Find your spark at Firefly Grove Park

A hub for the community, Firefly Grove Park is a place for people of all ages and abilities to gather and play. Our parks' commitment to inclusivity and creativity can be seen from the moment you step foot into the park with the wide paved paths, aesthetically appealing equipment, shaded rest areas, and open space. A stunning rustic sign greets you and frames our main attraction; Mama Rosa. The park is full of life and adventure during any season, with a large hill perfect for sledding in the winter, and a pump track, playground, and covered picnic tables for the warmer seasons. From public art to the pump track, Firefly Grove Park was created with imagination in mind, encouraging people of all ages to play and be inspired.

Learn more about the whimsical features of Firefly Grove Park and how they foster creative expression below.

Play

Try Out The Pump Track

Pump tracks are a series of paved ramps, banks, curves and dips meant to minimize or eliminate pedaling - the act of pumping propelling people around the track. Our pump track is meant for any skill levels, with options from beginner to expert, and can be used with bikes, scooters, or rollerblades. This pump track is the first in Southeastern Wisconsin, with a multidirectional design and various transfer points. Featuring two wall rides and two deep bowls, riders can choose their own adventure when it comes to difficulty and route.

Engage in Natural Play

The playground isn't the only place for play in Firefly Grove Park. The park is full of natural elements that invite everyone to play in new ways. Wooden logs, stones, and decks challenge all to be creative and imaginative while elevating the natural aesthetic of the park.

Brightly colored circles create a unique and personalized hopscotch path with varying degrees of difficulty. Along the edge of the paved path, rocks and stones of different textures and sizes create a sensory path for your feet. Behind the playground, rolling hills, or drumlins create a scenic background, while providing the perfect winter sledding spot.

Looking for a bit of shade? We've got you covered with our living willow hut. Made by weaving real willow branches together, this mid-size shelter is the perfect size for any adventure, and even blooms in the summer!

All these elements combine to build a vibrant space of whimsical fun with plenty of natural play options where imagination can run freely.

Willow Hut Flower Firefly Grove Playground

Be Inspired

Mama Rosa

24 feet tall and 4,000 pounds, Mama Rosa is Thomas Dambo's first Wisconsin troll. Dambo used recycled materials, including wood and upcycled light poles to create the masterpiece of Mama Rosa. As you enter into Firefly Grove Park, she waits for you, excited to share her story. Mama Rosa embodies messages of sustainability and creativity, and is just one of the many whimsical features in Firefly Grove.

Visiting Mama Rosa?

Reserve a room at the local Sonesta with a special room rate for troll travelers. The hotel is located 5 minutes away from Mama Rosa and is central for all the troll-tastic happenings in Wauwatosa. All around Wauwatosa, local businesses have embraced Mama Rosa and created a list of troll-themed activities for you to do while you are here.

Book your stay

Troll out your trip

Art Benches

In Firefly Grove Park, we took the ordinary and made it extraordinary, all the way down to the benches. Throughout the park, you can find 5 special and unique benches that took combined seating with imagination, creating functional pieces of art. Each bench design was thoughtfully designed to embody the spirit of Wauwatosa, and hand crafted with precision and passion. From dancing fireflies to ink stones that mimic real rock formations, these benches demonstrate Wauwatosa's commitment to public art, while reflecting the creativity of the region.

Stone Bench

Casey King | Whiting, Indiana

Carved Bench with gnome and dragonfly

Jake Patnode | Waterford, Wisconsin

Cubic stone bench

Martin Beach | Indianapolis, Indiana

Butterfly Bench

Gerald Williamson | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

colorful wooden bench

Paula DeStefanis | Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Sustainability in the Park

Mama Rosa's message of sustainability is ever present throughout the park. In the green spaces, native trees and flowers grow and blossom, adding to the scenic views of the park. These natives plants show off the natural beauty of Wisconsin's home greenery and support biodiversity within the region. Deer, ducks, and other wildlife roam the park, enjoying drinks and building habitats from the runoff ponds used to manage stormwater. While these ponds help with excess water, the park took sustainability a step further by utilizing permeable pavement, which is a type of paving surface that water can seep through, eventually resulting in water passing to the ground below the pavement. The park has also incorporated numerous solar panels and arrays that help power the police station and lighting components throughout Firefly Grove Park.

Click on the photo for a printable map of the park.