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Aldo Leopold Park

Aldo Leopold Park
Address: 2906 Traceway Dr.
Hours: 4:00am - 10:00pm
Park Type: Neighborhood
Acres: 11.09
Restroom: No
Drinking Water: Yes

Park Details

This 11-acre park is located south of the beltline, between Fish Hatchery Road and Seminole Hwy. and features Madison's first pump track, a reservable picnic shelter, a multipurpose field, a full-court basketball, a playground, an all-levels bicycle adventure trail, and a hill perfect for sledding in the winter. 
 
pump track
The Pump Track at Aldo Leopold Park

Park Highlights

The Saris Foundation Bike Park

Inspired by the children of the neighborhood, big dreams can come true. In 2021-22 the park saw a transformation into the Saris Foundation Bike Park with the opening of the pump track and in 2023 the Cannonball Bicycle Adventure Trail, also known as the Cannonball Singletrack. 

PUMP TRACK & SKILLS TRAIL
This course is designed to use the terrain of hills and curves to maintain your speed and gain momentum as you bike the track with minimal or no pedaling. Ride the track by shifting your body to pump the bike over the bumps and through the berms.

Please be courteous to neighbors and other park users
by observing the following guidelines:
• One-way traffic only, travel in a counterclockwise direction
• For your safety, keep moving or move off the track
• Be courteous to others
• Wear a properly fitted helmet at all times
• Please ride on pavement
• Do not walk or ride on the grass inside the track
• No night riding
• No loud music
• Have fun!

What is a pump track? The basic goal of a pump track is to use the terrain, in this case, hills and curves on asphalt to maintain your speed and gain momentum as you bike the track with minimal or no pedaling.  
The Pump Track at Aldo Leopold Park
Pump & Skills Track Map

 
 

At this Park

  • 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

    View all Basketball Courts

    • Aldo Leopold Park - Basketball Court

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

  • 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

    • Multipurpose Field


      Notes: includes backstop

  • 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. 

    • See SHELTER PRICES for 2025 rates.
    • BEFORE reserving, be sure to see Parks Projects. We are continually improving our park system and some of these improvements may impact a nearby shelter. 
    • RESERVE Three Ways
      • ONLINE
      • Calling (608)266-4711
      • In-person at the Parks administration office 
    • Full payment is due at the time of processing your reservation, along with any required permits.   
      • Credit card is the only accepted method of payment. 
    • Need to CANCEL? All reservations are subject to our standard cancelation policy. 
    • Opening day to reserve a park picnic shelter for the following year begins on the first business day in November. 
    • 2025 reservations are open as of Friday, November 1, 2024.
      • IMPORTANT: Canceling a reservation made on opening day will result in a 50% refund and must be submitted at least 11 or more days before the event date. No refunds are given if the request is submitted 10 days or fewer before the event. 
    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

    • Aldo Leopold Park Picnic Shelter

      Restrooms: No
      Lighted: No

  • Playground News

    • Temporary Closure Notice: The playground at Nakoma Park will be temporarily closed for maintenance starting Monday, July 14. We anticipate the work to be completed and the playground reopened by Friday, July 18.  

    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

    • Aldo Leopold Park - Playground

  • McPike Park
    The Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Skatepark at McPike Park is free and open daily during regular park hours - 4am to 10pm. Lighting is scheduled from dusk until 10pm from April 15 to October 15. 

    Skateboards, in-line skates, and roller skates are allowed. Before visiting, please review the SKATEPARK RULES.

    History of the Skatepark at McPike Park 

    Warner Park
    Skateboarding options expanded in 2021 with the addition of the all-wheel spot at Warner Park 

    Aldo Leopold Park
    The pump track is typically used with a mountain-type bike and could also be used by skateboarding. See Aldo Leopold Park. 

    Please report any damage or debris to the Skatepark surfaces to the Parks Division at 608-235-0448.

    View all Skate Parks

    • Aldo Leopold Park Pump Track


      Notes: Use the hills & curves on asphalt to maintain your speed & gain momentum, with little to no bike pedaling.

  • Sledding in Madison Parks

    Madison Parks offers many hills perfect for winter sledding with a good snow base. Except for Elver Park, we do not monitor or maintain sledding hills but suggest locations on this page. Elver Park offers a steep, evening-lit hill with sleds available to rent or purchase, typically when the warming shelter is staffed for cross-country ski rentals.  

    Sleds & Concessions
    During the winter season, sleds are available to rent or purchase in the staffed warming shelter at Elver Park.
     
    Sleds Price
    Rent by the hour $2
    Purchase $20

    View all Sledding

    • Aldo Leopold Park - Sledding

      Warming House: No
      Concessions: No

About This Park

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