Kaszube's Park

Kaszube's Park is a unique and historically significant public space located on Jones Island in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At just 0.15 acres (610 square meters), it holds the distinction of being Milwaukee's smallest park. The park serves as a memorial to the Kashubian immigrants who once inhabited Jones Island, creating a thriving fishing village in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Situated amidst an industrial landscape, Kaszube's Park is nestled between a road salt storage silo and a shipping depot. The park's location offers a stark contrast to its surroundings, with its small patch of grass and trees standing out against the backdrop of rail tracks, shipping containers, and mountains of road salt.

The park features minimal amenities but carries significant historical value. It includes a picnic table, an anchor as a nod to the area's fishing heritage, and a few scattered trees - the only remaining trees on Jones Island. A historical marker placed in the park provides information about the multi-ethnic fishing village that once flourished on the peninsula.

Despite its small size, Kaszube's Park plays an important role in preserving the memory of the Kashubian community that was eventually displaced to make way for industrial development. The park serves as a reminder of Milwaukee's diverse ethnic history and the transformations that have occurred along its freshwater coast.

Access to Kaszube's Park can be challenging due to its location within an industrial area. Visitors need to follow signs to the "Port of Milwaukee" via Carferry Drive to find this hidden piece of Milwaukee history.