River Park: Shorewood’s All-Purpose North Shore Park

A soccer field is one of the ammenities at River Park in Shorewood

River Park may sit quietly on Shorewood’s northern edge, but there’s a lot packed into its 7½ acres for families who love to mix sports, nature and easy bike-trail access. Below you’ll find everything parents need to know—from where to park the stroller to how late you can linger after the last Little League pitch.

• Location: East River Park Court, just west of Oakland & Capitol (look for the small lot marked “Lot C”).

• Size: ≈ 7.6 acres of river-adjacent green space.

• Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily

• Main uses: Youth baseball & soccer, dog-friendly paved paths, Oak Leaf Trail spur, river watching.

Spector Field & SCIF Soccer Pitch

River Park is home base for North Shore Milwaukee soccer leagues, including Shorewood Little League and Shorewood Kickers soccer. Spector Field—at Oakland & Edgewood—offers groomed infield, fenced backstop, bleachers, and a batting cage, making it a legit venue for pint-size sluggers. Parents will also find the adjacent full-size soccer pitch (nicknamed “SCIF Field”) for Saturday-morning games or impromptu scrimmages.

Open Green & Free-Play Zone

Away from the chalk lines, wide swaths of turf invite tag, frisbee, or a family picnic blanket without worrying about fly balls. The open space also serves as stroller-friendly overflow when younger siblings need to burn energy between innings.

Paved Interior Loop

A smooth, stroller-ready path arcs around the ballfields and ties directly into the Oak Leaf Trail at both Kensington Blvd. and Olive St. connectors, giving older kids a safe runway for bikes or scooters while you log steps.

Oak Leaf Trail Gateway

The Oak Leaf’s 135-mile regional network rolls right past River Park, letting families extend an afternoon at the diamond into a riverside ride toward Estabrook Park or downtown Milwaukee.

Riverside Seating

Benches and a low bluff offer quiet Milwaukee River vistas—ideal for teaching toddlers to spot herons or watching autumn colors reflect off the water.

Parking: River Park’s Lot C was rebuilt with permeable pavers and native plant rain gardens during the 2021-23 Edgewood sewer project, leaving room for roughly 30 cars plus bike racks.

Hours & Rules: All Shorewood parks—including River Park—are open 5 am – 10 pm on a first-come, first-served basis. Village ordinances prohibit grills, large tents, and amplified sound without approval, so plan picnics accordingly.

Bleachers & Shade: Permanent bleachers line Spector Field, while mature oaks along the riverbank offer natural shade; many parents still bring camp chairs for the open green space.

Restrooms: Portable toilets are set near the ballfield during spring-to-fall league seasons; there are no permanent restrooms on-site, so consider a coffee-shop pit stop on Oakland Avenue before games.

Sports Hub: Spector Field anchors Shorewood Little League and sits at the corner of Oakland & Edgewood inside the park.

Trail Access: A smooth interior path links directly to the Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail, letting families extend an outing north toward Estabrook Park or south toward Hubbard Park. Improved connections are highlighted in Shorewood’s land-use plan.

Dog Policy: Leashed dogs are welcome on paved paths but must stay off the playing surfaces; waste stations are located near the parking lot.

River Park’s latest upgrades folded in green-infrastructure stormwater features and river-bank stabilization, keeping runoff out of the Milwaukee River and lawns resilient for kid traffic.

River Park isn’t the flashiest playground in Shorewood, but its combo of top-tier youth fields, breezy Oak Leaf access, and quiet river scenery make it a versatile, parent-friendly home base. Whether you’re cheering on a future All-Star, pushing a stroller on a shady loop, or simply soaking up river views with coffee in hand, this pocket park delivers an easy win for North Shore families.

Pack the mitts, load the bikes, and we’ll see you riverside.