Kayla's Playground

Kayla's Playground at Franklin Woods is the kind of park that makes you realize how underwhelming most playgrounds are. With 1,212 Google reviews averaging 4.8 stars, it's earned a reputation as one of the best destination playgrounds in the Milwaukee metro — and it's completely free.

The playground was designed around inclusive play — meaning kids of all physical abilities can access and enjoy the equipment together. In practice, this means the structures are more thoughtfully designed than a standard playground: ramps instead of just ladders, ground-level sensory elements, wide platforms where kids can play side by side. But the inclusive design also means the equipment is larger, more varied, and more interesting than what you'd find at a typical neighborhood park.

Kids who don't have mobility limitations genuinely love it because there's just more to do.

The scale is what impresses visitors who haven't been before. This isn't a few swings and a slide — it's an elaborate multi-structure play area set within Franklin Woods, a natural area with trails that extend the outing if your family wants to walk after playing.

For families with a mix of abilities — say, a typically developing 6-year-old and a sibling with a physical disability — Kayla's Playground is specifically the place that makes both kids' experiences equivalent. That's rarer than it should be, and it's part of why this playground gets such passionate word-of-mouth.

Peak summer weekend afternoons are legitimately crowded. The playground's reputation has spread far enough that it draws families from across the metro. Weekday mornings are dramatically quieter. Bring snacks and water — there's no food on site — and plan for a 2-3 hour visit if the weather cooperates.