As skaters were hitting the rink at Red Arrow Park for the final Slice of Ice skating event of the season last Friday morning, golfers were teeing off in Grant and Lincoln Parks.

Because of the dedication of Milwaukee County Parks staff the county was able to quickly capitalize on the unseasonably warm weather by opening the golf courses at Lincoln and Grant Parks and setting up a one-weekend-only pop-up beer garden in Whitnall Park.

More than one thousand rounds of golf were played in Grant and Lincoln Parks over the weekend. And at Whitnall Park, County Parks staff served up 1,000 liter steins of Sprecher beer, more than 2,500 pints of Sprecher beer, more than 500 pints of soda, and more than 700 soft pretzels.

“Our Traveling Beer Garden partnership is a great revenue generator for the County and for Sprecher, but the real value of doing this was apparent over the weekend,” County Executive Chris Abele said. “Enjoying a pint of Maibock outside on a warm sunny day in Wisconsin in February with friends and family is priceless. A huge ‘thank you’ to the County Parks employees whose hard work made this weekend a success.”

The Whitnall Park location has been the most popular stop on the Milwaukee County Parks Traveling Beer Garden Tour, a partnership with Sprecher Brewing. Returning for its fourth season, the tour will run from May 17 through September 4.