Emil Blatz Recreation Building
Rate this placeNearby: Meaux Park Garden Homes Square Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
The Emil Blatz Recreation Building is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is a popular destination for sports enthusiasts.
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Summary
Built in 1927, the building is named after Emil Blatz, a prominent Milwaukee resident who was also the owner of the Blatz Brewing Company.
One of the main reasons to visit the Emil Blatz Recreation Building is to take part in the various sports and recreational activities available, such as basketball, volleyball, and racquetball. The building also features a fitness center and a swimming pool. Visitors can also participate in group fitness classes or sign up for personal training sessions.
One of the points of interest in the building is the mural in the gymnasium, which was painted by artist John W. Norton in the 1930s. The mural depicts scenes from Milwaukee's history and culture, including depictions of Native American life, European settlement, and industry.
Interesting facts about the Emil Blatz Recreation Building include that it was one of the first indoor recreation centers in Milwaukee and that it was built using funds from the Works Progress Administration, a federal agency created during the Great Depression to provide employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth.
The best time of year to visit the Emil Blatz Recreation Building depends on personal preference, as the building is open year-round. However, the summer months may be the busiest due to the outdoor activities and pool.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Meaux Park
Garden Homes Square Park
Cahill Square
Estabrook Park
Lincoln Creek Parkway