Welcome to our remodeled branch in

Washington Park

1859 N 40 St
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 344-5460

Tues - Thurs: Noon - 7pm
Fri: Noon - 5pm
Sat: 9am - 3pm
Sun & Mon: Closed

On this Page:

Nature Within Reach

Our Washington Park branch continues to bring our neighbors into the beauty of the park. Through our dynamic new addition even more students, teens, and adults can come together to connect with each other and nearby nature.

New spaces in our building include:

  • A tower -- check out the park and surrounding neighborhoods
  • Indoor slide -- a fast way to get to the first floor
  • Ecology Room -- filled with fun facts, an interactive cart, a giant wheel that takes you through the seasons, and you can measure yourself up to 5 native Wisconsin birds

Be sure to explore the park too

  • Fish in the lagoon
  • Look for our orchard
  • Grab an activity backpack for self-guided fun
  • Return during every season to discover what's new -- look for birds in the spring and summer, animal tracks in the fall and winter

And so much more!

New Place, Same Location

It's almost like going home, except home has gotten bigger. Use this map to find the Washington Park branch.

Visit
Riverside Park branch roof covered in solar panels.

Learn our sustainable practices

♻️ Guided Sustainability Tour - Inside Sustainable Design at the UEC

Bring your friends, corporate group, or neighbors and learn how thoughtful design and everyday practices can create a more sustainable future. This tour will explore intentionally designed building features, innovative systems, and organizational practices that reduce environmental impact and support healthy communities. Along the way, you'll gain practical ideas and inspiration for incorporating sustainable practices into your own home, workplace, and everyday life. 

Reserve your tour today

Featured Upcoming Programs & Events

Washington Park Programs

Latest from our Blog

From First Butterfly Catches to Rainy-Day Adventures

By
Urban Ecology
Center
on
June 10, 2026
Because of your support, children across Milwaukee are experiencing the kind of summer that stays with them forever: climbing their first tree, catching butterflies, and discovering that even when it rains, the adventure doesn’t stop.

Meet The Artists of Washington Park

By
Urban Ecology
Center
on
October 10, 2025
When you walk into the Urban Ecology Center at Washington Park, you’re greeted by color, movement, and story. The walls themselves have come alive. Two local artists, Tia Richardson and Mi Salgado, helped transform the space into a celebration of connection — to nature, to community, and to one another.

What Happened at Washington Park?

By
Urban Ecology
Center
on
February 4, 2025
The rebuild of the Urban Ecology Center’s Washington Park location officially began in the fall of 2023. And it reached it's cumulation January of 2025. Here's the story of UEC 's Washington Park branch remodel and re-opening!.

How 'Wood' You Like to Wear Your Name Tag?

By
Michelle
Milford
on
October 16, 2023
When I started at the UEC, I realized fairly quickly there was going to be a steep learning curve. [...] What I had to learn was the jargon, the slang, the lingo. And all the acronyms - we love an acronym here.

Kids, Fish, and Life Lessons at the Washington Park Fishing Club

By
Clare
Eigenbrode
on
August 17, 2023
The first time LaShaun Taylor brought her son and granddaughter to a Fishing Club event at the Urban Ecology Center’s Washington Park branch, her son, who is six, was crestfallen when the outing ended before he was able to catch a fish. That was all forgotten after the family’s second visit when he succeeded in catching and releasing five fish in one afternoon.
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