Milwaukee Recreation celebrates newly renovated Emigh Playfield

On June 22, Milwaukee Recreation hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the completed renovation of Emigh Playfield (495 E. Morgan Ave.).

Completed in fall 2025, the renovated playfield includes:

• Modern playground equipment
• A state-of-the-art splash pad
• Painted play zones and new basketball courts
• Comfortable plaza seating, shade structures, and updated lighting
• Upgraded walking paths
• Wheel elements
• Tennis courts
• Dedicated pickleball courts

Major renovations began in 2024 and were guided by extensive community engagement sessions in 2022-2023. These changes aim to create a vibrant, inclusive, community-focused hub in the Tippecanoe neighborhood.

“This reopening is a significant step in our ongoing journey to reimagine all 52 of our Milwaukee playfields,” Milwaukee Recreation senior director Annie Kubes said.

Beyond the success at Emigh, the department continues to make progress on the next phase of its citywide playfield revitalization project. Renovations are currently underway at Lincoln Playfield, Metcalfe Playfield, and Browning Playfield, with community engagement sessions scheduled for future renovations at Ohio Playfield and Holt Playfield.

"This is where memories are made," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. "This is where families gather, where neighbors gather, where you can come together and meet new friends and create these wonderful, wonderful opportunities on playfields all across our city."

June 22 also marked the start of the summer playgrounds program, which will be available at 16 sites this summer, including Emigh Playfield. From 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, Milwaukee Recreation staff will lead safe, supervised, engaging activities for ages 6-17 on the playground. This program allows young people to spend time with friends, stay active outdoors, and beat the heat with splash pads and wading pools. Free meals are available each day for youth. The public is invited to join Milwaukee Recreation for the grand reopening at Emigh Playfield to experience a day with our play leaders on the playground.