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Wingra Park and Boat Livery

Wingra Park and Boat Livery
Address: 824 Knickerbocker St.
Hours: 4:00am - 10:00pm
Park Type:> Neighborhood
Acres: 11.76
Restroom: Yes
Drinking Water: Yes
Shoreline On: Lake Wingra

Park History

In 1900, the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association acquired the ten acres that is now known as Wingra Park and Boat Livery on Lake Wingra, between Terry Place and Knickerbocker Street.  It was originally the site of the Knickerbocker Ice Company storehouse, when ice was being harvested on Lake Wingra.  The ice harvesting was later operated by the Conklin Ice Company, and the park was first known as Olin Playground when acquired by the Association, although it appears as Conklin Park on early city maps.  The name was changed to Washington Park and subsequently to Wingra Park.  The area residents raised $200 for improvements of Washington Park and the street connected with it, and an addition to the park was made possible in 1925 by the Olin Trust Fund.  Another addition was made to the park in 1937 by what was known as the Cedars area.  The park now encompasses over ten acres and gives a wide variety of recreational facilities which include:  basketball,  bike paths, boat rental, picnic and play areas, shoreline fishing, and a scenic overlook.

At this Park

  • 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 RESERVE ONLINE

    View all Basketball Courts

    • Wingra Park and Boat Livery - Basketball Court

      Surface: Asphalt
      Lighted: No
      Number of Courts:

  • Boat Launch News

    • Installations Update Friday, April 11
      • In: Law, Marshall, Olbrich, Olin, Tenney, Warner
      • Seasonal piers are starting to be installed this week. Due to their crane installation, timing is dependent on ground conditions and the wind/weather. 
    • Year-Round Piers
      • Lake Monona at Olbrich boat launch
      • Starkweather Creek kayak launch at Olbrich
      • Brittingham Bay near Brittingham shelter
      • Lake Mendota at Marshall and Spring Harbor boat launches
      • Yahara River at Cherokee Marsh South and Olin 
    • Free Fun Weekend - No permit is required!
      • Saturday & Sunday, June 7-8, 2025

    Madison Parks maintains boat launches to access both Mendota and Monona lakes to launch a motorboat, sailboat, iceboat, canoe, kayak, or ATVs. A daily or annual permit is required year-round. Piers are available from spring through mid-fall. Installation and removal are dependent on the weather and lake conditions. 

    • Lake Monona: Law, Olbrich, Olin 
    • Lake Mendota: Marshall, Spring Harbor, Tenney, Warner

    2025 Fees

    Daily $8
    Annual - Dane County Resident $50
    Annual - Non-Resident $60
    Annual - Dane County Senior (65+) & Disabled $25
    Annual - Non-Res Senior (65+) & Disabled $30
    Military/Veteran $25
    Duplicate/Replacement $20

    PURCHASE PERMIT

    • 2024 permit is valid through March 31, 2025. 
    • 2025 permit is available for purchase starting Nov. 1 and is valid from the time of purchase through March 31, 2026. 

    Lake Access Permit

    • A daily or annual permit is required year-round to launch a motorboat, sailboat, iceboat, canoe, kayak, or ATV.
    • See Ordinance 8.215 for details.
    • Purchase permit ONLINE or by calling during regular office hours. 
    • Iron rangers are NOT available for onsite cash purchasing. 
    • The permit is valid for the issue year through March 31 of the following year.
    • Permits for the following year may be purchased starting November 1 of the previous year. 
    • The permit should be displayed on the inside driver's side windshield. 
    • The permit is valid at designated launch sites throughout Dane County. MAP 

    Olbrich Boat Launch, Boaters Advised to Use Caution 
    Boaters are advised to use caution navigating the narrowed channel where the Starkweather Creek meets Lake Monona due to low lake levels and creek sediment. Dane County Land and Water Resources install channel markers to assist boaters. Boaters may consider launching at alternate sites such as Olin, Tonyawatha or Winnequah. Lake Access permit holders may use any of the designated launch sites throughout Dane County. 

