Glenwood Children's Park
| Address: | 602 Glenway St. |
| Hours: | 4:00am - 10:00pm |
| Park Type:> | Mini |
| Acres: | 2.89 |
| Restroom: | No |
| Drinking Water: | Yes |
Park History
Glenwood Children's Park is a former sandstone quarry that was used in the early years of Madison's history. It is said that North and South Halls on the UW campus were built from stone from this quarry. By the 1920s the quarry was merely an abandoned but picturesque glen. Members of the Madison Parks and Pleasure Drive Association identified it as a pleasant spot for a park in the 1920s, but it wasn't until 1943 that the Louis Gardner family purchased the site for public enjoyment. At the same time noted landscape architect Jens Jensen, known as the dean of the naturalistic style of landscaping, visited the dell and became interested in its development as a park for children. In 1949 Jensen returned to the park and supervised its renovation, with removal of alien species and the addition of flowering shrubs and trees and "council rings" for children's play.The park was designated a City of Madison landmark on April 14, 1975. More information can be found on the park's Landmark Nomination Form (PDF).
At this Park
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Playground
With more than 175 playgrounds throughout Madison, you are never too far from a playground. According to the Trust for Public Land's ParkScore (2025), Madison scores 100 out of 100 points or 32.6 per 10,000 children, for the number of basketball hoops provided to its residents.
Playground for Everyone
Through the Madison Parks Foundation initiative, Madison Parks offers accessible playgrounds in Brittingham, Elver, Rennebohm and Warner parks. An accessible playground is anticipated in Reindahl Park in the near future.
Nature Playgrounds
A nature playground uses natural materials such as logs, rocks, plants, and the surrounding land to create a play environment that encourages children to explore and connect with nature. Nature play elements can combined with traditional playground equipment like slides, swings and climbers. Check out Brittingham Park and Olbrich Park to get you started, other parks include Paunack, Garner, Tenney, Westmorland and Wingra.
Playground Replacements: How and When
Madison Parks is responsible for maintaining more than 175 playgrounds and began a system-wide replacement initiative in 2013. With current staff and funding resources, replacements are scheduled to continue through 2033. Playgrounds are routinely inspected to assess the equipment's condition and repair any safety concerns. Based on the age of the equipment and current conditions, each is given an audit score. The number of playgrounds replaced each year is based on budget allocations, staffing resources, and the current playground audit score for prioritization.
Replacement Process: Neighborhood Input
At the start of the replacement process, notices are sent to the District Alder, neighborhood association representatives, and surrounding residential addresses. Information is also posted to the project website. Generally, two public meetings are held to review surfacing and equipment options and make final selections.
View all Playgrounds
If you have questions about a specific playground or see something broken, please let us know.-
Glenwood Children's Park - Playground
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