Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Garner Park

Address: | 333 S. Rosa Rd. |
Hours: | 4:00am - 10:00pm |
Park Type: | Community |
Acres: | 41.83 |
Restroom: | Yes |
Drinking Water: | Yes |
Park Details
Madison's first dedicated pickleball courts, located in Garner Park, opened in 2016. The greater part of this park's 42 acres rises along a knoll to an overlook, where the award-winning Garner Park shelter is located. Patrons may reserve this unique facility for picnics and social gatherings. Opera in the Park, hosted by Madison Opera, is an annual free community event.
At this Park
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Basketball Court
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.
View COVID-19 for all impacted City services. More information: Public Health Madison & Dane County
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. View all Basketball Courts-
Garner Park - Basketball Court
Surface: Asphalt
Lighted: No
Number of Courts: 1 full
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Fireplace
Madison Parks has several park shelters with working fireplaces. You are welcome to use the fireplaces with your park shelter reservation. Hoyt Park also has several refurbished outdoor fireplaces where you can enjoy toasted marshmallows and a quiet evening around a fire. Just remember to bring your own wood and extinguish the fire completely before leaving the park. Please note, fires are not permitted in Vilas Park during the winter months.
View all Fireplaces -
Lacrosse Field
Many of the athletic fields are programmed with youth and adult league play. If you would like to reserve a field or facility, please call the Athletic Scheduler at 266-4711. Find out more about athletic field reservations.
View all Lacrosse Fields-
Garner Park - Lacrosse
Bleachers: No
Lighted: No
Setup: Adult
Type: Game
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Open Field
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-
Garner Park - Open Field Games
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Parking Lot
Parking lots are available in these parks for the programs or events in these parks. Parking lots are available from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm. Overnight parking is not allowed. Parking regulations specific to that park are posted at the entrance of the park. View all Parking Lots -
Pickleball Court
Open with precautions and adjustments.
PLAY IT SAFE!
Help keep pickleball courts safe and open during COVID-19 by practicing the following:- Stay home if you are ill.
- Only two individuals per court at a time.
- Play is limited to every other court.
- Limit play to one game if others are waiting.
- Maintain at least 6 feet between people outside of your household at all times.
- Do not touch or share equipment or game balls.
- Do not leave trash behind!
- Consider wearing a face-covering.
- Use hand sanitizer and avoid touching common touchpoints such as gate, nets, etc.
- Avoid direct contact with others such as paddle tapping and hand contact.
- Bring a full personal use water bottle(s), drinking fountains not available.
- Avoid congregating off-court.
- No organized groups including lessons, team practices, or matches.
- Sports Guidance and FAQs
- View COVID-19 for all impacted City services.
- More information: Public Health Madison & Dane County
Garner Park offers Madison's only dedicated pickleball courts, plus we have a number of tennis courts lined for pickleball throughout the city. Rules of the game, adopted by the USA Pickleball Association may be found here.
Pickleball courts may be reserved ONLINE.
PICKLEBALL LESSONS offered at Garner Park - June through September LEARN MORE View all Pickleball Courts-
Garner Park - Pickleball Court
Surface: Asphalt
Lighted: No
Number of Courts: 6
Notes: Madison’s first dedicated pickleball court complex opened September 2016.
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Playground
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 all Playgrounds-
Garner Park - Playground
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Restroom
CLOSED (for the 2020 season), except Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North, Warner Boat Launch, and Owen Conservation Park, which are open year-round.
Restrooms are located throughout the parks system and in most cases in a park with a reservable shelter. Most of the restrooms are available only during the summer months. Restrooms available during the winter months include those open for winter activities at the following parks: Tenney, Vilas, Elver, Olbrich, Warner and Westmorland Parks.
No firearms or weapons are permitted on this property. Violators are considered trespassers and subject to forfeiture or arrest. View all Restrooms-
Garner Park Shelter
Location: 333 S. Rosa Rd
Lighted: Yes
Open Year-Round: No
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Scenic Overlook
Many of the Madison Parks are located in ideal locations for sight seeing. Enjoy the view! View all Scenic Overlooks -
Shelter - Reservable
2021 SHELTER RESERVATIONS
- Most shelters are open mid-April through mid-October (see exceptions below). You may check availability and reserve a shelter for 2021 ONLINE or by calling (608) 266-4711.
