The David F. Schulz Aquatic Center at Lincoln Park brings the latest in waterpark fun to Milwaukee's north side.
The $8.4 million Milwaukee County Parks Department facility boasts two water slides -- a tube slide and a body slide --, the only outdoor lazy river in southeastern Wisconsin, a zero-depth pool with all sorts of interactive water features and brand new locker rooms and concession facilities. (See photo gallery.)
The facility is named after former Milwaukee County Parks Director and County Executive David F. Schulz, who died in 2007. Schulz was a big proponent of the county parks, and the pools in particular.
Joe Roszak, chief of recreation for the Milwaukee County Parks Department, said Lincoln Park, 1301 W. Hampton Ave., was chosen as the site for the new waterpark for a variety of reasons.
"We wanted to provide a swimming facility on the north side," Roszak said. "The south side has Cool Waters (in Greenfield Park) and Kosciuszko Park. We looked at a lot of different parks, but this one's just beautiful and on the river."
Lincoln Park also is in a prime location to serve the north side and the North Shore suburbs, as there are no outdoor swimming facilities in the area. Roszak said the park also is located along a bus line and just west of I-43 at Hampton Avenue.
Roszak said guests at the park will find fun options for people of all ages. For the littlest kids, there's a zero-depth pool with interactive water features, including a bucket drop, fountains, and other splashable toys. For adults and older children, there is a deep well with two diving boards, lap lanes, the water slides and the lazy river.
"The water slide tower is the tallest in the Milwaukee County system," Roszak said, adding that a guest from the company that built the slides said the body slide at the Schulz Aquatic Center is one of the best he's experienced.
The park is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays. Roszak said it has a capacity for up to 981 guests and plenty of parking.
Guests can bring in strollers and wagons to cart kids and pool supplies, but carry-ins of food and beverages are not permitted. The concession area offers snacks and meals for prices comparable to other areas, with cheeseburgers at about $5 and kids' meals at $5.75. Soda, juice and beer also are sold at the concession area.
Roszak said the park does not allow floatation devices for kids that are not Coast Guard approved, so no water wings or that type of thing will be permitted. Young children can wear floatation devices if they are clearly marked as Coast Guard approved.
Prices at Schulz Aquatic Center will be the same as Cool Waters: $6.50 for adults, $5 for kids and seniors and $4 for night-time swimming (after 6 p.m.) and children 3 and younger. Season passes are available.
See our photo gallery of the David F. Schulz Aquatic Center, and check out our full listing of all area beaches and pools.
For more information on the David F. Schulz Aquatic Center, visit the Milwaukee County Parks Department website.
