Parks & Recreation - Parks
In the late 1800s, taking a horse-drawn carriage ride along the lakeshore or a country lane was a common delight and there were those who had a fondness for getting out of town.
At that time, however, that could have meant any point just west of Bascom Hill. In 1892 a group of wealthy Madison residents with a love of the scenic had the idea to develop a sort of park system. Three prominent men—Edward T. Owen, Edward E. Hammersley, and John M. Olin—created the first scenic drive that year primarily using their own donated acreage and paying for the gravel road pavement themselves. They understood the importance of preserving those beautiful places not just for themselves but for the rest of Madison and its future residents as well. In 1894 they and several others officially incorporated as the Madison Parks and Pleasure Drive Association (MPPDA). From that time until the 1931 formation of a city park division, the privately funded group was responsible for a variety of recreational green space developments. Most of the parks developed by the MPPDA—Tenney Park, Olin Park, Henry Vilas Park—remain an important part of Madison’s natural beauty and are frequently visited by all. In 1908, Olin rounded up local and state funding to enlist the services of nationally famous city planner and landscape architect John Nolen. Nolen’s contribution to thoughtful development went beyond Madison as he also laid the foundations for the state park system.
From the very local to the national level, Madison has access to abundant public green space, nature preserves, and recreation areas. Today there are over 200 neighborhood parks in the metro area. Dane County offers several excellent parks within a 20-minute drive of the city, and the state park system is nothing short of a Wisconsin treasure. Finally, the 1,000-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes close by as well.
Green space is the lifeblood of Madison. Every neighborhood has a park of some size and a look at the city map shows the spattering of green well distributed. Some parks lean more toward communing with nature, others have an emphasis on sports, and most lie somewhere in between. The following is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather a few of the best and biggest. To find others near you consult a city map or go to the City of Madison (www.cityofmadison.com/parks) and Dane County (www.co.dane.wi.us/lwrd/parks) Web sites.
City parks are open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and free to the public. Dogs are not allowed (even on a leash) in parks, playgrounds, and on beaches unless explicitly indicated. See the listing of dog-friendly parks below. Even those parks require either a daily or annual permit fee. No glass beverage containers or cups are allowed. No open intoxicants are allowed in park parking lots, but they may be allowed in certain parks at certain times. During special events featuring designated drinking areas (such as festivals or concerts), no alcohol is allowed outside those boundaries.
County parks are open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. While entry to county parks may be free, some of the parks facilities or activities have some associated fees. Users with dogs must pay either a daily fee of $5 or get an annual permit. Trail use other than for hiking (i.e., cross-country skiing, horseback riding, or biking) also exacts a daily or annual fee. Lake access fees operate similarly. However, these are good until Mar 31 of the next year. Camping has a per site fee with a stay five nights and get the sixth night free deal. Alcohol permits are required for groups larger than 10. Shelters can be reserved and rented. Disc golf courses and geocaching also require fee payments while metal detecting is free. All permits can be purchased online, and in many cases daily fees can be paid through a self-pay system at the parks.
State park hours typically run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with an exception granted for overnight campers. State parks require daily vehicle fees and the annual pass is a great deal good for the calendar year at all state parks. Permit prices are slightly more for out-of-state vehicles. A state trail pass is separate and required for all trail activity other than hiking. Park visitors of legal drinking age may bring alcoholic beverages into the parks in picnic areas and campsites. Pets are allowed on leashes 8-feet long or less in most state parks with the exception of park buildings, picnic areas, and shelters, beaches not designated as “dogs allowed,” playgrounds, marked nature trails (general trails are OK), groomed cross-country ski trails, and observation towers. Camping fees vary and at popular parks or during peak times such as holidays and weekends, advanced reservations are highly recommended. Make them online or call the park directly. Moving firewood from one park to another is prohibited due to the invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer which can ride deadwood on its quest to destroy a lot of trees. Please respect and protect the parks. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (www.dnr.state.wi.us) operates an excellent Web site with an abundance of park information. The trail requires no permits or fees and is open year-round. As much of it passes along narrow easements on private property, it is important that hikers stay on the trail and carry out anything they carry in.
Parks & Recreation - Recreation
For the active and the outdoors enthusiasts there is much to do in Madison. The city has been listed at the top of American communities at various times for walking, biking, and simply the outdoor life. Outside Magazine has rated it one of the nation’s best outdoors towns and tops for road biking, and even National Geographic Adventure chimed in with a Best Adventure Towns listing.
Just an aerial view of Madison should make water sports enthusiasts delight. Lakes Mendota and Monona offer 34 miles of shoreline. Add to that the sheltered, spring-fed Lake Wingra, plus Lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa and the Yahara River that passes through Cherokee Marsh and on down through all of the lakes. The Wisconsin River and a whole slew of lakes, ponds, and streams are not far away either. For paddling, fishing, swimming, sailing, or just a cruise across the water, Madison is heavenly. Bikers will enjoy the miles of paths throughout the city, including some lanes on major roads as well. Rollerbladers take advantage of many of those same paved trails as do pedestrians, so be careful to share the way. Hikers never need look far to find a place to disappear into forest, marsh, or meadow, and winter opens up snowshoeing possibilities and abundant skiing options. From kayaking and yoga to kiteboarding and disc golf, Madisonians are active folk. If you don’t want to go it alone, look for events in the newspapers and their Web sites. Also, check out social networking sites such as www.meetup.com if you are looking to connect with fellow enthusiasts of just about any sport or activity you can think of.
1. Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Along the Yahara River on the north side of Lake Mendota, the 4,000-acre Cherokee Marsh falls under multiple authorities depending on the section: the City of Madison, Dane County, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park, which is a city park, has north and south units which offer great hiking and nature watching. The south unit has a boat launch and is popular for paddlers. Dogs are prohibited in both units.
