# Urban Ecology Center Riverside Park - Milwaukee River Autumn Discovery & Outdoor Gear Loan > Place to go for families in the Milwaukee–Waukesha area (WI). Times are Central Time. - When: Open on its own schedule - Dates: Starts Sat, Nov 28 - Where: Urban Ecology Center - Riverside Park, 1500 E Park Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53211 - Ages: All ages (Indoor spiral slide, live animal rooms, and kid-sized outdoor exploration) - Price: Free community admission to nature center; Membership provides free family outdoor gear loans - Organizer: Urban Ecology Center - Official page: https://urbanecologycenter.org/our-branches/riverside-park.html - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/milwaukee/activities/urban-ecology-center-riverside-park-milwaukee-river-autumn-discovery-a--listing-bb7ee34f9026ab4e97e4e3cd ## About Located on Milwaukee's vibrant East Side along the Milwaukee River Greenway, the Urban Ecology Center at Riverside Park is an innovative ecological community hub. Built with green architecture featuring a passive solar design, secret indoor slide, and live native animals, it serves as the launching pad for 15 acres of wooded trails and riverbanks. Families can explore riverside loops, search for migrating songbirds, and test their balance on natural log scrambles. The center's community gear lending room enables member families to check out outdoor equipment like walking poles and birding binoculars for Thanksgiving weekend adventures. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: Hard-packed limestone paths near the center and paved Oak Leaf Trail are easily stroller-friendly; lower river trails have some dirt roots. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Warm, welcoming indoor community room with rocking chairs, quiet reading nooks, and accessible family restrooms with changing tables. • Age Suitability: All ages; kids especially love the two-story indoor spiral slide and turtle tanks. • Sensory Tips: Engaging hands-on touch stations, gentle babbling sounds along the Milwaukee River, and natural cedar wood aromas inside the center. ## Similar picks in Milwaukee - [Urban Ecology Center Washington Park - Freshwater Ecology & Autumn Lagoon Walks](https://grassyknees.com/milwaukee/activities/urban-ecology-center-washington-park-freshwater-ecology-and-autumn-lag--listing-47905d489fac794f295e97b5) — Open on its own schedule · Urban Ecology Center - Washington Park · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. 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