Harbor View Plaza

Harbor View Plaza is a waterfront public park located at the east end of Greenfield Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Opened in July 2019, it is the first waterfront park in the city's Harbor District. The plaza overlooks Milwaukee's inner harbor, providing visitors with scenic views of the working port and Lake Michigan.

The park was designed to connect the industrial heritage of the area with the needs of nearby residents. It features a distinctive 40-foot-tall orange lookout tower made from repurposed shipping containers, reflecting the area's maritime history. This tower includes multiple levels with benches, ship's wheels, portholes, and lookout points, culminating in a red spiral slide that offers an exciting descent.

A key feature of Harbor View Plaza is its interactive water play area. This space includes stone blocks and basins of varying heights, interspersed with wooden cubes and troughs filled with small rocks. Two water pumps allow visitors to control the flow of water through the area, creating an engaging and educational experience about water movement.

The park also includes a public kayak and canoe launch, providing rare water access in this part of the city. This feature allows both experienced paddlers and newcomers to explore Milwaukee's waterways directly from the park.

Harbor View Plaza hosts various events throughout the year, including Harbor Fest and Summer en la Plaza, featuring concerts, art exhibitions, nature shows, and dramatic performances. These events contribute to the park's role as a community gathering space.

The park's design prioritizes accessibility, with rubberized flooring around the play structure and concrete paths throughout. While the park is fenced on three sides, visitors should note that the boat launch area is open to the water and requires supervision for children.