Our Home in Washington Park
Washington Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, is a nearly 135 acre home to a wide diversity of birds, wildlife and vegetation. Host to a large lagoon and natural area, it is a beautiful place to get outdoors. Our branch is located in the Community Building/Washington Pavilion on the lagoon on the north east side of the park (Location address: 1859 N. 40th St.; our Lisbon address is for our mail) Our branch isn’t the whole building, just the north end of it. Click here to find detailed directions to our Center.
This unassuming building is a busy place!
Visit our Center to find:
- Our staff! We are happy to show you around and help you get oriented to our programs and park.
- Our Young Scientists Club! Every weekday we have exciting afterschool programs for kids and families. Join our Young Scientists Club as we go on scientific explorations, do yoga exercises, plant native plants, harvest our food or remove invasive plant species.
- Native Wisconsin Animal Room. Have you ever wanted to get close to a turtle? Befriend a frog? Visit the Center's Native Wisconsin Animal Room to find turtles, snakes and frogs. Ask a staff member for a schedule of when you can help feed or meet the animals up close.
- Nature guides! We have tree, tracks, plant, insect and bird id guides for you to use as you explore the park. Make a game out of finding as many animal signs as you can in the park.
- Equipment lending. Members can borrow our boats, fishing poles, shovels, snowshoes and ice skates. Contact Laura at (414) 344-5460 or lgronek@urbanecologycenter.org for more information.
- Outdoor adventure opportunities! Of course the real reason to visit the Center is to get outdoors. Check our newsletter for a list of canoeing, fishing and hiking programs at the Center. Also to ask our staff if there are any spontaneous adventures planned for the day.
History
If we could create the best possible scenario for urban environmental education, every city in the world would have multiple neighborhood ecology centers. Within these communities, hordes of environmentally responsible adults would serve as mentors to thousands of children, encouraging free play and nature exploration.
We took a small step toward this vision in the fall of 2007 when we opened our first satellite Center in Washington Park. This project is our first “field test” for a model we think can be replicated throughout the county and around the world.
Washington Park is surrounded by a community of people looking to revitalize their neighborhood park, preserving it from crime and neglect. We are a proud partner of many community organizions working towards a peaceful and beautiful park.
Why Washington Park?
In 2004, a team of students from UW-Milwaukee’s Geography Department (Peter Strand, Wen Lin and Jayoung Cho) assessed green spaces in Milwaukee, using criteria we identified as keys to our success in Riverside Park. In their final assessment of the best green spaces for urban environmental education, Washington Park topped this list.
After discussions with Sue Black, Director of Milwaukee County Parks of beginning a program at the park, we were invited to meetings with County Parks, Lisbon Avenue Neighborhood Development, Local Initiative Service Corporation, Neighbors United for Washington Park, Washington Park Partners and the Washington Park Beat. Since Washington Park is four miles from Riverside Park, we will have seamless coverage from Lake Michigan all the way to Wauwatosa!
