The park was designed as part of a Depression-era Work Projects Administration initiative.
It contains the 200-acre F.H. Bong State Recreation Area nearby, though Whitnall itself functions as the primary hub for the Milwaukee County Arboretum.
The park is home to the Whitnall Park Golf Course, which opened for play in 1937.
The Boerner Botanical Gardens within the park are named after Alfred L. Boerner, the original landscape architect for the Milwaukee County Park System.
Whitnall Park is the largest park in the Milwaukee County Park System, covering approximately 640 acres of land. It serves as the home to the Boerner Botanical Gardens, which features extensive formal plant collections and trial gardens. The park contains the Wehr Nature Center, providing educational programming and access to a 200-acre arboretum. Visitors utilize miles of paved and unpaved trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing in winter. The Root River flows through the park, creating diverse riparian habitats and wetlands. It houses an 18-hole golf course maintained by the county. The area was developed during the 1930s as a major public works project. Natural features include oak-hickory forests, sedge meadows, and prairie remnants.
The elevated overlook bridge near the Wehr Nature Center providing a panoramic view of the wetlands and arboretum.
Visit the Wehr Nature Center first to pick up trail maps, as GPS signals can be spotty in the denser wooded sections.
Check the Milwaukee County Parks event calendar before arrival, as sections of the park are frequently reserved for community festivals or private events.
Attempting to walk between the botanical gardens and the nature center; they are separated by enough distance that driving between parking lots is more practical.
Boerner Botanical Gardens and Wehr Nature Center operate on seasonal schedules, often with reduced access during winter months.
Leash laws are strictly enforced for pets; stay on marked trails to protect the fragile prairie and forest ecosystems.
