February 8, 2024 9:57 AM

Madison Parks is updating its Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) and seeking input from area residents. The purpose of the POSP is to guide and inform public park policies and park facility decisions in the city of Madison. Parks staff is working with a consultant planning team led by MSA … [read more]

July 7, 2023 11:05 AM

While the current anticipated outbreak of spongy moth is alarming to witness and does cause stress to many trees, long-term management of this species and our urban forest requires a broad focus. Unfortunately, the spongy moth is well-established throughout most of Wisconsin. From a statewide and … [read more]

June 21, 2023 9:01 AM

Madison Parks is seeking volunteers to assist with daily goat checks. Goat checkers will ensure the goats and their area are in good condition, ideally each morning and after a storm. Duties include: Patrol the entire fence to ensure it is intact and no branches are leaning against … [read more]

November 10, 2020 3:32 PM

Take a walk in nature this fall! As we continue to follow safety guidelines from Public Health Madison & Dane County, and are unable to promote guided Bird & Nature Outings, our volunteer nature experts created these suggestions for self-guided walks. Explore beyond these tips, check out … [read more]

October 3, 2020 9:14 PM

Take a self-guided walk in nature any day this fall. As we continue to follow safety guidelines from Public Health Madison & Dane County, and are unable to promote guided Bird & Nature Outings, our volunteer nature experts have created these suggested walks. Follow and tag us on … [read more]

August 27, 2020 12:40 PM

For anyone, starting a new job can be exciting and maybe a bit stressful. For Laurel Franklin, her new role in Madison Parks offers her a place to shine and put her years of experience to work. As Madison Parks newest Land Stewardship Technician and the first woman in the role, Laurel manages the … [read more]

July 1, 2020 3:56 PM

Celebrate National Park & Recreation Month by exploring Madison Parks with a self-guided nature walk on any day in July. Tenney Park, 1330 Sherman Avenue Butterflies and Their Host Plants Take a beautiful nature walk at Tenney Park to enjoy looking at the native Wisconsin flowers, … [read more]

May 15, 2020 12:09 PM

You've probably heard about garlic mustard. While sometimes used to make a pesto or as a salad topping, this invasive plant dominates and displaces quality native plants and vegetation. In its first year, garlic mustard has basal, heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. By the second year, … [read more]

May 8, 2020 10:15 AM

Beginning Birding with Nancy Frozen What's so fun about birding? Nancy Frozen, Master Naturalist and Bird & Nature Outing guide shared her thoughts. Nancy says, "Birding is fun and challenging to look for those flighty, skittish birds and remember shape, size, color, beak, songs, and … [read more]

May 7, 2020 4:27 PM

Volunteers are needed for the Canada Goose management program. Madison Parks is seeking volunteers to assist with weekly counts of numbers of geese at specific parks, beaches, golf courses, and greenways in the city. Volunteers are also needed to help discourage geese from using certain … [read more]

April 2, 2020 11:20 AM

In a perfect world, Madison Parks volunteer nature experts would provide guided walks each weekend as part of the on-going, year-round Bird & Nature Outing series. Today, we must learn to adapt to these unique times, in order to stay safe and still enjoy nature. We encourage you to … [read more]

March 24, 2020 4:48 PM

While staying at home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is the safest, Public Health Madison & Dane County believes that our parks, trails, and open spaces are essential resources for health and wellness. Even with Wisconsin's Safer at Home order as of March 25, 2020, we recognize … [read more]

January 3, 2020 1:27 PM

2019 is in the books, and with it a lot of fond memories made in Madison Parks. Millions of visits across the system with people enjoying themselves, nature, and each other. I thought I would borrow from a fellow native Hoosier and make a top ten list. There are certainly more than 10 laudable … [read more]

September 5, 2019 2:59 PM

Progress for pollinators continues in the city and in particular in Madison Parks, Golf Courses and Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The Parks Division uses a number of strategies to protect and enhance habitat for pollinators. Our primary focus is to properly manage land, which we do according to … [read more]

June 9, 2017 3:12 PM

How should Madison Parks grow? What should we improve? How do we prepare for future generations of parks enthusiast? These are the questions we have been asking as part of the engagement process for the 2018-2022 Park and Open Space Plan which will guide the future of our park system. As part … [read more]

May 23, 2017 8:29 AM

On Monday, May 15, conservation parks staff hosted students from John Muir Elementary School at Owen Conservation Park for a pond exploration day. About 175 students from 11 classes, spanning 1st through 5th grades, made the two-block journey from the school to the ponds at the south end of the … [read more]

May 1, 2017 11:20 AM

Where are coyotes? You may be surprised (or not) to learn of their existence in our urban areas. The UW Urban Canid Project, led by Dr. David Drake of the UW-Madison Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, aims to learn more about the coyote and red fox population in Madison. The number of … [read more]

April 4, 2017 3:33 PM

As previously detailed, Parks staff inspected the area around the lagoon at Warner Park and confirmed more than 12 trees had irreparable damage or had recently fallen to beaver destruction. Staff also determined that a number of the damaged trees would need to be removed due to their now … [read more]

August 19, 2016 9:39 AM

The City of Madison Parks Division and Public Health of Madison and Dane County had the privilege of working with several Wanda Fullmore interns this summer. Six of the PHMDC interns focused their work on learning about how kids in Madison connect with nature by surveying youth around the City. … [read more]