Madison Parks ranks #1 in the nation for 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.

• James Madison Park - Basketball Court

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

Madison Parks has some of the best lake views in the area with beaches located throughout the city. Seasonal lifeguard service is provided at select beaches, beginning in June and continuing into early September at select locations. See below for specific days and times for each location.

BEACHES with multiple lifeguards  
• BB Clarke, daily 11am to 7pm (through Monday, September 2)
• Olbrich, Wed. - Sun., 11am to 5pm (through Sunday, August 25)
• Tenney, Wed. - Sun. 11am to 5pm (through Sunday, August 25)
• Vilas, daily 11am to 7pm (through Monday, September 2)

• James Madison Beach

  Public Health Water Testing:

  Closed

  Address: 614 E. Gorham St.
  Restroom: Yes
  Drinking Water: Yes
  Parking: Street Parking
  Amenities: Picnic Tables, Playground, Volleyball
  
  Swim Ropes: Yes
  Lifeguard: No
  
  Beach Details

New Watercraft Spaces Available (07/30/19)

We have new watercraft storage spaces available at Vilas, Warner, and Olin. Call (608) 266-4711 or EMAIL to reserve yours!

Watercraft Storage Spaces 

• You may be placed on our waitlist at no charge by call (608) 266-4711 or EMAIL. 
• Current users will be able to renew their boat storage for 2019 beginning in February 2019. All current users must renew or vacate before April 1, 2019. 
• As spaces become available, those on the waitlist will be contacted after April 1 and given the opportunity to reserve a space.  

• Watercraft must not exceed 80 pounds, 18' length, 42" width or 24" height.
• Storage is for permitted watercraft only. No personal property.
• Only one watercraft is allowed in each space.
• Watercraft must be secured to the boat storage rack. Owner accepts all liability for theft or damage to their property.
• Parks Staff reserves the right to cut any lock and remove any watercraft, under any condition it deems necessary for the function of the boat storage program.
• See agreement for complete rules.

• Brittingham Park: Brittingham Boats 608-250-2555
• Olbrich Park: Rutabaga Paddlesports 608-513-1308
• Wingra Park: Wingra Boats 608-233-5332

Take your pooch to a park: 26 locations

• James Madison Park - Dog On-Leash Area

  Location: 614 E. Gorham St
  

View all Historical Features

• Bernard-Hoover Boathouse

  Location: 622-1/2 E. Gorham Street
  Built: 1915
  
  Description: In the days before individual boat ownership became widespread, renting pleasure boats for lake excursions was a significant summer business in Madison. Numerous commercial enterprises developed here in the nineteenth century to cater to the demand, the first being the one German native Charles Bernard started on this site in 1855 as a fishing station.
  
  Gradually, Bernard's business expanded to include both boat and fishing gear rentals.
  
  By the 1890s Bernard was building his own boats as well, including several large, steam-powered excursion boats that operated on Lake Mendota. Bernard ferried picnickers to his private park (gone) near Mendota State Hospital. After his death in 1907, son William ran the business. William and his son Carl became known across the United States as avid ice boat builders and racers.
  
  In 1911 the Bernards replaced the original buildings with a larger frame structure. Four years later that building was destroyed by fire and was replaced with the present frame building. Carl Bernard sold out to Harry Hoover in 1943; Hoover continued to operate the board livery and gave excursion rides until 1968 when he sold the property to the City. Today the Bernard-Hoover boathouse is the only survivor of the early days of Madison's love affair with pleasure boating.
  
  The boathouse was designated a City of Madison landmark on October 18, 1976
   and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
  
  More Information: Landmark Nomination
  

• Gates of Heaven Synagogue

  Location: 300 E. Gorham Street
  Built: 1863
  
  Description: Noted Madison architect, August Kutzbock, who was trained in Germany, designed this little gem of a building. He also used this distinctive Germanic style for the Pierce and Keenan Houses at Pinckney and Gilman Streets. Gates of Heaven (Shaare Shomain in Hebrew) was built in 1863 on W. Washington Avenue for Madison's first Jewish congregation. The building later served as the first Unitarian Society Meeting House, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, the English Lutheran Church and a funeral home. It was moved to this site in 1971 through the efforts of local citizens and the City of Madison to save it from the wrecking ball.
  
  Gates of Heaven was designated a City of Madison landmark on May 20,1974 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
  
  More Information: Landmark Nomination
  

CLOSURE NOTICE (as of 8:00am, 3/25/2020): In compliance of the Emergency SAFER AT HOME Order by Governor Tony Evers and the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services, with guidance from Public Health Madison & Dane County, all playgrounds are closed through 8:00am, Friday, April 24, 2020 or until a superseding order is issued.  

View COVID-19 for all impacted City services. 
 

• James Madison Park - Playground

• James Madison Park - Playground

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.

• James Madison Park Shelter

  Location: 614 E. Gorham St
  Lighted: Yes
  Open Year-Round: No
  
  Notes: Park Shelter and Bathhouse

ANNUAL LOTTERY DAY - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2020

WHAT IS LOTTERY DAY?  This is the first day you may make a shelter reservation for the following year. Held typically on the 2nd Tuesday in November, the day begins with in-person reservations (see below), and follows with phone-in and online reservations.
 
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

• Beginning at 7:30am and ending promptly at 7:59am, each party wishing to reserve a park shelter is given a numbered lottery ticket. The distribution takes place in the lobby of the City-County Building, outside the Parks Administrative Office (210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Rm. 104)
  • Due to the random drawing process, arriving prior to 7:30am is not recommended or necessary. The building is locked until 7:30am.
  • Only ONE lottery ticket is given to each party reserving a shelter. Failure to abide by this rule may forfeit your eligibility in the Lottery Day process.
• Beginning at 8:00am, random lottery tickets are drawn. This order establishes when reservations are processed.
  • If you arrive after the drawing begins, you will need to wait until the Lottery Day process is complete before you may place your reservation. 
• Cash, checks or credit cards (MasterCard or Visa) are accepted for your full payment, which is due at the time of processing your reservation, along with any required permits. 
• Dates NOT available due to Special Events are posted HERE.
• Cancellation Policy: Reservations made during the Lottery Day process will receive only a 50% refund up until 10 days prior to the reservation. Within 10 days, no refunds are provided.

Most shelters are open mid-April through mid-October. There are a few exceptions:

• Open Year-Round:
  • Gates of Heaven
  • Highland Manor Park
• Open mid-April through mid-November:
  • John Wall Family Pavilion in Tenney Park
  • Elver Park (enclosed shelter) 
  • Warner Park
  • Olin Park (through October)

• 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. 
• 2021 RESERVATIONS: Available beginning on Lottery Day - Tuesday, November 10, 2020

• Gates of Heaven

  Address: 302 E. Gorham St
  Capacity: Seats 98 people
  Restrooms: In shelter
  Water: Available in shelter
  Parking: Parking lot
  Alcohol-Free Park: Yes – alcohol permit is required.
  
  Shelter Details

• James Madison Park Shelter

  Address: 614 E. Gorham St
  Capacity: 60
  Restrooms: In shelter
  Water: Available in shelter
  Parking: Street parking
  Alcohol-Free Park: Yes – alcohol permit is required.
  
  Shelter Details

• POLICY & GUIDELINES
• TREE PROTECTION
• TREE IDENTIFICATION

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.
 

• James Madison Park - Volleyball Court

  Location: By beach
  Surface: Sand
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 1