Nature's gems in miniature

A park doesn't have to be a million-acre Yellowstone to be a star. It doesn't have to be a 130-acre Lake Park to be a sanctuary.
Tiny parks can offer as much as their big cousins. The Milwaukee area is football jersey dotted with havens smaller than 10 acres, some little-known but well-beloved.
"We call our smaller parks 'neighborhood parks,' and they help to balance out the gold-medal-winning park system," said Milwaukee County parks director Sue Black. "These neighborhood parks are a great place to read a book, fly a kite, play catch, enjoy a picnic or just sit back and take a break from the hustle and bustle of today's busy lifestyle."
These little oases shine because they possess a rare view, a slice of beach or a glimpse of days gone by. Here are some of the area's fairest micro-parks:
Uncas Playfield S. 3rd and Uncas streets
So hidden it doesn't even have an exact address, this 5-acre haven indeed may be what City of Milwaukee Recreation Department staff like to call it: the nicest little park that no one knows about.
Recently updated, the park sports freshly painted basketball and tennis courts along with a reassuringly old-school baseball diamond. New slides and swings beckon.
Amble across the park lawns to find the perfect spot to spread a blanket and read. Better yet, just lay back and enjoy one of the best places around to watch planes take off from Mitchell International Airport.
Clinton E. and Bernice K. Rose Park 3045 N. King Drive
So much to do in such a little space - nine acres in all. Named in honor of longtime county supervisor and park commissioner Clinton Rose and county supervisor Bernice Rose, the park has a senior center that offers a full line-up of activities.
"People like the center - the exercise room, the sewing area, the movies that they show," said Robert Whiteside, a frequent park visitor.
Outside, the park contains a lighted softball field, basketball courts and play equipment. On hot days, a wading pool is a cool retreat from city heat for kids all around the neighborhood.
Clas Park N. 9th and W. Wells streets
Named for architect Alfred C. Clas, this 1 acre of Miami Dolphins jersey green space adjacent to the Milwaukee County Courthouse is a wondrous city refuge.
The spray of its fountain creates one of the most refreshing spots in Milwaukee.
"The water is so cool and nice here," said Stressica Nelson, who sat down on the fountain edge with her 2-year-old, Khalil, one hot day. "I love to tell my baby to listen to the water."
Benches, tables, sculpture and flowers offer beauty and peace in the midst of urban bustle.
Dousman Stagecoach Inn Park 1075 Pilgrim Parkway, Brookfield
This 2-acre historic site is just big enough to create a time machine back to the 19th century.
Stroll the grounds, and you'll feel as if you're living in Wisconsin pioneer days. Check out the Greek Revival inn, the icehouse, the wagon shop, tool house and a section of the famed wood-plank toll road.
The buildings are open only from 1 to 4 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month through October, but the grounds are open daily for visitors who just like to stroll the site. For details visit
Highland Park 4000 W. Highland Blvd.
Just a few steps away from MillerCoors Brewing Co. and the traffic flow along Highland Blvd., this 3-acre sliver of a park seems to be protected against the din by some invisible shield.
Enter here and forget anything but the birds, the greenery, the swings and the slide. That's what 2-year-old Ladora Diggins does. Said her father Steven Anderson: "She loves the swings best. But we come here to keep her away from the TV. Michelle Obama talks about childhood obesity, so we're out exercising."
Back Bay Park 2315 E. Back Bay St.
This park packs a heap of Minnesota Vikings jersey enjoyment - both man-made and natural - into its 6 acres. Well-kept lawns make it "a great place for a picnic," said Anna Malin, who comes here with her children.
The tot lot equipment keeps kids absorbed. But for adventuresome adults, the real draw may be the park's rare view. Tip-toe up to the bluff's edge to gaze across at Lake Michigan and take a dizzying look at the trail that leads down the bluff.
Eble Park 19400 W. Blue Mound Road, Brookfield
The homestead of Florence and Roy Eble now offers 2 acres of tranquility for visitors trying to escape the roar of Blue Mound Road traffic. Tables welcome picnickers.
The park's glory is the garden, tended by such master horticulturalists as Eileen Rudnick. The gardeners tend herbs, vegetables, perennials and a romantic "tussie mussie garden" that sprouts the kind of flowers a 19th-century beau might have given his sweetie.
The barn, fieldstone outbuildings and rock walkway also evoke a time when folks spent more time communing with nature in the area than they did shopping at strip malls.
"We like to say Eble Park is a green oasis in an ocean of concrete and steel," said Rudnick.
Big Bay Park 5000 N. Lake Drive, Whitefish Bay
Bring your walking shoes to hike down - and don't forget, hike back up - the steep and winding asphalt path through this 8 1/2 -acre treasure. Then kick off those shoes to dig your toes down into the sand beach or clamber over the riprapping. For a Zen experience, walk onto the cheap nfl jerseys concrete pier far out on the waters. Listen to the sound of the lapping waves surrounding you.
"This park is small, but we come here every year. The water is so clear and warm," said park visitor Julie Kersting.