Check out the hoops in your neighborhood! Most of the basketball courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are planning a new league or tournament RESERVE ONLINE

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• Walnut Grove Park - Basketball Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 1 full
  

Dog Park News

• Temporary Closure Notice: Sycamore Off-Leash Dog Park will be closed for maintenance in the morning on Tuesday, July 8. We anticipate the area will reopen by 12pm. 

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While leashed dogs are allowed in most Madison parks (see dog-prohibited areas), we also offer 9 fenced, off-leash dog park areas. Three of the locations, Odana School, Warner and Sycamore, also provide a separate small-dog fenced area. 

2025 Fees

• REQUIRED A daily or annual dog permit is required and may be purchased ONLINE or by calling (608)266-4711
  • 2025 permit is valid from the time of purchase through December 31, 2025. 
    • A permit is required in order to bring your dog to any park, off-leash and on-leash, where a dog is allowed. See Dog Free Park for exceptions. 
    • The dog permit is part of the Cooperative Dog Park Program and is also valid for use in Dane County Parks, City of Sun Prairie parks, and City of Middleton parks.
  • 2026 permits go on sale November 1.
• A dog license is required for ALL visiting dogs. City of Madison residents may purchase through the City of Madison Treasury Office.
  • Dogs visiting from other areas are always welcome with proper licenses and/or vaccinations from your town/municipality. Be prepared to show proof if asked by a Park Ranger.
  • A dog license is ONLY available after a veterinarian administers a rabies vaccination within 30 days after the dog reaches 4 months. Dogs under 5 months of age or without proper vaccinations, are therefore not licensed and are PROHIBITED.
• REQUIRED Dogs must remain on a leash to/from your vehicle to the inside of the dog park area.
• PROHIBITED AREAS
  • Dogs are not allowed in any conservation park, near playgrounds, designated beaches, athletic fields, in or near park shelters, and a few other notable locations. See Dog Free Parks for a complete list of locations.
  • During the winter dogs are not permitted on designated cross-country ski trails. See Cross-Country Skiing for locations.
• Bring Your Own Water Sharing water is not recommended and can lead to parasites and disease transmission. DO NOT LEAVE WATER OR WATER BOWLS. 

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WARNER PARK LAGOON Unlike the water at public beaches, the water in the lagoon at Warner Park is not tested by Public Health Madison & Dane County. Always check the conditions before letting your dog in the water. LEARN MORE 

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On July 13, 2016 the Board of Park Commissioners approved the Policy and Guidelines for Off-Leash Dog Park Service Area Standards within the Madison Park System with Attachment A. The Policy is intended to guide the Parks Division in planning new off-leash dog park (exercise) areas and to set standards for responding to requests for the creation of off-leash dog park (exercise) areas in the Madison Parks system. 

View all Dog Off-Leash Parks

• Walnut Grove Park - Dog Off-Leash Park

  Location: 202 N. Westfield Rd.
  Bag Dispenser: Yes
  Benches: Yes
  Fountain: No
  Fencing: Yes
  Shelter: No
  
  OPEN
  
  Notes: 1.17 acres

Open or Multipurpose Fields are reservable athletic fields with no game-specific design or limitations. Often used for soccer, ultimate, lacrosse or football, yet open to your imagination. Multipurpose Fields are located throughout the city and may be used on a first-come, first-served basis if not already reserved. RESERVE ONLINE

SPECIALIZED FIELDS
Specialized fields include soccer, cricket, ball diamonds - baseball or softball and both fenced and non-fenced, may be viewed on the individual pages. See the sidebar on the Athletics webpage. 

View all Multipurpose Fields

• Walnut Grove Park - Multipurpose Field

• Walnut Grove Soccer West

Pickleball Court Update

Brittingham Park - Staff replaced the south side poles and fencing with temporary 6ft fencing. This is due to significant metal corrosion observed, posing a potential safety hazard. See the Brittingham Park project page for updates and replacement information. 
 

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Among the nearly 100 tennis courts in Madison, many are dual-striped for pickleball. Dual-striped courts utilize the tennis net which is about 2" taller than a standard pickleball net. Garner Park offers Madison's only dedicated pickleball courts.

