Developed in the first 40 years of the 20th century, The Milwaukee County Parks system was supported by visionary citizens like Charles Whitnall, Emerson Hoyt, and James Currie. Having secured the land for what would become the nationally renowned Milwaukee County Parks, these men were the first champions in the Milwaukee Parks system’s history.

Today, we are at a critical juncture for Hoyt Park and this aging public space is desperately in need of a new generation of champions.

Hoyt Park’s History as a Community Center
The wooded acres of Hoyt Park have historically served residents as the site of the “local swimming hole.” More than 100 years ago, people sought out the banks of the expansive Menomonee River. In the 1920s and 1930s, the community swam in the earth-bottom swimming hole filled each summer by the local fire department.

In 1937, Hoyt Park was entrusted to Milwaukee County and the Civilian Conservation Corps were engaged to help build the pool, which opened in 1939. This new public space for Milwaukee County citizens fulfilled the vision of early parks commissioners and maintained the highest attendance among all county pools for more than 60 years.

The Closing
In 2003, Milwaukee County closed Hoyt Pool citing severe structural problems that made operations too expensive. Hoyt Pool was one of only three outdoor public pools north of I-94 in Milwaukee County, so Wauwatosa residents are now driven to other counties for summer outdoor swimming opportunities.

Now is the opportunity for another generation of visionaries to step forward to leave their legacy, and ensure that community water recreation remains a reality for the families of the 21st century.