General Parks and Park Shelters
For questions call, 266-4711.

The City of Madison has over 240 parks - many of which can serve as a beautiful setting for your wedding or commitment ceremony.  If you are having a large ceremony or reception, those may only be scheduled in our reservable shelters. 

Please remember that our parks belong to everyone and all are welcome to enjoy them.  When you reserve a park shelter you have exclusive use of the shelter, but not the park.  Other types of events may be scheduled.  

Parks with Shelters: Brittingham Park Burrows Park Demetral Park Elver Park (2 shelters) Elvehjem Park Garner Park (2 levels) Hoyt Park (2 shelters) Lake Edge Park Marshall Park Olin Park Reindahl Park Rennebohm Park Vilas Park Westmorland Park Warner Park

Rules and regulations for outdoor ceremonies and receptions:

Amplification:
Amplified sound in a park, such as a stereo system, D.J., band, karaoke machine, etc., is only allowed with a P.A. Permit.  Normally, amplification is restricted to four (4) hours in duration, is not to go later than 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. at Warner Park), and is not allowed at all in certain parks.

Requests for exceptions to the normal restrictions on amplification can only be approved by the Superintendent of Parks or the Park Commission.  Their decision shall take into account the specific hours requested, the location of the park and its proximity to residential areas, and the volume of amplification needed.

Tents:
This section does not pertain to 10x10 pop-up tents.  Those do not require a special permit.

To place a temporary structure in a park, such as staging, tents, etc., a Temporary Structure Permit is required.  In many of our parks, one or more areas have been designated as approved sites for temporary structures.  These are areas that offer the safest and most convenient sites for tents and other structures.  The fee for placing a structure in a designated site is lower than the fee for using a non-designated site.

Here are the steps you will need to take in order to have a tent in the park.

1. Fill out the Temporary Structure Permit Application.  Please answer all the questions as fully and accurately as you can.  Return the completed application, with your payment, at least 5 business days prior to your event. 

2. Call Digger's Hotline (1-800-242-8511) no earlier than 14 days before your event, and no later than 5 working days prior to the event.  You must meet this timeline.  There are no exceptions.

3. Digger's Hotline will assign you a Ticket Number for each area that will be excavated.  You must furnish this number to the Parks Office at least 5 days prior to the event.  You may fax or call the ticket number to us.  Be sure to give us your name, the park site, the ticket number and the date the tent will be installed.

4. Proof of Insurance is also a requirement.  The company you are renting the tent from must have insurance that provides at least $1,000,000 aggregate coverage and must name the City of Madison as additionally insured.  The following companies have insurance on file with the City of Madison. 

• A to Z Rental

• Bucky's Tent Rental

• Capital City Tent Rental

• Gallagher Tent & Awning

• Madison Party Rental

• Mathews Tent Rental

If you choose to rent from another company, you will need to make sure the company provides the correct coverage.

Decorations :
Nails, staples and glue are prohibited in our shelters.  Only adhesives that do not harm the surfaces may be use.  The Parks Division recommends freestanding decorations.

Clean-up :
Please leave your park and area clean.  Put all of your trash, decorations, etc. in the provided trash barrels.  Failure to comply with this may result in a forfeiture of the key/shelter deposit.

Reservations for General Parks :
Reservations for shelters for the following year are taken begin mid-October.  Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis, in person or by phone.  Please keep in mind that some parks host large, regional events and are scheduled in advance.  Some research on dates of annual events and having several dates in mind will help your event and the reservation process go more smoothly.

1.  Park hours are from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and the parks must be vacated by that time. If your reservation is for 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., please vacate promptly for the second group coming in at 4:00 p.m. Park Maintenance does not clean and restock shelters between half-day reservations. The Park Commission does NOT guarantee absolute privacy to any group.

2.  Reservations require a minimum of 10-days notice and are issued by the Parks Administration Office, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 120, Madison, WI 53701-2987 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Monday - Friday or by phone at (608) 266-4711.

3.  Your receipt is your proof of reservation. Please bring it with you.  Reservation schedules are also posted in the shelters.

4.  All shelters have lights, which are on timers.  All shelters have circuit breakers that you can reset if you blow a fuse.  If the lights do not go on by 8:00 p.m., or if there is any other problem with the shelter (or if someone else is in the reserved shelter and they don't leave after you show them your receipt and ask them to), contact the Police Department (266-4275).

5.  Shelter reservations do not include exclusive use of any other park amenity.  This includes the use of the ball diamonds, tennis courts and playground equipment.  These areas are used on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please limit use of these areas to one hour at a time if another group is waiting.

6.  All reservation facilities are equipped with trash and recyclable containers.  You are responsible for cleanup.  Please, no glass containers in the parks.  If you have any glass empties, please take them home with you to be recycled there.

7.  DRIVING OR PARKING MOTORIZED VEHICLES ON GRASS IS PROHIBITED

8.  CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS OR TRANSFERS:  Cancellations must be in writing and must include the return of the current reservation receipt.  Refunds will only be issued on requests a) that are postmarked at least 14 days prior to the event, AND b) where the facility is re-rented at least 10 days prior to the reservation date.  If the facility is re-rented, a $45.00 cancellation fee will be charged on half-day reservations and a $60.00 cancellation fee will be charged on full day reservations.  Reservations may be changed/transferred with a minimum of two weeks written notice and the return of the current reservation receipt.  All changes are subject to an $15.00 service charge fee.

9.  The Parks Division does not rents tables, chairs, and benches. You may rent them through rental companies. (Exception is Olin Park Shelter where 30 tables and 150 stackable chairs are included in the rental cost.)

Parks with no Shelters - for small ceremonies :

Parks that do not have shelters may be used for small ceremonies or parties without a reservation.  However, to ensure your day is special, please call the Parks Division in advance.  We will alert you to any scheduled events, parties, and celebrations.

Back to Top