Milwaukee's best

City named Sports Illustrated Sportstown for Wisconsin

By Andrew Schulman

When most people think of sports in Wisconsin, the Packers, Badgers, Brewers and bratwurst-laden tailgates come to mind. But if you’ve taken part in one of the many programs offered by Milwaukee Recreation, you’d certainly have to add the organization to that list.

Milwaukee Recreation, whose official name is the Milwaukee Public Schools Department of Recreation and Community Services, truly offers something for everyone, which has helped earn the city the title of Sports Illustrated Sportstown for the state of Wisconsin.

Established in 1911 to oversee sports and recreation programs both in the school system and for the community as a whole, the organization has unique acccess to school facilities during non-school hours. So, while schools in many towns close in the evenings and on weekends, Milwaukee Recreation is able to keep the lights on into the night for sports and recreation activities throughout the year.

“With our connection to the school system, and use of school facilities, we really look at our programs as a way to bring the community into the schools,” said Mary Gissal, Milwaukee Public Schools Recreation Director.

And do they ever.

Last year, thousands of city residents, aged 6 months to 90 years, participated in one of the plethora of activities and special events that the organization put together. From youth swimming to senior (55-plus) softball leagues to everything in between -- including high school interscholastic athletics, adult sports (even “Introduction to Curling”), youth track meets -- Milwaukee Recreation has succeeded in developing useful and enjoyable activities for its community. This commitment is also made evident by the 13 community centers located inside the schools as well as a program focused on adaptive athletics, Special Olympics and therapeutic recreation for those with special needs.

Yet even with its wide variety of programs, Milwaukee Recreation is constantly adapting its offerings. The organization recently added adult kickball leagues and tweaked some of its adult sports to include shorter, less-competitive leagues alongside its standard competitive groups.

“It’s really our responsibility to provide as many opportunities for as wide an age range of people as possible,” said Bill Molbeck, Milwaukee Public Schools Commissioner of Sports and Athletics. “That is what makes this organization successful.”

That success has made Milwaukee Recreation an integral part of the Wisconsin sports scene and Milwaukee a Sports Illustrated Sportstown.