Plamann Park Lake
Appleton, Wisconsin · on Apple Creek · Plamann Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- pond
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Plamann Park Lake
Plamann Park Lake is a small man-made swimming pond within Outagamie County's 257-acre Plamann Park in Appleton, Wisconsin, operated as an official seasonal swim beach by the county parks department. It features a sand beach, diving boards, and a fee-based inflatable Wibit Aquapark obstacle course, drawing it closer to a managed swim facility than a wild swimming hole, but the water body itself is a natural/impounded freshwater pond rather than a chlorinated pool.
The lake sits within Plamann Park, a 257-acre county park with rolling wooded hills, disc golf course, hiking trails (including the Cow Path and Bird Trail), and a seasonal Children's Farm, located at 1375 E Broadway Dr on the edge of Appleton near Apple Creek.
Swimming at Plamann Park Lake
Swimming takes place in a designated lake/pond area with a sand beach and diving boards, supervised during the summer season; a separate fee-based Wibit inflatable aquapark (flip pillow, trampoline, 7-foot climbing wall) floats in a roped-off section for kids and families, and swimming lessons are offered for children ages 6-14. Coast Guard approved flotation devices are required in the lake.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 1375 E Broadway Dr, Appleton, WI 54913, within Plamann Park on the eastern edge of Appleton near Apple Creek and Little Chute.
The hike in
Plamann Lake is a drive-up, staffed swim beach inside the park, not reached via a dedicated hiking trail; the park separately has its own ~2 miles of recreational trails (Cow Path Trail, Bird Trail) used for disc golf/walking, unrelated to lake access.
No source specifies exact walk time from the parking lot to the beach; treat as a short walk within a compact, developed park facility.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Lifeguards are on duty during all open hours; the beach has a sand shoreline for shallow wading, and swimmers must pass a lifeguard-administered front-crawl swim test before using the deep-water/diving-board section. Only Coast Guard-approved flotation devices are allowed (some provided first-come-first-served); arm floaties, puddle jumpers, and tubes are banned, so parents should bring their own approved vest for non-swimmers rather than relying on inflatables.
Parking
Free
Park itself (1375 E Broadway Dr) is free to enter with an on-site lot; a separate swim-beach admission fee is charged at the lake gate ($5 youth/$6 adult per day in the 2026 season, non-swimmers $3, ages 3 and under and 65+ free), which is a use fee for the lake, not a parking charge. No documented distance/walk time from the lot to the beach was found.
Restrooms
Yes
Seasonal restrooms on-site, open mid-May through September (closed outside that window per GoValleyKids trail/park guide).
Hours
Lake/beach: 11:00am-6:00pm daily, weather permitting, June 8-Aug 23, 2026 season. Broader Plamann Park grounds: 7:00am until dusk.
On the water
Restrictions: Official rules only address swimmer flotation equipment (Coast Guard-approved life vests required; arm floaties/puddle jumpers/tubes banned) and make no mention of kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, or motorboats being permitted. Consistent with this being a fenced/staffed swim beach with a roped-off Wibit play area rather than an open paddling lake, personal watercraft do not appear to be part of normal use here.
No evidence found of a boat launch, dock, or paddling access at this small pond.
What regulars say
Visitors describe the lake as popular with families for the fee-based Wibit inflatable obstacle course, with hourly passes running out during busy summer days, and there is general praise for it being a fun, supervised kid destination rather than a wild swimming hole.
Plamann Park Lake: FAQ
Does Plamann Park Lake charge a fee?
Park entry is free; the Wibit inflatable aquapark section requires separate paid admission and hands out limited hourly passes during peak times; private section/party rentals are available in two daily time slots (11:30am-2:30pm and 3:00pm-6:00pm).
Is Plamann Park Lake kid friendly?
Lifeguards are on duty during all open hours; the beach has a sand shoreline for shallow wading, and swimmers must pass a lifeguard-administered front-crawl swim test before using the deep-water/diving-board section. Only Coast Guard-approved flotation devices are allowed (some provided first-come-first-served); arm floaties, puddle jumpers, and tubes are banned, so parents should bring their own approved vest for non-swimmers rather than relying on inflatables.
Do I need to hike to reach Plamann Park Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Plamann Park Lake?
Park itself (1375 E Broadway Dr) is free to enter with an on-site lot; a separate swim-beach admission fee is charged at the lake gate ($5 youth/$6 adult per day in the 2026 season, non-swimmers $3, ages 3 and under and 65+ free), which is a use fee for the lake, not a parking charge. No documented distance/walk time from the lot to the beach was found.
When is the best time to visit Plamann Park Lake?
Summer (early June through late August), matching the official swim-season operating dates.
What are the rules at Plamann Park Lake?
Coast Guard approved flotation devices only; no alcohol or glass containers permitted; staff may inspect coolers; dogs not permitted in the park; swim season runs roughly June 8 through late August, with the lake closed outside that window (one recent season's last day was reported as 8/17).
What water body is Plamann Park Lake on?
Plamann Park Lake is on Apple Creek, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.
