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 

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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. 

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• Aldo Leopold Park - Basketball Court

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

Dog Free Parks provide a place to recreate or relax without the presence of dogs. In early 2020 Madison Common Council approved the revised ordinance (MGO 8.19) allowing dogs, on-leash in most Madison Parks. The following locations prohibit dogs and are approved by the Board of Park Commissioners (initial file 59475) and as such, locations can and may change as we continue to implement the policy.

In addition, a number of locations continue to prohibit dogs. 

• Conservation parks 
• Burial mounds 
• City of Madison Golf Courses (during the golf season) 
• Olbrich Botanical Gardens 
• Playgrounds and areas within 20 feet of a playground surface 
• Splash parks, fenced areas(s) surrounding a splash park, and areas within 20 feet of the splash park surface 
• Goodman Pool and Breese Stevens Field (except for special events where dogs are specifically invited) 
• Programmed sports fields and facilities that are enclosed or substantially enclosed by a fence, whether in use or not 
• Programmed, non-fenced sports fields such as soccer, ultimate fields or softball/baseball diamonds while they are in use for programmed activities 
• Inside of shelters or other buildings 
• Groomed cross-country ski trails 
• In the water or on the beach at designated beach locations 
• Park special events except where the sponsor has requested to allow dogs, with the Park Superintendent's approval

Violators may and should be reported by contacting a Park Ranger (608) 235-0448.

View all Dog Free Parks

• Aldo Leopold Park - Dog Free Park

  Location: 2906 Traceway Dr.
  

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

• Aldo Leopold 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:

• Picnic Shelter Reservation: $35/day, including tax
• Amplified Sound Permit (optional): $60/reservation (6 hours maximum). Please ask when reserving
• Temporary Structure Permits:  $110/day, including tax
• Alcohol Permit (optional):  $55/reservation. It is required in select parks. Please ask when reserving.

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

• Aldo Leopold Park Picnic Shelter

  Restrooms: No
  Lighted: No
  

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

• Aldo Leopold Park - Playground

Madison Parks offers many hills perfect for winter sledding. The locations listed below are few suggestions for ideal sledding with a good snow base. With the exception of Elver Park, sledding hills are not maintained by park staff.

For the safety of others during COVID-19, please wear a mask or face-covering and do your best to maintain 6' from anyone outside of your household. 

The Elver Park sledding hill is one of the most popular and is lit for nighttime sledding during the open season. Sleds are available to purchase or to rent from the Elver Park shelter when staffed. See website for schedule. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the shelter is closed to the public. 

PLEASE NOTE: For your safety, and to uphold the quality of our landscapes, please do not use the sledding hills without a significant snow base.

View all Sledding

• Aldo Leopold Park - Sledding

  Warming House: No
  Concessions: No