It's certainly not a secret if you live in the neighborhood, but I recently discovered Hawthorn Glen, a 25-acre park and nature center run by Milwaukee Public Schools and tucked away north of State Street in the shadow of the big water tower that also overlooks Hawley Road.

With two big play sets with slides and swings, a pond inhabited by a family of ducks, short but rustic nature trails, picnic areas, and a soccer pitch (which, oddly, has a sign that says "no ball playing"), Hawthorn Glen is fun enough.

South of the soccer pitch there's a grassy hill that seems out of place, but is a blast to run up and down!

Add in "The Little Nature Museum" housed in what appears to be a WPA-era stone building and this off the beaten path gem is even better. Recently, I stopped to visit the park and found the nature center -- which has very limited public hours, since it's aimed mostly at visiting school groups, I think - open.

Although the official opening hours had passed, the two employees welcomed us in and let us check out the rabbits, frogs, fish, snakes, birds and turtles (to name the living animals; there are a few taxidermied ones too).

According to its Web site, more than 12,000 students visit Hawthorn Glen every year and numerous science and nature programs are continually offered to them.