Children in Milwaukee have a new place to play after Milwaukee Recreation marked the reopening of the renovated Metcalfe Playfield with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 1.
The playfield, at 2350 North 33rd Street, has undergone a full-scale refurbishment designed to create a safer and more versatile space for children, families and the wider neighbourhood.
The improvements include modern playground equipment, a full basketball court, a splash pad, a cooling plaza, a lighted football field and a multi-purpose lawn. The fieldhouse has also been renovated, with upgraded facilities and flexible community space.
New walking paths, pedestrian lighting, benches, tables and shade structures have been added across the site. The project also features native planting, shade trees and green infrastructure intended to help manage stormwater, alongside granite pavers reclaimed from historic Milwaukee streets.
Annie Kubes, senior director of Milwaukee Recreation, said the renovation had turned the playfield into “a true hub of activity and connection for the neighbourhood”. She said it was now a place for children to play, families to gather and residents to stay active.
Major work began in 2025 after community engagement sessions held during the summer and autumn of 2023 helped shape the design and the facilities included in the redevelopment.
