Glendale Outdoor Recreation - Welcome to Glendale

Come for the trails.
Stay for the Parks.

Outdoor enthusiasts love Glendale. Through all the seasons, there are many outlets for outdoor recreation in our North Shore Community. The Great Lake Michigan is less than a mile East. The Milwaukee River runs through the heart of the city where the rushing waterfall welcomes fishing enthusiasts from around the country. The 120-Mile Oak Leaf Trail embraces Glendale and offers a top trailhead.

Enjoy biking, snow-shoeing, archery, sledding, fishing, canoeing, hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, dog walking, baseball, soccer, frisbee golf, volleyball, and more!

The Milwaukee River

The Milwaukee River winds through Glendale. It attracts fly-fishers from around the Midwest as the Steelhead and Brown Trout spawn North. Watch the trout jump the waterfall as spectators gather to see the bi-annual wonder. You’ll find the Milwaukee River at Kletzsch Park. The viewing benches are located on the Milwaukee River Parkway, just North of Bender Road in Glendale.

The Oak Leaf Trail

Milwaukee’s grandest trail, The Oak Leaf Trail, surrounds Glendale. The 120-Mile Trail travels through thirteen Metro-Milwaukee communities. It’s free to access and ideal for hiking, biking, or cross-country skiing. Hundreds of people travel the trail daily to reach landmark destinations such as the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Bavarian Bierhaus, The War Memorial, and more.

You can hop on the Oak Leaf Trail at the Richard E. Maslowski Park Trailhead (2200 W. Bender Road) You’ll find the trailhead at the very West end of Bender Road near the parking lot. It’s adjacent to the Richard E. Maslowski Community Park which includes: Indoor Restrooms, Free Parking Lot (Illuminated at night and police patrolled), the David Hobbs for the People Community Room, Sprecher Outdoor Oasis (Beer Garden and Snack Bar), MSOE & Nicolet Baseball Field, the Johnson Controls Outdoor Amphitheater, the Orthopedic Hospital of Wisconsin War Memorial, and a large, accessible playground.

The Oak Leaf Trail also parallels the Milwaukee River at Kletzsch Park. You’ll see signs indicating the trail on Milwaukee River Parkway.

NEW DEVELOPMENT ON 4/30/2020

A section of the Oak Leaf Trail’s Zip Line (purple line) between Silver Spring and Bender Road is now closed for the foreseeable future, due to a growing sink hole. Follow the on-street detour shown below.

This sink hole is caused by a collapsing stone culvert, built over 100 years ago, beneath the trail. This sink hole is dangerous and is now barricaded for the safety of all trail users, so please stay away.

Milwaukee County Parks is focusing on maintaining safety and actively seeking funding to repair the underlying problem. Parks has applied for grants to make the approximately $600,000 repair.

You can still use the Trailhead at Maslowski Park…but, you must go North on the Trail.

Kletzsch Park

This beloved Milwaukee County Park is in the heart of Glendale. It’s located along the Milwaukee River Parkway between Green Tree Road and Bender Road.

You can reserve a shelter at https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Plan/Rent-a-Venue.

It’s vast green spaces welcome a variety of activities including:

Fishing on the Milwaukee River
Sledding on the Snow Hill
Archery at the outdoor range
Dog Park (Green Tree Rd/Milwaukee River Pkwy)
Frisbee Golf
Soccer Fields
LaCrosse Fields
Baseball Fields
Hiking Trails
Bird Watching
Volleyball
Children’s Playground
Picnic Tables

The Richard E. Maslowski Community Park

Glendale’s newest park is located at 2200 W. Bender Road. It’s the center of activity during the summer months with an outdoor snack bar & beer garden. Concerts occur weekly at the outdoor amphitheater. Children play on the state-of-the-art, ADA-compliant playground. Families gather for socializing and picnics. The fully-furnished Community Room is for rent and ideal for birthday parties, showers, and reunions. Some take their bikes, accessing from the new Trailhead located at the West end of Bender Road.

The Richard E. Maslowski Park offers a variety of outdoor and indoor features ideal for families. Glendale is grateful to the many businesses and organizations which sponsored features including:

The Sprecher Brewing Outdoor Oasis (Snack Bar/Beer Garden)
The Johnson Controls Outdoor Amphitheatre
The Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin War Memorial (illuminated at night)
The David Hobbs for the People Community Room
The Possibility Playground for Children
MSOE & Nicolet High School Raiders Baseball Field
Outdoor Parking Lot…patrolled and illuminated at night
Trailhead to the Oak Leaf Trail

To rent facilities at the park visit http://www.glendale-wi.org/244/Glendale-Community-Park

Snow Hill

Winter comes alive in Glendale!

Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding. Glendale has one of the only sled hills in the North Shore. You’ll find the snow hill at the tip of Kletzsch Park, on the Milwaukee River Parkway. (Just South of Green Tree Road) Or, just look for all the cars parked along the road during a beautiful snowy day. The hill is free to use…just bring your own sleds and dress warm!

Archery

You’ll find the free, outdoor archery range at Glendale’s Kletzsch Park. It’s located on the Milwaukee River Park Way. Come practice your aim…at your own pace and preferred distance on seven hay-stack targets. Provide your own paper target to track your progress. Open all year ’round. Please shoot responsibly!

Come for the trails. Stay for the Parks.