Ellsworth Park in Bayside: Your Complete Guide

Ellsworth Park stands as the vibrant heart of Bayside, Wisconsin, offering families and outdoor enthusiasts a remarkable gathering place on Milwaukee's scenic North Shore. As the Village of Bayside's sole municipal park, this 600 E Ellsworth Lane destination packs an impressive array of amenities into one welcoming green space, from newly renovated sports courts to a celebrated summer beer garden series that draws neighbors together under the trees. Whether you're planning a weekend picnic, looking for competitive pickleball, or seeking a playground where kids can explore freely, Ellsworth Park delivers an authentic Wisconsin community experience just twelve miles north of downtown Milwaukee.

Tennis and pickleball courts major upgrade

Ellsworth Park's court facilities underwent a significant transformation in summer 2025, emerging as one of the North Shore's premier racquet sports destinations. The renovation project included comprehensive crack filling, court leveling, and fresh painting that created a completely reconfigured layout designed to meet growing demand for pickleball while preserving quality tennis play.

The west side of the facility now features two full-sized tennis courts equipped with practice bounce boards, perfect for solo drills or warming up before matches. These hard-surface outdoor courts operate on a first-come, first-served basis through the Village's online reservation system at villageofbayside.rezgo.com, which launched in February 2025 to streamline booking. Bayside residents pay just $5 per hour per court, while non-residents can access the facilities for twelve dollars per hour per court. Courts are available from approximately 6:00 AM until 10:00 PM, though since they lack lighting, practical play ends at dusk.

The east side of the complex transformed into six dedicated pickleball courts, a substantial upgrade from the previous two courts that were merely lined onto tennis surfaces. This expansion reflects pickleball's explosive popularity in the community and positions Ellsworth Park as a regional destination for the sport. The same reservation system and fee structure apply, making it easy for groups to book multiple courts for organized play. Private pickleball lessons have become popular at the park, with local coaches offering instruction through platforms like TeachMe.To. For those seeking structured programming, the Nicolet Recreation Department serves Bayside residents with beginner and intermediate pickleball lessons at nearby facilities, typically priced between ninety and one hundred dollars for residents.

Tennis players looking for additional instruction can access programs through the Nicolet Recreation Department, which offers adult lessons and drills at Glen Hills Middle School and Nicolet High School courts. The Milwaukee Tennis League also utilizes Ellsworth Park's courts, having hosted over thirty-five competitive matches at the venue.

The Bayside Beer Garden Series

Few community events capture the spirit of North Shore living quite like the Bayside Beer Garden Series, a beloved tradition that transforms Ellsworth Park into a festive gathering place throughout the warmer months. Partnering with Torzala Brewing Company, the Village of Bayside hosts regular outdoor beer garden events that combine craft beverages, rotating food trucks, and live music in a family-friendly atmosphere.

The 2026 Bayside beer garden season promises an expanded calendar with events scheduled for May 23, June 6, June 20, July 11, July 18, August 1, August 29, and September 12. Standard events run from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, giving families plenty of time to enjoy the evening. A notable addition for 2026 is the inaugural Bayside Oktoberfest, spanning October 10 and 11 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM each day, representing the village's first dedicated fall celebration of German heritage.

Food truck lineups rotate throughout the season, with popular vendors including Frida's Cocina MKE, That Taco Guy, and Atwood BBQ. Live musical performances accompany every event, with acts like Leah Jee providing entertainment during the 2025 season. The events operate on a free admission basis, with attendees purchasing food and beverages directly from vendors. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to stake out comfortable spots on the grass, while children can take advantage of the adjacent playground between trips to the food trucks.

Winter activities center on Mount Bayside

Families searching for ice skating at Ellsworth Park should note that the park does not feature an outdoor ice rink, warming house, or skating facilities. Winter recreation in Bayside instead focuses on Mount Bayside, the village's dedicated sledding hill located at Village Hall (9075 N Regent Rd) at the corner of Fairy Chasm Road and Regent Road. This gentle, wide slope provides an ideal setting for family sledding adventures, with parking available in the designated lot off Fairy Chasm Road or the Village Hall South Parking Lot. Street parking near the sledding hill is not permitted.

For ice skating enthusiasts, several excellent options exist within a short drive of Bayside. Brown Deer Ice Rink at Community Square Park offers a refrigerated rink under an enclosed tent, ensuring consistent skating conditions regardless of weather. Mee-Kwon Park in neighboring Mequon features a skating pond with a warming house, while Cahill Park in the Whitefish Bay area provides an NHL-regulation sized refrigerated rink. Downtown Milwaukee's Slice of Ice at Red Arrow Park offers free skating with your own equipment and skate rentals for those without.

Torzala Brewing Company has previously hosted Winter Beer Garden events at Mount Bayside featuring bonfires alongside sledding, creating a unique opportunity to combine outdoor winter fun with warm beverages.

