City of Madison

posted March 14, 2019 3:07 PM

Once the fields open for the season, we know you'll want to get your game on! For more information about reserving an athletic field, please email parksathletics@cityofmadison.com 

posted March 20, 2019 2:50 PM

March 20th marks the first day of spring. With the warming temperatures and sap running, residents may be thinking of maple tree tapping. However, there are three important reasons why City-owned street or Park trees should not be tapped:

It can harm the tree.

• City life is hard for trees. There is limited space for terrace trees to grow, and the soil around the roots may be compacted or of poor quality. City trees are also exposed to urban issues like air pollution, heavy salt usage, run-off from homeowners' pesticide and fertilizer applications, etc. All of this tends to place a lot of stress on trees.
• Tapping introduces two additional stressors – it reduces a tree's energy reserves and it creates a wound in the tree. For a healthy sugar maple tree in a forest, neither of these may cause issues and the tree can be tapped each year. For a city tree, that extra stress may cause decline.

It may spread disease.

• A taphole is a wound, and just like in humans, it may act as an opening for disease. For instance, Verticillium wilt is a fungal infection that can spread via open wounds. If an infected tree is tapped and the tap is used on another tree without proper sanitation, then the disease can easily spread.
• Even if the tap is not used on multiple trees, the wound can still be an entry point for opportunistic diseases or pests.

It is against City ordinance.

• Madison General Ordinance 23.24 (Breaking, Damaging or Injuring Trees, Shrubs) tapping for sap in a maple or other type of tree is not allowed. 
• The ordinance states that, if a resident damages a terrace tree with a diameter of more than 3", they shall be subject to a forfeiture of $155 per diameter inch.

Please help maintain our urban forest, and do not injure city-owned street or Park trees.

If you witness someone tapping trees, please contact the Forestry Office at 608-266-4816 (M-F, 7am to 3pm) or Madison Police Department, after hours. 

posted March 19, 2019 11:28 AM

The Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Skatepark at McPike Park is open! 

• Spring hours (through 4/11): 8am to dusk 
• Summer hours (begin 4/12): 8am to 10pm, lights on!