Mequon Planning Replacement for Riverview Park Playground
A Mequon playground could be getting a major makeover.
The City of Mequon is moving ahead with planning for a replacement of the playground at Riverview Park, with community feedback now helping shape what comes next.
The city's Park and Open Space Board discussed the Riverview Park Playground Replacement Community Survey and next steps at its September 16 meeting.
For families who use Mequon's parks, this one is worth watching.
Riverview Park's Playground Update Needs
Riverview Park is located at 4200 Grace Avenue along the Milwaukee River. The city's previous assessment of the playground found a number of issues with the aging equipment and recommended replacing the playground entirely.
Among the concerns documented by the city were aging and warped wooden components, uneven edging, rusted hardware, surfacing issues and gaps in some equipment.
Perhaps most importantly for families, the assessment noted that the existing playground does not have accessible pathways or ground-level play elements and is currently not considered ADA accessible.
The assessment estimated complete playground replacement at more than $200,000.
You can explore the city's full playground assessment through the City of Mequon's parks facilities report.
Community Input Is Now Part of the Process
The September Park and Open Space Board meeting represents another step toward an eventual replacement.
Rather than simply repairing individual pieces of equipment, the city is gathering community feedback and discussing what the next version of the playground could become. Use this link to complete and submit a survey by October 23, 2026.
A final design, construction schedule and final budget have not yet been announced.
Those details will ultimately determine just how extensive the transformation will be.
What could the Playground Look Like?
One nearby example of what modern Burke playground equipment can look like is Cahill Square Park in Whitefish Bay, where a recent playground replacement used BCI Burke equipment as part of a Lee Recreation-designed concept. The finished playground includes colorful climbing and sliding features, updated surfacing and more inclusive play elements while still fitting into an established neighborhood park.
Whitefish Bay selected a Lee Recreation concept for Cahill Square Park, and that concept uses BCI Burke equipment. The Village says three vendors submitted concepts, and 82% of 400 survey respondents chose the Lee Recreation proposal. The finished playground uses a BCI Burke “Play That Moves You” modular structure, along with accessible surfacing and preserved features like the swings and sandbox.
That does not mean Riverview Park will end up looking like Cahill — Mequon has not approved a final vendor, design or price — but it gives families a useful nearby example of the kind of contemporary equipment and accessibility features Burke can provide as the city works through its replacement plans.
About Riverview Park
Riverview Park is one of several parks along the Milwaukee River in Mequon.
In addition to the playground, the park offers river frontage, fishing access, picnic areas and walking opportunities.
For more ideas around town, bookmark our Ultimate Guide to Mequon Parks.
Families looking specifically for playground destinations can also explore our guide to the best playgrounds around Milwaukee.
The most interesting part of the project may not simply be getting newer slides and climbing equipment.
A replacement gives Mequon an opportunity to rethink accessibility, surfacing, play features and how the playground connects with the rest of the park.
Inclusive playground design has advanced considerably since many older municipal playgrounds were installed, and newer parks increasingly incorporate ramps, accessible surfacing, sensory elements and ground-level activities that work for children with a wider range of abilities.
Exactly which features will make it into Riverview Park's design remains to be seen.
In the meantime, families can browse our Mequon parks guide or find more destinations in our Milwaukee-area playground guide.
The Highland Road Bike/Pedestrian Spur is a roughly 1.5-mile, 10-foot-wide paved trail connecting the Ozaukee Interurban Trail with Rotary Park along the north side of Highland Road. The off-road route expands walking and biking access between neighborhoods, the park and the existing trail network.