    Launch Area Parking Rules and Tips (Ordinance 8.16)

    • Long stalls are for parking vehicles with trailers only. 
    • Regular-size stalls are for parking vehicles with no trailer only. 
    • Parking on the grass is prohibited.
    • When the launch parking lot is full, you must find an alternative launch site
    • Violators are subject to a citation. 

    View all Boat Launches

    • Wingra Park and Boat Livery - Boat Launch

      Location: 824 Knickerbocker St.
      Lake Access Permit Required: No

      Notes: Access Lake Wingra. No trailer parking available.
  • Madison Parks offers various locations to launch a canoe or kayak and is allowed at all of Madison Parks motorboat launch sites. Additionally, the parks listed below have a specially designated area for launch.

    If you are looking to store your kayak or canoe in a park, please visit the storage webpage.
      View all Canoe & Kayak Launch Sites

  • Interested in getting out on one of Madison's lakes but you don't have your own watercraft? No problem! We have partners at locations throughout the city offering these great lake amenities!

    View all Canoe & Kayak Rental

    • Madison Boats at Wingra Park

      Location: 824 Knickerbocker St
      Telephone: (608) 233-5332
      More Information: Madison Boats at Wingra Park
      Notes: Available: Canoes, single and tandem kayaks, stand up paddleboards, paddle boats, water mats, fishing boats and pontoon boats
  • Madison Parks offers seasonal and year-round fishing piers. Year-round locations include Brittingham Park (near shelter), Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park, South (School Road), Olbrich Park (Starkweather Creek), and Spring Harbor Park. 

    An accessible pier is located in Vilas Park, on Lake Wingra and at Warner Park, on the Warner Park lagoon.  

    Wisconsin residents aged 16 years old or older need a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. Nonresidents aged 16 years old or older need a nonresident fishing license to fish in Wisconsin waters with hook and line. Visit the Wisconsin DNR website for more information.

    Every year, the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June and the third Saturday and Sunday in January, are designated as Free Fishing Weekends throughout the state of Wisconsin. Residents and nonresidents of all ages can fish without a fishing license (and trout stamps) over these two days.  Visit WI DNR
     
    MESSAGE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH MADISON & DANE COUNTY: Eating fish can be a delicious, low-cost, and nutritious meal. However, eating certain fish can also be harmful because they may contain mercury, PCBs, or PFAS. See PHMDC for more information. 
    View all Fishing

  • 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

    • Wingra Park - Soccer

  • 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. 
     

    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

    • Wingra Park and Boat Livery - Playground

  • Restroom Updates

    • Seasonal restrooms are expected to reopen on Saturday, April 26. Open hours are approximately 10am to 8pm.   
      • This city-wide process takes weeks to complete and staff may discover unexpected issues that may delay the opening of a specific location. This webpage will be updated.
      • The opening is timed for when the overnight temps are traditionally and consistently above freezing, to allow the water to be turned back on safely, and we have additional staff to clean the restrooms. 
      • This does not include beach restrooms. 
    • Bubblers and drinking fountains: Our goal is to have bubblers and water fountains turned on by the Memorial weekend. This is a city-wide process that takes weeks to complete.
    Madison Parks offers seasonal and year-round restrooms throughout the park system. Indoor restrooms are open daily, approximately 10am to 8pm. 

    Open Year-Round 
    • Brittingham Park (2) at beach house and boat house+
    • Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North*
    • Door Creek Park+
    • Elver Park enclosed shelter*
    • Owen Conservation Park*
    • Warner Park boat launch* 
    *Indoor
    +ADA Accessible Portable

    NOTE: Portable toilets not identified on this page are most likely arranged by a user group, such as an athletic organization and may not be accessible. All portable restrooms identified on the page are arranged by Madison Parks and are ADA accessible. 
     

    View all Restrooms

    • Wingra Park at Madison Boats

      CLOSED

      Notes: Restrooms are open when Madison Boats is open. Hours vary, see www.madisonboats.com

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