The universal playground and pavilion

Beyond sports courts and seasonal events, Ellsworth Park offers essential amenities that make it a practical destination for families throughout the year. The ADA-accessible universal playground features modern equipment designed to welcome children of all abilities, with structures that encourage imaginative play and physical activity. Multiple local guides describe this playground as particularly well-suited for young families, with equipment appropriate for various age groups.

The open-air pavilion serves as the park's social hub, available for rent by residents hosting birthday parties, family reunions, graduations, and other celebrations. Public restrooms located nearby ensure convenience for extended visits. Reservations for the pavilion, along with the baseball diamond, soccer field, and sports courts, can be made through the Access Bayside app (available for iOS and Android) or the village's online portal. For current rental pricing, families should consult the Village's fee schedule at baysidewi.gov or contact Village Hall at (414) 206-3915.

The park also features a baseball and softball diamond plus multi-use soccer fields, supporting both organized leagues and casual pickup games. Dog owners appreciate the waste stations positioned throughout the park, though pets must remain on leash at all times and are prohibited from entering the tennis courts and playground areas.

Major community celebrations

Ellsworth Park hosts Bayside's three signature annual celebrations, reinforcing its role as the community's central gathering place. The Bayside Fourth of July Parade begins at Village Hall at 9:00 AM and winds through residential streets before concluding at Ellsworth Park, where festivities include ice cream, a best decorated bicycle contest, and the crowd-favorite "Bayside's Best Dog" competition.

Fall Fest in September combines the Village Picnic, the Bayside Five and Wine 5K run/walk, and Movie on the Hill into one memorable day. The 2025 edition ran from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM with food service, craft beverages from Torzala Brewing Company, lawn games, a petting zoo, live music, a bonfire, and an outdoor movie screening beginning at 7:15 PM. The Bayside Five and Wine event draws participants who can actually carry wine while completing the course, adding a uniquely relaxed atmosphere to the typical 5K format.

Additional community events throughout the year include myBlue Day Out, which celebrates the village's community policing program and typically pairs with the myWheels Car Show in August. Halloween Fright Night rounds out the annual calendar as another free family event featuring games, activities, and seasonal entertainment.

Park reflects Bayside's character and history

Bayside's identity as a North Shore community shapes everything about Ellsworth Park's development and programming. The Village of Bayside incorporated on February 13, 1953, with just 467 residents seeking to prevent annexation by the City of Milwaukee. Today, approximately 4,419 residents live in around 1,625 homes across a community that remains 81% residential with no industrial development. The village's most distinctive feature is the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, encompassing 185-190 acres donated by the Schlitz Foundation in 1971 and representing 15% of the village's total land area.

While the exact establishment date of Ellsworth Park remains undocumented, the park has served as Bayside's only municipal park since the village's earliest years. The name "Ellsworth" appears throughout Wisconsin, with many locations named after Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, the first Union officer killed in the Civil War and a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln, though this connection to the Bayside park has not been officially confirmed.

The park has evolved significantly over the decades, with improvements including a rebuilt tot lot playground, renovated baseball diamond, and the sheltered pavilion. The 2025 court renovation represents the most recent major investment, while the February 2025 launch of the digital reservation portal modernized how residents access facilities.

Planning your visit

Ellsworth Park operates from dawn to dusk, with specific hours defined as one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sundown per Village Municipal Code Section 35-122. During closed hours, residents may pass through the park for jogging, walking, or bicycling but may not remain, loiter, or spend idle time in the facility.

Parking is available at the park, though the village website does not specify lot capacity. Bike parking is also provided for those arriving on two wheels. The park's location near Bayside Middle School places it in the heart of the residential community, making it easily accessible for neighborhood families on foot.

Pet owners should note that dogs are welcome throughout most of the park when kept on leash, but they are explicitly prohibited from the tennis courts and playground areas. Dog waste stations are positioned throughout the grounds, and owners must clean up after their pets.

For facility reservations, the village recommends using the online portal at villageofbayside.rezgo.com or the Access Bayside mobile app. All reservations are non-refundable and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Those planning special events requiring permits should contact Village Hall for block party and special event permit applications. Village Hall is located at 9075 N. Regent Road and can be reached at (414) 206-3915, with office hours Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Conclusion

Ellsworth Park exemplifies what makes North Shore communities special—a place where families gather for Fourth of July parades, neighbors reconnect over craft beer and food trucks on summer evenings, and children create memories on playground equipment designed to welcome everyone. The 2025 court renovation signals Bayside's commitment to keeping pace with recreational trends while the expanding beer garden calendar demonstrates a village that understands the value of community connection. For families exploring Milwaukee's North Shore, this single park delivers tennis, pickleball, playgrounds, and programming that rivals communities with far larger park systems, all wrapped in the welcoming atmosphere of a village that incorporated specifically to preserve its distinctive character.