Bernie's Beach Park

Address: | 901 Gilson St. |
Hours: | 4:00am - 10:00pm |
Park Type: | Mini |
Acres: | 1.17 |
Restroom: | Yes |
Drinking Water: | Yes |
Shoreline On: | Monona Bay |
Park Details
Alternate address: 502 South Shore DriveAlcohol is prohibited in this park. For more information, see the Madison General Ordinance 8.24. In order to have alcohol in this park, you must have an alcohol permit, which may be obtained through the Parks Administrative Office.
Park Highlights
ACCESSIBLE MAT
Summertime brings beachgoers! Thanks to funding provided by the Madison Parks Foundation, Bernie's Beach has an accessible mat during the typical beach season - Memorial weekend through Labor Day.

At this Park
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Beach
Beach swimming season is typically Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. This is when Parks staff clean and maintain designated beaches and sites with restrooms are open from approximately 11am to 7pm daily. See RESTROOMS to view locations. Swimming ropes are provided at a number of the beaches and indicated on this page. No lifeguards are on duty.
Lake Water Quality Testing
Public Health Madison & Dane County performs lake water quality testing starting around Memorial Day and continuing through around Labor Day. Water quality test results are automatically posted on this page and signal whether the water in the swimming area is "OK" or "CLOSED." The beach area and park remain open. If OK, the water quality is approved for swimming, however, it does not mean a lifeguard is on duty.
Accessiblity
Thanks to funding provided by the Madison Parks Foundation, accessible beach mats are available at Bernie's and Vilas beaches.
Rules
The following rules apply to designated beaches and beach areas.- No dogs are allowed on the sand or in the roped swim area.
- Only US Coast Guard-approved lifejackets are allowed.
- Alcohol is allowed at certain beaches; see Park Rules for further details.
- Children under 5 years of age must be actively supervised (watching your child at all times and providing immediate assistance) by a caregiver 16 years of age or over.
- Toys are allowed, but the use of toys may be restricted for the safety of patrons.
- The City of Madison is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.
- Boats are not allowed in the swimming area. The swim area is defined by the outer buoys.
- Fishing is not allowed in the swimming area.
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Bernie's Beach
Public Health Water Testing:Address: 901 Gilson St.Open
Restroom: Yes
Drinking Water: Yes
Parking: Street Parking
Amenities: Picnic Tables
Swim Ropes: Yes
Lifeguard: No
Bernie's Beach Details -
Playground
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
View all Playgrounds
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.-
Bernie's Beach Park - Playground
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Restroom
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*
+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-
Bernie's Beach Park
OPEN
Notes: See Beaches: cityofmadison.com/parks/beach for the schedule.