While the courts are available for individuals on a first-come, first-served basis, ALL LEAGUES AND LESSONS MUST RESERVE IN ADVANCE. RESERVE ONLINE

View all Pickleball Courts

• Walnut Grove Park - Pickleball Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 2
  
  Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts

Picnic shelters, also called sun shelters, are smaller, open-air structures that provide a little shade and typically some seating. They do not protect from severe weather, such as lightning. A picnic shelter may be reserved or used on a first-come, first-served basis if not previously reserved. 

RULES & TIPS

• 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, as long as there is no glass. A handful of parks are alcohol-free and require a permit to bring alcohol. You must have a reservation to obtain an alcohol permit.
• All picnic shelters are open year-round, however, if the picnic shelter has restrooms, these are open seasonally and closed for the winter typically October - April.
• In the event of severe weather, picnic shelters are not lightening protection areas. Please seek an alternative location. 
• Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters. Violators may be considered trespassers and may be subject to forfeiture or arrest.
• Park 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.

View all Picnic Shelters

• Walnut Grove Park Picnic Shelter

  Restrooms: No
  Lighted: Yes
  

Playground News

• Temporary Closure Notice: Most of the playground at Nakoma Park reopened on Tuesday, July 22. One of the swingsets will remain closed as we wait for additional surface material to arrive later this week. 

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With more than 175 playgrounds throughout Madison, you are never too far from a playground. According to the Trust for Public Land, Madison ranks #1 in the nation for the number of playgrounds available. The traditional swings and slides are always an option, as are new play elements and fully accessible playgrounds. 

PLAYGROUNDS 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. 
 

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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 conditions 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 using 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.

If you have questions about a specific playground or see something broken, please let us know. 

View all Playgrounds

• Walnut Grove Park - Playground

Snowshoeing in Madison Parks

Experience winter in Madison Parks like never before with snowshoeing!  This silent sport is a fantastic way to explore many of our parks during the winter months and is easy to learn.

Snowshoe Rentals & Concessions
Snowshoe rentals are available from the staff warming shelter at Elver and Vilas. 

Snowshoe Rentals	Price
Adult - first hour	$5
Youth - age 15 and younger, first hour	$3
Each additional hour	$2
Adult - daily	$25
Adult - each additional day	$15
Youth - daily	$10
Youth - each additional day	$5

SNOWSHOEING TIPS 

• Designated snowshoe trails are offered in the following parks. 
  • Cherokee Marsh South - see MAP
  • Door Creek Park - See MAP
  • Elver Park - see MAP
• Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in a general park with good snow cover - typically about 4" or more, except on a marked cross-country ski trail. 
• Snowshoeing is allowed in any trail in a conservation park, except Owen, and Turville Point, which are designated ski trails. 
• DO NOT snowshoe off-trail in a conservation park. 
  • Snowshoeing, hiking, and skiing off-trail can destroy snow tunnels used by native small rodents (deer mice, shrews) by the trampling effect. These small mammals are an important part of the wetland and grassland ecology in our conservation parks. Destruction of these tunnel networks makes small mammals more vulnerable to predation.
• When in doubt, it's always best to stay on a trail.
  • Our trail systems are designed to facilitate controlled public access while protecting environmentally sensitive areas and providing a quiet refuge for wildlife away from people. Disruption of wildlife by human activity during the winter puts additional stress on them during a challenging time for their survival. 

View all Snowshoeing

Tennis Court Update

Brittingham Park - Staff replaced the south side poles and fencing with temporary 6ft fencing. This is due to significant metal corrosion observed, posing a potential safety hazard. See the Brittingham Park project page for updates and replacement information.  

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Madison Parks offers nearly 100 tennis courts, many are dual-stripped for tennis and pickleball.  While the courts are available for individuals on a first-come, first-served basis, ALL LEAGUES AND LESSONS MUST RESERVE IN ADVANCE. RESERVE ONLINE

Practice Wall Locations
Bordner, Brittingham, Elver, Olbrich, Tenney, Waunona and Westmorland

Vilas Park Tennis Courts (as of April 30, 2024)
Due to the deteriorating conditions and safety concerns, the Vilas Park tennis courts are closed. 

View all Tennis Courts

• Walnut Grove Park - Tennis Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 2
  
  Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts