety lessons reached over nine hundred individuals through partnerships within MPS (Milwaukee Public Schools) groups https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/Schools.htm#/.

Summer camps operated across twenty-five locations provided full-day support to over thirteen hundred youth; forty CLC (Community Learning Center) & Safe Place programs served nearly three thousand young people weekdays from late June into August https://www.milwaukeerecreation.net/rec/Programs/Child-Care--Camps/Safe-Places.htm#/. Six ExCEL Summer Camps covered topics ranging from ecology to digital music production involving more than three hundred teens from multiple sites https://www.milwaukeerecreation.net/rec/Programs/Camps--After-School/Camps.htm#/ .

More than four hundred field trips were coordinated across all camp types; academic enrichment specialists hired provided coaching support totaling over four hundred fifty hours at CLC/Safe Place locations https://www.milwaukeerecreation.net/rec/About/Mission--Vision.htm#/.

Events also included an employee golf outing attended by one hundred eight golfers; employment partnerships led forty-two individuals serving as counselors in early intervention camps; volunteers contributed to improvements like garden spaces outside Beulah Brinton Community Center.

Facility updates advanced throughout the city: grand reopenings celebrated Wick Playfield & Modrzejewski Playfield; construction began on a new recreation center & Browning Playfield expected complete by early 2027; playfield renovations continued or started elsewhere including Lincoln Playfield (completion end of 2025), Cass Street Playfield (design underway), Emigh Playfield (dedicated pickleball court coming fall 2025), Metcalfe Playfield (late summer 2026).

The department also awarded grants via Partnership for Arts & Humanities supporting out-of-school programming across theater arts disciplines https://www.milwaukeerecreation.net/rec/About/Mission--Vision.htm#/ .

Special events ranged from foam parties drawing hundreds of children to cycling workshops capped off by rides along major routes; Women’s Wellness Event attracted over one hundred attendees offering yoga sessions among other activities; adult skate nights debuted themed gatherings while Family Day of Play marked opening festivities post-renovation at Wick Playfield.

The annual Run Back to School event drew more than eleven hundred runners/walkers while public art initiatives unveiled a mural honoring Jimmy Banks outside his namesake stadium.

According to Milwaukee Recreation officials: “This summer marks another step forward in our ongoing mission—to enrich lives through recreational opportunities that build skills promote wellness foster community pride.”