Whitnall Park
{{Short description|Park in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States of America}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Whitnall Park
| image = Whitnall Park pond.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Whitnall Park pond
| map =
| map_width =
| type =
| location = Hales Corners, Wisconsin
| nearest_city = Milwaukee
| coordinates = {{coord|42.927|-88.034|type:landmark_region:US-WI_dim:3000|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{cvt|640|acre}}
| created = 1924
| operator =
| visitation_num =
| status = Open
| designation =
| open =
}}
Whitnall Park is the largest park in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. It is located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. The park was named for Charles B. Whitnall. Major work in the park was completed during the Great Depression through the Public Works Administration.
History
The planning for the park began in 1924. The park was named for Charles B. Whitnall. Whitnall was called the father of the Milwaukee County Park System.{{cite book |last1=Allison |first1=R. Bruce |title=Every root an anchor: Wisconsin's famous and historic trees |date=2005 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society Press |location=Madison, WI |isbn=978-0870203701 |pages=86–87 |edition=Second |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z0edAwAAQBAJ&dq=whitnall+park+largest&pg=PA86 |access-date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714215336/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Every_Root_an_Anchor/Z0edAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=whitnall+park+largest&pg=PA86&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }} The plans for the park called for a golf course, picnic areas and an Arboretum.{{cite book |title=Milwaukee County (Wis.). Regional Planning Dept |date=1924 |publisher=County Park Commission |location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin |page=38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A9IMAQAAIAAJ&dq=whitnall+park+largest&pg=RA6-PA38 |access-date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714215332/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Report/A9IMAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=whitnall+park+largest&pg=RA6-PA38&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }} Many of park's structures, were constructed during the 1930s and much of the park labor was provided by the Civilian Conservation Corps program. Much of the landscaping was completed between 1935 and 1927 by The National Youth Association. The group was active in the park, working on the gardens and picnic areas.{{cite book |last1=Albano |first1=Laurie Muench |title=Milwaukee County parks |date=2007 |publisher=Arcadia Pub |location=Charleston, SC |isbn=978-0738550848 |pages=81–106 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n6Qb6OmzaEIC&q=whitnall+park+largest |access-date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714215330/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Milwaukee_County_Parks/n6Qb6OmzaEIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=whitnall+park+largest&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}
The park is {{cvt|640|acre}} and it was originally called Hales Corners Park. The park covers one square mile, making it Milwaukee County's largest park.{{cite book |last1=Gurda |first1=John |title=Milwaukee : a city built on water |date=2018 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society Press |location=Madison, WI |isbn=978-0870208652 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lKdhDwAAQBAJ&dq=whitnall+park+largest&pg=PT204 |access-date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714215330/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Milwaukee/lKdhDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=whitnall+park+largest&pg=PT204&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}
==Park features==
- Boerner Botanical Gardens which were The named for Alfred Boerner: the designer of the original gardens.Milwaukee County Parks, [http://county.milwaukee.gov/Tour10499.htm Tour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417025034/http://county.milwaukee.gov/Tour10499.htm |date=2014-04-17 }}.
- Wehr Nature Center which is a 220 acre section of protected land in Whitnall Park.{{cite news |title=Wehr Nature Center |url=https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Wehr-Nature-Center |access-date=14 July 2022 |publisher=Milwaukee County Parks |date=2022 |archive-date=2 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502120651/https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Wehr-Nature-Center |url-status=live }}
- The park contains the state's oldest sugar maples (270 years) and other unique trees.
- A portion of the Oak Leaf Trail Whitnall Loop runs through the park.{{Cite map |author=((OpenStreetMap contributors)) |date=2023-11-12 |title=Whitnall Park |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/42.9284/-88.0351 |website=OpenStreetMap |access-date=2023-11-12}}
See also
References
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{{Milwaukee}}
Category:Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Category:County parks in Wisconsin
Category:Protected areas of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin