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The beach at Doctors Park

Another Walk in the Park!

November 22, 2024  |  Topics: Events


By Danielle Pahlisch

Photographs by Eddee Daniel

A Walk in the Park began as a simple concept; each month, the public is invited to take a pause from the ordinary responsibilities of everyday life to explore one of Milwaukee County’s many parks and natural areas. Hosted by Milwaukee County Parks and the Milwaukee Parks Foundation, these walks have grown into something far more meaningful — a time to gather and share in collective joy, curiosity, and introspection. 

For us on the Community Engagement Team at the Milwaukee Co Parks Dept, these walks are more than a break from routine; they remind us that our system of parks and natural areas are the pulse of Milwaukee County’s social and ecological health. Each month presents an opportunity for discovery, to wander the familiar and unfamiliar trails that spread across the County like the root system of a thriving forest. 

A Walk in the Park participants are dwarfed by the thriving forest at Noyes Park.
A Walk in the Park participants are dwarfed in this panorama by the thriving forest at Noyes Park.

At the beginning of each month, we meet at a different county park to explore some of what it has to offer. Sometimes these walks guide us as we discuss upcoming park projects or meet with local partners to understand how their pivotal work nourishes their community. Other times we tend to a park while walking, removing trash or spreading seeds of next spring’s native flowers. Most of the time, though, we simply walk and talk, creating space for both quiet reflection and spirited connection – a powerful expression of caring for the places that nourish us in return. 

Much like the diverse landscapes we meander through, our walks are shaped by the unique perspectives we experience along the way. Those whose roots run decades deep in a park impart their stories of place, while others quietly savor the experience. All are encouraged to gasp with childlike wonder at the warblers – impossibly vibrant in their summer plumage – darting across a mosaic of tree branches. There’s no strict template to adhere to, no script that instructs where we wander. The only requirement is perhaps a bit of levity at the stowaway leaves, twigs, or mud that inevitably find us along the way.

As the year draws to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for the individuals and moments that have made these walks special. They’ve taught us that, often times, the best adventures are taken together, guided by curiosity, compassion, and a shared commitment to the connections that sustain us all. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a community-builder, or someone seeking a bit of fresh air, I hope you’ll join us for the next A Walk in the Park

Virtual Tour

Three photos represent each of the featured parks in chronological order as the walks were taken.

Jackson Park in February

Adam Carr with the Milwaukee Parks Foundation points out the statue to Commerce.
Adam Carr with the Milwaukee Parks Foundation points out the statue to Commerce, which overlooks the park lagoon.
The group pauses at the outflow from the park lagoon to the Kinnickinnic River to learn about plans to revitalize the river and the park.
The group pauses at the outflow from the lagoon to the Kinnickinnic River to learn about plans to revitalize the river and the park.
The Forked Aster Trail in Jackson Park.
The Forked Aster Trail in Jackson Park.

More information about Jackson Park on our Find-a-Park page.

King Park in March

The group walks along a tree-lined path in a corner of the park.
The group walks along a tree-lined path in a corner of the park.
The group pauses to learn about the former roller rink. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is in the background.
The group pauses to learn about the former roller rink. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is in the background.
The group also toured the inside of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, which includes a tank with this pair of turtles swimming around in it.
The group also toured the inside of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, which includes a tank with this pair of turtles swimming around in it.

Mangan Woods in April

The group walking on one of the network of hiking trails in the woods.
The group walking on one of the network of hiking trails in the woods.
A pair of mountain bikers negotiating a switchback on the popular Kegel Alpha Trail, which crosses and in places coincides with the hiking trails. (Cyclists are expected to yield to pedestrians.)
The trail cuts through, literally, one of the giant trees, recently fallen.
The trail cuts through, literally, one of the giant trees, recently fallen.

More information about Mangan Woods on our Find-a-Park page.

Noyes Park in June

The group walks past the Noyes Park Indoor Pool.
The group walks past the Noyes Park Indoor Pool.
The group walks along a woodland trail next to a pond in the 22-acre "nature study area" that makes up the western third of the park.
The group walks along a woodland trail next to a pond in the 22-acre “nature study area” that makes up the western third of the park.
Noyes includes a nine-hole golf course.
Noyes includes a nine-hole golf course.

More information about Noyes Park on our Find-a-Park page.

Kinnickinnic River Parkway in July

A pedestrian bridge crosses the KK River near 51st Street.
A pedestrian bridge crosses the KK River near 51st Street.
The group overlooks the KK River atop erosion-control stone blocks lining the river bank.
The group overlooks the KK River atop erosion-control stone blocks lining the river bank.
A very large and very asymmetrical oak tree graces one of the open spaces in the parkway.
A very large and very asymmetrical oak tree graces one of the open spaces in the parkway.

Doctors Park in September

A mild day in September proved ideal for a walk on the beach!
A mild day in September proved ideal for a walk on the beach!
A trio of walkers gets ahead of the group on the ravine path.
A trio of walkers gets ahead of the group on the ravine path.
A bumblebee in the act of pollinating a sunflower.
A bumblebee in the act of pollinating a sunflower.

More information about Doctors Park on our Find-a-Park page.

McGovern Park in October

A trail divides a section of this woodlot that was recently cleared of buckthorn from another section still thick with the invasive species.
A trail divides a section of this woodlot that was recently cleared of buckthorn from another section still thick with the invasive species.
The Forked Aster Trail in McGovern.
The Forked Aster Trail in McGovern.
Three of the group partaking of ripe apples in the McGovern orchard.
Three of the group partaking of ripe apples in the McGovern orchard.

More information about McGovern Park on our Find-a-Park page.

A Walk in the Park is held on the first Friday of each month. The next walk, on Dec 6, will be at Lake Park, meeting at Locust St and Lake Dr. (The location has been changed from what was previously published.)

For more information about A Walk in the Park, including a schedule of upcoming walks, go to the Milwaukee Parks Foundation website.

Note: The first A Walk in the Park took place in 2023. This is the second installment in The Natural Realm that features the program. To read the first installment, click here.

Photographer’s note: I’ve taken many more photos of the parks featured in these stories than could fit into the blog posts. You can see additional selections and get a broader sense of how beautiful these parks are by going to my Flickr album. ~ Eddee

Related stories:

Photo essay: 3K walk in Sherman Park kicks off Healthy County Challenge

Accessibility is front and center for the Wehr Nature Center Healthy County Challenge!

Mangan Woods: A surprising hidden gem shaped by the glaciers!

An Apple Orchard is Thriving in McGovern Park!

The featured photo at the top is of the beach at Doctors Park. Danielle Pahlisch is a Community Engagement Coordinator for Milwaukee County Parks. Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks. The Milwaukee County Parks Department is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.