Eichelman Park
Kenosha, Wisconsin · on Lake Michigan · Eichelman Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Eichelman Park
Eichelman Park is an 11-acre City of Kenosha lakefront park at 6125 3rd Avenue on the shore of Lake Michigan, featuring a designated public swimming beach alongside a bike/walking trail and playground. An in-town swimming hole and one of Kenosha's easiest places to swim, the beach is officially monitored for water quality by Kenosha County and is one of six Lake Michigan beaches the county tests regularly.
The park sits directly on the Lake Michigan shoreline just south of downtown Kenosha and the Southport Marina, connected by a lakefront bike/walking trail to neighboring parks (Wolfenbuttel, Harbor, Simmons Island, Pennoyer, and Alford). It has shade trees, a lawn, picnic tables and benches, a playground, and a small stone jetty/breakwater that shelters the beach from open-lake wave action. A preserved WWI-era Model 1898 7-inch Siege Howitzer sits on a plaza overlooking the beach.
Swimming at Eichelman Park
A small sandy Lake Michigan beach protected by a short jetty, making the water calmer than the open lake but still a genuine Great Lakes swimming experience rather than a sheltered inlet. There are no lifeguards on duty, so it suits confident swimmers and families supervising their own kids; official photos and reviews show people wading and swimming along the shoreline.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 6125 3rd Avenue in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a short walk/bike ride south of downtown Kenosha along the lakefront trail; on-street parking is available along 3rd Avenue.
Parking: Free on-street parking along 3rd Avenue; free admission to the park and beach.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up city beach, park on 3rd Avenue and walk directly onto the sand; no trail or hike is involved. (A paved lakefront bike/walking path does run through the park connecting to neighboring beaches, but it's a recreational path, not an access trail.)
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Small sandy beach sheltered by a short jetty gives calmer, shallower water than the open lake, and there's a playground right at the park, but there are no lifeguards on duty at any time, dogs are banned from the beach, and city ordinance bans swimming within 50 ft of the jetty/pier, so kids need active adult supervision rather than lifeguard backup.
Parking
Free
Free on-street parking along 3rd Avenue; no park or beach entrance fee.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are located near the playground at the south end of the park (per The Swim Guide).
Hours
Beach open sunrise to 10pm daily (per The Swim Guide); no separate posted park hours beyond this were found.
On the water
Restrictions: Official park rules prohibit flotation devices in the designated swimming area, and city ordinance bans swimming/water activity within 50 ft of the jetty/pier and 150 ft of the Pike River mouth. No source confirms kayak/paddleboard/boat launching is permitted or practiced at Eichelman Beach itself.
No dedicated watercraft launch or rental presence was found at Eichelman Park. The nearest confirmed rental outfitter is at Kenosha Harbor (see rentals below), roughly 1-1.5 miles north.
Rentals nearby
Sit-on-top single kayaks, 12 ft tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards (10 ft), duck-themed pedal boats, water trikes, and Rhodes 19' sailboats (with instruction/checkout)
Prices: Single kayak $16/45 min; tandem kayak $32/45 min; SUP $16/45 min; duck pedal boat $8 (kids)/$12 (adults) per 45 min (plus $50 channel fee); water trike $9/person or $18 for two per 45 min; dog life vest add-on $5; 10-guest private party package $150; Rhodes 19' sailboat rentals in 1/2/4-hour blocks (rate not published)
443 50th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140 (Kenosha Harbor / Great Lake Yacht Sales), roughly 1-1.5 miles north of Eichelman Park · Seasonal, select days of the week (exact schedule not published on the rentals page)
What regulars say
One visitor described Eichelman Park as a 'nice park and beach,' noting the beach 'can be kind of messy' but calling it a 'great sheltered place for kids and even to bbq' (visitor report).
Backstory
Originally called 'Lake Park' and informally nicknamed 'Fiddlers Green,' the park was enlarged in 1887 when local tailor Bernard Frederick John Eichelman donated adjoining land to the city; it was later renamed in his honor. The park displays a Model 1898 7-inch Siege Howitzer, one of only 30 ever built by Watervliet Arsenal, installed in the park in 1920.
Eichelman Park: FAQ
Does Eichelman Park charge a fee?
Free admission and free parking (no entrance fee).
Is Eichelman Park kid friendly?
Small sandy beach sheltered by a short jetty gives calmer, shallower water than the open lake, and there's a playground right at the park, but there are no lifeguards on duty at any time, dogs are banned from the beach, and city ordinance bans swimming within 50 ft of the jetty/pier, so kids need active adult supervision rather than lifeguard backup.
Do I need to hike to reach Eichelman Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Eichelman Park?
Free on-street parking along 3rd Avenue; no park or beach entrance fee.
When is the best time to visit Eichelman Park?
Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day), which is also the period during which the county tests the beach water quality for swimming.
What are the rules at Eichelman Park?
No lifeguards on duty. No fires, grills, or glass containers allowed on the beach; flotation devices are not permitted in the swimming area; dogs are prohibited on the beach. City of Kenosha ordinance makes it unlawful to swim within 50 feet of a pier, jetty, breakwater, or seawall, or within 150 feet of the mouth of the Pike River, with fines up to $1,000 for violations.
What water body is Eichelman Park on?
Eichelman Park is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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