Milwaukee is facing a heat wave. Here's how you can stay cool.

Drew Dawson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·3 min read
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Dionte Williams cools off at the Washington Park splash pad during a heat wave in Milwaukee on July 6, 2020. Milwaukee County Parks opened several wading pools and splash pads early because of the heat. Dangerous heat waves are becoming more common.
Dionte Williams cools off at the Washington Park splash pad during a heat wave in Milwaukee on July 6, 2020. Milwaukee County Parks opened several wading pools and splash pads early because of the heat. Dangerous heat waves are becoming more common.

Unseasonably warm temperatures are coming to Milwaukee this week. If you don't have air conditioning at home, there are other ways to keep cool in the city.

Here's our list of free (and paid) ways to escape the heat.

You can visit some Milwaukee area cooling centers

The Milwaukee Health Department has designated cooling sites for those in need of an escape from the heat. These include community centers, libraries, malls and more.

For a complete list, see here.

There are several wading pools in Milwaukee

Wading pools are for children 8 and under. The city of Milwaukee has seven that are located at:

  • Alcott Park (3751 S. 97th St., Milwaukee)

  • Algonguin Wading Pool (7850 N. 51st St., Brown Deer)

  • Greene Park (4235 S. Lipton Ave., St. Francis)

  • Hales Corner Park (5765 S. New Berlin Rd., Hales Corners)

  • Humboldt Park (3000 South Howell Ave., Milwaukee)

  • Jacobus Park (6501 W. Hillside Ln., Wauwatosa)

  • Lafollette Park (9418 W. Washington St., West Allis)

  • Lindsay Park (4360 N. 87th St., Milwaukee)

  • Mitchell Park (524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee)

  • Pulaski Park of Cudahy (5400 S. Swift Ave., Cudahy)

  • Smith Park (5462 N. 33rd St., Milwaukee)

  • Harriet Tubman Park (4750 N. 48 St., Milwaukee)

  • Wedgewood Park (7201 W. Wedgewood Dr., Milwaukee)

There are other wading pools in the county; however, many are closed for the season already. For up to date wading pool opening information, see here.

Milwaukee area splash pads are free to use

Splash pads in the county are free to use for kids 11 and under and guardians of those accompanying children under 7. Here is a list of splash pads open in Milwaukee as of July 25:

  • Burnham Playfield (1755 S. 32nd St., Milwaukee)

  • Carver Park (911 W. Brown St., Milwaukee)

  • Clarke Square Park (2300 W. Vieau Pl., Milwaukee)

  • Clovernook Playfield (6594 N. Landers St., Milwaukee)

  • Columbia Playfield (1345 W. Columbia St., Milwaukee)

  • Dineen Park (6901 W. Vienna Ave., Milwaukee)

  • Gordon Park (2828 N. Humboldt Blvd., Milwaukee)

  • Lucille Berrien Park (3629 N. 16th St., Milwaukee)

  • Madison Park (9800 W. Glendale Ave., Wauwatosa)

  • Moody Park (2201 W. Auer Ave., Milwaukee)

There are other splash pads in the county; however, many are closed for the season already. For up to date splash pad opening information, see here.

There are some local water parks as well

Check out these Milwaukee County public pools

  • McCarty Park (2657 S. 79th St., West Allis)

  • Sheridan Park (4800 S. Lake Drive, Cudahy)

  • Wilson Park (4001 S. 20th St., Milwaukee)

Visit a Milwaukee County beach

Milwaukee County is home to these beaches along Lake Michigan:

  • Bradford, 2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive

  • McKinley, 1750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive

  • South Shore, 2900 South Shore Drive. (But South Shore is frequently closed to swimming due to E. coli issues.)

  • Atwater, 4000 N. Lake Drive, Shorewood

  • Bay View, 3120 S. Lake Drive.

  • Grant Park, 100 Hawthorne Ave., South Milwaukee

  • Klode, 5900 N. Shore Drive, Whitefish Bay

  • Doctors, 1870 E. Fox Lane, Fox Point

Here are some other tips to stay cool

  • Slow down and limit physical activity

  • Spend time in air-conditioned spaces, such as shopping malls, movie theaters or libraries

  • Don't leave kids or pets in a parked car. Temperatures can become life-threatening within minutes

  • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing

  • Take cool baths or showers. Use wet towels on your skin to cool down

  • Don't rely on fans as primary cooling devices

  • Drink plenty of water

  • Avoid consuming caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which can increase heat effects

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee cooling centers, ways to stay cool during 2023 heat wave