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Orton Park

Orton Park
Address: 1103 Spaight St.
Hours: 4:00am - 10:00pm
Park Type:> Mini
Acres: 3.58
Restroom: No
Drinking Water: Yes

Park History

Orton Park comprises the entire Block 180 of the original plat of Madison. The settlement of Madison was officially recognized as a village in 1846 and in 1848 Block 180 was designated as the village's official cemetery. In 1857, however, shortly after Madison became a city, the land that is now Forest Hill Cemetery was purchased for that purpose. In 1877 all of the burials that could be found where removed from the old village cemetery and reinterred at Forest Hill. In 1883 the old cemetery site was declared an official city park, the first in Madison. It was named after Harlow S. Orton, one of Madison's former mayors and a supreme court justice at the time. In 1887 the park was officially opened. Orton Park remained the city's first public park until the Madison Parks and Pleasure Drive Association started their campaign to add parks to the city at the turn-of-the-last-century.

Orton Park was designated a City of Madison landmark on October 6, 1975 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. More history can be found on Orton Park's Landmark Nomination Form (pdf).

At this Park

  • OPEN: (Updated 06/15/2020): Help us keep the courts open by following these adjustments and precautions. 

    • Play with members of your immediate household only
    • Pickup games are not allowed with persons outside of your immediate household since it is not possible to maintain 6ft physical distancing
    • Stay home if you are ill.
    • Consider wearing a face-covering.
    • Use hand sanitizer and avoid touching common touchpoints. 
    Sports Guidance and FAQs

    View COVID-19 for all impacted City services. More information: Public Health Madison & Dane County 
    Madison Parks ranks #1 in the nation for the number of basketball hoops per resident, come check out the hoops in your neighborhood! Most of the basketball courts are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are planning a new league or tournament see Athletic Field Reservations. 

    View all Basketball Courts

    • Orton Park - Basketball Court

      Surface: Asphalt
      Lighted: No
      Number of Courts:

  • Madison Parks are a unique blend of active recreation and passive recreation spaces.  Open Fields are just that - open, not pre-designed as a softball diamond, or football field.  These open fields are available in these parks to spark your imagination, play a game of tag, or follow the leader - or anything you can think of!  Enjoy your parks!

    View all Open Fields

    • Orton Park - Open Field Games

  • Madison Parks offers smaller picnic shelters that may be reserved for exclusive use or are available on a first-come, first served basis when not previously reserved.  Please call (608) 266-4711 to check availability and reserve your favorite shelter. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. 
     
    2021 FEES & PERMITS:

    NOTE:
    • Additional large shelters are reservable online (except Gates of Heaven)
    • Madison Parks does not guarantee absolute privacy to any group.  Your reservation will reserve only the facility you are using, not the entire park or other facilities within the park. If you are interested in reserving the entire park, please visit Special Events.
    • Alcohol is permitted in most Madison Parks. There are a handful that are alcohol-free. In order to have alcohol in these parks, you must have a reservation and an alcohol permit, which can be obtained when placing a reservation.
    • All picnic shelters are open year-round, however, if the picnic shelter has restrooms, these are open seasonally (closed winter/cold months).
    • Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters. Violators may be considered trespassers and may be subject to forfeiture or arrest.
    • **IMPORTANT**Public improvements and/or construction may be underway during the time of your reservation.  The City of Madison Parks Division makes every attempt to schedule around events and shelter reservations whenever possible, however, this is not a guarantee.  Please keep in mind improvements to parks and infrastructure continues throughout the year.  Please see Park Projects  for park improvement that may impact a nearby shelter.

    CHANGES & CANCELLATIONS OF PICNIC SHELTER RESERVATIONS:

    • Cancellation requests must be submitted to the Parks Administration Office in writing to:
      210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, #104, Madison, WI  53703 or by email. 
    • There is no charge to change the date and/or location, if the request is received 28 days or more prior to event date.
    • Full refunds are given, at no charge for cancellation requests received at least 28 days prior to the event date.
    • Cancellations and changes received 27 to 11 days prior to the event date (counting notice date and event date) will incur a $10 administrative fee. 
    • No cancellations or changes will be accepted 10 days or fewer before the event date (counting notice date and event date).

     

    View all Picnic Shelters

    • Orton Park Gazebo

      Restrooms: No
      Lighted: Yes

  • OPEN: (Updated 06/15/2020) Playgrounds are open with the following precautions: 

    • Maintain at least 6' between people outside of your immediate household.
    • Consider sanitizing common touchpoints.
    • Use hand sanitizer after use. 
    View COVID-19 for all impacted City services. More information: Public Health Madison & Dane County
     

    View all Playgrounds

    • Orton Park - Playground

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