New surfaces are coming to Craig Counsel Park in Whitefish Bay
UPDATE: More improvements coming to Craig Counsell Park
A major improvement project at Craig Counsell Park in Whitefish Bay has transformed the areas around its baseball diamonds with more accessible pathways and surfaces designed to handle heavy rain.
The Village of Whitefish Bay completed the green-infrastructure project in 2025 with support from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The upgrades replaced loose red-granite surfaces in spectator areas with porous asphalt and permeable pavers, creating firmer routes for visitors while helping rainwater soak into the ground.
What changed at Craig Counsell Park?
The project focused on the heavily used areas surrounding the park’s baseball diamonds. Improvements included:
Porous asphalt and permeable pavers
More accessible routes through spectator areas
Underground stormwater storage
Connections to the neighboring storm-sewer system
Better drainage around the baseball facilities
The previous red-granite pathways could become muddy, uneven or difficult to navigate during wet weather. The new surfaces create a smoother route for wheelchairs, strollers and visitors with limited mobility.
Families can find Craig Counsell Park at the north end of Lydell Avenue in northwestern Whitefish Bay. According to the Village’s official park listing, the park includes baseball diamonds, soccer fields and a concession building with restrooms.
Built to manage more than 30,000 gallons of stormwater
The project was designed to hold more than 30,000 gallons of stormwater.
Unlike conventional pavement, which sends most rainwater toward storm drains, porous pavement allows water to pass through openings in the surface. The water can then be temporarily stored below ground and gradually absorbed or released into the drainage system.
That helps reduce the rush of runoff entering local sewers during heavy rain. It can also filter pollutants carried by stormwater before they reach rivers and Lake Michigan.
The work was supported through an MMSD green-infrastructure funding program, part of the regional agency’s broader effort to manage rain where it falls and reduce pressure on the sewer system.
Why the improvements matter
The environmental benefits happen mostly out of sight, but families visiting the park should notice the practical improvements.
The firmer pathways provide more reliable footing after rain and make it easier to move between the diamonds, seating areas and concession building. That is especially helpful for visitors using wheelchairs, walkers or strollers.
The project also makes the park more resilient during wet weather—an important improvement at a site that hosts frequent youth baseball games throughout the spring and summer.
A popular home for Whitefish Bay baseball
Craig Counsell Park is one of Whitefish Bay’s primary youth-sports destinations. It is named for Whitefish Bay native Craig Counsell, the former Milwaukee Brewers player and manager who became manager of the Chicago Cubs after the 2023 season.
Although Counsell’s move to a division rival generated plenty of baseball debate, the park continues to carry his name and serve as a hub for local baseball and soccer.
The park was dedicated in Counsell’s honor in 2012. Today, its combination of athletic fields, baseball diamonds, restrooms and concession facilities makes it an especially busy gathering place during baseball season.
Part of investment in Whitefish Bay parks
The Craig Counsell Park project was one of several park improvements included in Whitefish Bay’s capital planning. Recent investments elsewhere have included updated playground equipment at Klode Park, improvements to its tennis and pickleball courts and ongoing work to enhance accessibility and recreational facilities throughout the village.
Families planning another outing can explore our guide to the best parks in Milwaukee’s North Shore.
With the Craig Counsell Park improvements now complete, families can enjoy easier access around the baseball diamonds while a substantial new stormwater system quietly works beneath their feet.
Whitefish Bay is considering a 60-day trial that would remove the meter heads in and around the Silver Spring Drive business district beginning October 1 while keeping the existing one-hour, two-hour and other posted parking limits in place.