- Full payment is due at the time of processing your reservation, along with any required permits.
- Credit card (MasterCard or Visa) is the only accepted method of payment.
- Due to COVID-19, the Parks office remains closed to the public and we cannot accept cash or check as payment.
- All reservations are subject our standard cancellation policy.
- See individual shelter details for pricing.
- Prior to reserving, be sure to visit Parks Projects. We are continually improving our park system and some of these improvements may impact a nearby shelter.
- The Shelter Reservations Guide provides details on seating capacities, and amenities such as outlets, fireplaces, and picnic tables.
Shelter Open Schedule Exceptions:
- Open year-round:
- Open mid-April through mid-November:
- John Wall Family Pavilion in Tenney Park
- Elver Park (enclosed shelter)
- Warner Park
- Olin Park (through October)
Note:
- Picnic shelters are also reservable or available on a first-come, first served basis.
- 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 of parks 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 your reservation.
- 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 visit Park Projects for a partial list of major capital improvement projects.
- Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters. Violators may be considered trespassers and may be subject to forfeiture or arrest.
- The availability of Gates of Heaven may be checked online however, you will need to call to make your reservation.
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Garner Park Shelter
Address: 333 S. Rosa Rd
Capacity: Seats 80 people in main section, 60 people in upper section
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
Shelter Details
- Most shelters are open mid-April through mid-October (see exceptions below). You may check availability and reserve a shelter for 2021 ONLINE or by calling (608) 266-4711.
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Slacklining and Hammocking
Slacklining is a balance sport which uses nylon webbing, typically 1"-2" wide, suspended horizontally between two anchor points. Slacklining and hammocking, under policy are allowed at specific times and on specific park trees. In December 2017, the Board of Park Commissioners approved a policy and guidelines for slacklining and hammocking on park trees. The policy provides inforomation on when, where and how. Please review the following documents before tethering on any park trees. View all Slacklining and Hammocking
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Sledding
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.
View all Sledding
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.-
Garner Park - Sledding
Warming House: No
Concessions: No
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Snowshoeing
Experience winter in Madison Parks like never before with snowshoeing! This silent sport is a fantastic way to explore many of our parks during the winter months and is easy to learn.
NEW - Snowshoe Rentals at Vilas Park
When the ice rinks are open and we are staffed at Vilas Park, stop over for a pair of snowshoes to rent. Be sure to check the ice skating page for the status, select the Vilas frozen lagoon or rink for hours - Wednesday - Sunday.
RATESSnowshoe Rentals Adult (16 & older) Youth (15 & under) Hourly $5 $2 Additional Hour $2 $2 Daily (24 hours) $25 $10 Additional day $15 $5
TIPS - Where is snowshoeing allowed?- 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 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 about snowshoeing in Madison Parks:
- Read Your Guide to Snowshoeing in Madison Parks
- Subscribe to Winter Recreation News
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Soccer Field
Many of the soccer fields are programmed with youth and adult league play. If you would like to reserve a field or facility, please call the Athletic Scheduler at 266-4711. Find out more about Athletic Field Reservations.
FIELDS, OPEN OR CLOSED?
The best and ONLY way to know if your field is open for play is to call the Rainout Line (608)267-8787. Weekdays the line will be updated by 2:00pm, weekends and holidays the line will be updated by 9:00am. The line will be updated if fields are questionable, if no update by times listed, fields are open for play.
View all Soccer Fields-
Garner Park - Soccer
Bleachers: No
Lighted: No
Setup: Youth
Type: Game
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Volleyball Court
Most of the volleyball courts are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are planning a new league or tournament see Athletic Field Reservations.
View all Volleyball Courts
Warner Park -
Garner Park - Volleyball Court
Surface: Sand
Lighted: No
Number of Courts: 1
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