2. Elver Park
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1240 McKenna Blvd.
Description: Another park for all seasons, Elver lies right in the heart of the southwest side. Half the land is set on a prominent hill offering a nice view of the city. Here you will find the city’s best sledding in the winter and some good ice-skating at the foot of the hill. Other sports include tennis, softball/baseball, basketball, disc golf, soccer, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Dogs are allowed on leashes below the sled hill from Mar 15 to Nov 15 only.
3. Henry Vilas Park
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 702 South Randall Ave.
Description: On the north side of Lake Wingra, opposite the UW Arboretum, is this 50-acre park along with the Henry Vilas Zoo. Vilas is not far from the city center and is quite popular for picnics and reunions as well as sports requiring wide open spaces. Shore fishing is popular but for a boat launch Wingra Park is the better choice. The spring-fed lake offers a sandy beach, and a lagoon becomes an ice-skating area in winter.
4. James Madison Park
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 614 East Gorham St.
Description: Though merely 12 acres in size, this is surely one of the most active parks in Madison and its downtown location right on Lake Mendota makes it easily accessible. Facilities include basketball and volleyball courts, canoe and kayak rentals, and a playground. University students frequently take advantage of the grassy area for a lie in the sun or a bit of reading, and Ultimate Frisbee games are common in the open spaces. Shade trees shelter nappers. The 1863 Gates of Heaven Synagogue is the fourth oldest synagogue in the country. It was relocated to the park in 1970 and often hosts weddings. The park also has a swimming beach with a lifeguard scheduled in the afternoons in season. Parking is on the street or in a small lot. No alcohol is allowed.
5. Lakeshore Nature Preserve And Picnic Point
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Set along the south shore of Lake Mendota the preserve starts from near the Memorial Union on campus and stretches west past University Bay and Picnic Point. The multiuse Howard Temin Lakeshore trail is partly asphalt and partly crushed stone. Students commonly commute to class or use it for exercise, but it is popular with the community at large as well. Picnic Point is a peninsula, nearly a mile long, within the preserve that juts into Lake Mendota. Some fire rings are open for picnics, and the view of the Capitol and university across the water is exceptional. Areas past Picnic Point are more secluded and trails are more rustic for hiking.
6. Olbrich Park
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 3527 Atwood Ave.
Description: Located next to Olbrich Botanical Gardens and its Thai Pavilion on the east side, the 61-acre park sits on the shore of Lake Monona and straddles Starkweather Creek. Facilities include four basketball courts, boat launches on both sides of Atwood Avenue, (a lake-access permit is required), five lighted softball diamonds, an ice-skating rink with a warming shelter, playground equipment, a sledding hill, four sand volleyball courts, and two tennis courts. A beach is open daily in season.
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1156 Olin–Turville Ct.
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1414 East Johnson St.
9. The University Of Wisconsin Arboretum
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (608) 263-7888
Address: 1207 Seminole Hwy.
Description: Set along the south shore of Lake Wingra, The Arboretum, a 1,260-acre preserve of forest, marshland, and prairie, was nothing more than clear-cut farmland in the 1930s. The reclaimed land is a treasure trove for nature lovers with a fine network of trails, a calendar of events led by naturalists, and an annual native plant sale. Birds, wildflowers, and fall colors are just a few of the draws here. The Visitor Center is open daily (excluding holidays). Trails and parking lots are also open year-round typically from dusk until dawn. Enter from the north at the intersection of McCaffery Drive, North Wingra Drive, and South Mills Street, or from the south at McCaffrey Drive and Seminole Highway, just north of the Beltline (US 12/14/18).
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1625 Northport Dr.
11. Wingra Park
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 824 Knickerbocker St.
Description: Like Vilas, this follows the shore of Lake Wingra but farther west. Entry is off Monroe Street. The park consists of a wide open green space, boat landing, and a recreational pavilion with concessions and restrooms. Canoes and kayaks can be rented for use on the perpetually calm and rather shallow lake. To the west of the parking area is a small patch of woodland that gives way to marsh; all of this and its trails actually fall under the auspices of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum.
12. Governor Nelson State Park
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: 5140 County Hwy. M, Waunakee(6
Description: On the north shore of Lake Mendota, the 422-acre park has prairie restoration, woodland, marsh, prairie hiking/cross-country ski trails, Native American mounds, and a 500-foot beach with changing rooms and solar-heated showers. Dogs have a swimming area and a concession stand is at the main beach. The four-stall boat launch has ample parking and a fish cleaning facility nearby. Interpretive signage along the woodland trails and near the beach explains Native American culture. The beach has no lifeguard. There is no camping.
13. Boulders Climbing Gym
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (608) 244-8100
Address: 3964 Commercial Ave.
Description: Madison’s only dedicated climbing gym, Boulders has over 8,000 square feet of climbing surfaces including 1,500 square feet of bouldering, 42 top ropes, and 24 lead lines. Climbing classes for adults and kids are offered. Rates are by the day and range from about $12 to $16. Gear is available for rent. Open daily.
14. Budget Bicycle Center
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (608) 251-1663
Address: 930 Regent St.
Description: Budget Bikes is located right downtown with four distinct shops within a four-block radius and a block off the Southwest Commuter Path. They have a wide selection of new and used bicycles, rentals of all types, and perform reliable and fast repairs.
15. Machinery Row Bicycles
City: Madison, WI
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (608) 442-5974
Address: 601 Williamson St.
Description: This shop, situated right on the Capital City Trail and the shore of Lake Monona at the Willy Street and John Nolen Drive intersection, has a large selection of new bikes as well as parts and accessories. Daily rental rates start at around $20 with discounts for a weekly rental. Helmets and cable locks are included. Child trailers are available as well. Open daily.