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. 

• Door Creek Park - Basketball Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 2 full
  

Grooming the Trails: How & When  

Elver Park 2021-22 Update: Through a mutual decision, there will be no machine-made snow loop at Elver Park this winter season. The MadNorSki, CXC and Parks team are focusing efforts on improvements to the natural ski trails and grooming, as conditions allow. READ MORE ABOUT THIS DECISION

• FREE-TO-USE: Four groomed trails are free-to-use (Cherokee Marsh South, Door Creek, Owen and Turville Point).
• PERMIT REQUIRED: Elver, Odana Hills, and Yahara Hills are groomed more regularly as conditions allow and require a daily or annual Cross-Country Ski Permit for anyone aged 16 years or older. (scroll to green Purchase Permit button).
• RESTROOMS: Available at Elver, Owen, Odana (portable) and Yahara (portable). 
• SKI RENTALS: Classic ski rentals, sleds, snowshoes and ice skates are available. See Elver Park for hours and rates. 
• Learn more about cross-country skiing in Madison Parks:
  • Read Winter Fun: Cross-Country Skiing
  • Subscribe to Winter Recreation News

2022 Permit Fees 

• Door Creek - Skiing

  Location: 7035 Littlemore Dr.
  
  Closed
  Cross-Country Skiing at Door Creek Park
  

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!

• Door Creek Park - Open Field Games

GARNER COURT CLOSURE NOTICE (03/22/2022): Courts 5 and 6 are closed until further notice. Cracks reopened following last season's repair work and will remain closed until known deficits are corrected by the contractor. We anticipate this work will start in late May or early June and at that time, all courts will need to be closed.  

• Door Creek Park - Pickleball Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 4
  
  Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts (4)

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 all-inclusive playgrounds in Brittingham Park and Elver Park, opening in 2019.  The Foundation has a goal of 5 fully accessible playgrounds. 

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. 

• Door Creek Park - Playground

Open public restrooms are listed below. All portable restrooms are accessible. 

Year-Round: Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North, Warner Boat Launch, and Owen Conservation Park have restrooms that are open throughout the year. 

Late April through First October Weekend, 10am to 8pm daily: seasonal restrooms are open the first Saturday on or after April 20 and closed for the season on the first Monday in October. 

Winter: Elver, Tenney, and Vilas have open restrooms when the winter recreation amenity of that park is open. Please check Winter Fun for the status of winter recreation at a specific park. Other portable restrooms are also added in a number of popular winter recreation locations. 

• Door Creek Portable Restroom

  OPEN

• DO snowshoe anywhere in a general park with good snow-cover, except on a cross-country ski groomed trail (Door Creek, Elver, Odana Hills, and Yahara Hills).
• DO snowshoe at Elver Park on the marked trail only - MAP.
• DO snowshoe at Yahara Hills on the marked trail only - MAP.
• DO snowshoe on a trail in any conservation park, except those groomed for cross-country skiing (Cherokee Marsh South, Owen, and Turville Point) 
• DO snowshoe with sufficient snow (typically 4" or more).
• DON'T 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 the 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 quiet refuges 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.
• Learn more:
  • Read Your Guide to Snowshoeing in Madison Parks
  • Subscribe to Winter Recreation News

Madison Parks has nearly 100 tennis courts.  Most of the tennis courts are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. When courts are reserved, at least one must be left available for pick-up play. Please note that all tennis leagues and all tennis instructors must pay for a reservation, no matter the location. Go to: Athletic Field Reservations

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

Shared Pickleball Courts
Brittingham, Door Creek, Elver, Heritage Heights, Kennedy, Nakoma, Norman Clayton, Northland Manor, Richmond Hill, Tenney, Walnut Grove, Waunona, and Westhaven Trails.
 

• Door Creek Park - Tennis Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 4
  
  Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts (4)