Explore the best Milwaukee has to offer with VISITMilwaukee and OnMilwaukee this summer by "Urban Exploring." We'll be sharing parks to hike, walls to climb, rivers to paddle, trails to bike and so much more. Be a tourist in your own town and experience it with us!
Located in Wauwatosa’s Hart Park, the Tosa Skatepark is a community favorite for kids and adults alike. The project came about when the non-profit organization Tosa Skateboarders United, complete with kids and adults, decided to build a fun, safe and beautiful place where skating and biking youth could practice their skills.
There are different types of areas to practice just about every sport, so why shouldn’t there be an area to skate? They wanted a park designed to cater to all skill levels and ages and would promote long-term participation in skating and biking, and that’s just what they got.
Upon arriving at the Tosa Skate Park, the first thing you realize is the open space. It’s a great place to sit around and feel the breeze as you watch the dedication and perseverance of the young skaters. To help gain an optimal view, there are benches located all around the plaza.
My dog Rocky was undoubtedly fascinated by the skaters and hollowed spaces in the ground, so much so that he attempted to hop into the pit. Let me tell you, these look like they’re about six feet deep, so you can imagine how I frantically dragged him away from the edge.
Rocky’s one of those sensitive fellas that would probably freak out once he realized he couldn’t get out. I didn’t want to have to climb in and attempt to pick him up as he squirmed in discomfort, so we moved a little farther away from the action. Right next to the skate plaza was a perfectly placed tree perched upon a mini hill – a place of perfection.
As I sat under my little tree of life, I pondered life and its wonders as Rocky grazed and rolled around in the grass (one of his favorite pastimes). Looking onto the kids at the skatepark, I realized just how much fun they were having. They effortlessly shared the space and communicated with one another; they gave encouragement and helped the younger ones get up if they had a rough tumble. This skatepark certainly promotes unity within the community.
Zoe Benjamin, currently a senior at UW-Milwaukee, was raised in the South suburbs of Chicago. She is a foodie, an avid traveler and music junkie, with just the right amount of nerdiness to top it all off.
Growing up in a large Jamaican family exposed her to a lifestyle full of food, laughter and pride. Zoe’s appreciation for her family’s eclectic nature led her to celebrate the differences in others. She just so happens to especially enjoy the study of food, seeing that eating is her favorite pastime.
Ever since she was able to get on a plane by herself, Zoe has taken the liberty of traveling to every place within her reach -- whether that be the next state over, or across the seas. Her wanderlust has taken her to 10 different countries, with France being her favorite. Nothing excites her more than French food and wine. Zoe hopes to absorb and share as much culture as she can so that the world may become that much more accepting of all the bountiful diversity in the world.
