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 RESERVE ONLINE

• James Madison Park - Basketball Court

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

BEACH SEASON
Beach swimming season is typically Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. This is when PHMDC tests the lake water quality and Parks staff clean and maintain designated beaches. While no lifeguards are on duty, swimming ropes are provided at a number of the beaches. 

RESTROOMS
Beach restrooms are open daily approx. 11am to 7pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day. See RESTROOMS to view locations.  

ACCESSIBILITY
Thanks to funding provided by the Madison Parks Foundation, accessible beach mats are available at Bernie's and Vilas beaches. 

LAKE WATER QUALITY
Public Health Madison & Dane County performs lake water quality testing typically from Memorial Day through Labor Day. 

Water quality test results are automatically posted on this page with "OK" or "CLOSED." If CLOSED, the beach area and park remain open but the water is closed for swimming. If OK, the water quality is approved for swimming, however, it does not mean a lifeguard is on duty. 

RULES

• 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 swim area. The swim area is defined by the outer buoys.
• Fishing is not allowed in the swim area.

• 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: No
  Lifeguard: No
  
  James Madison Beach Details

Watercraft Storage Spaces 

• You may be placed on our waitlist at no charge by calling (608) 266-4711 or EMAIL. Please include your name, phone number, email address, and any order of preferences on storage location.
• Current users can renew their watercraft storage yearly in late winter/early spring and no later than March 15.
• As spaces become available, those on the waitlist will be contacted after April 1 and offered the opportunity to reserve a space.  

• Watercraft must not exceed 100 pounds, 18' length, 42" width or 24" height.
• Storage is for permitted watercraft only. No personal property or other watercraft may be kept on racks for any length of time.
• Watercraft must be secured to the boat storage rack. The 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.
• View 2025 Agreement and Rules.  

• Brittingham & Wingra Parks: Madison Boats
• Olbrich Park: Rutabaga Paddlesports

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
  

Parking lots in parks are available for park programs or events during regular park hours: 4:00 am to 10:00 pm. 

Parking Rules

• Driving or parking motorized vehicles is not allowed on the grass or near a shelter and is subject to a citation.
• Three-hour limit in all parks, as posted.
• No parking after hours: 10pm to 4am. Overnight parking is not allowed. 
• Conservation park hours are 4am until one hour after sunset
• Follow all onsite parking regulation signs.
• Violators are subject to a fine.

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. 

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. 

• James Madison Park - Playground

• James Madison Park - Playground

Restroom Updates

• Seasonal restrooms are expected to reopen on Saturday, April 26. Open hours are approximately 10am to 8pm.   
  • This city-wide process takes weeks to complete and staff may discover unexpected issues that may delay the opening of a specific location. This webpage will be updated.
  • The opening is timed for when the overnight temps are traditionally and consistently above freezing, to allow the water to be turned back on safely, and we have additional staff to clean the restrooms. 
  • This does not include beach restrooms. 
• Bubblers and drinking fountains: Our goal is to have bubblers and water fountains turned on by the Memorial weekend. This is a city-wide process that takes weeks to complete.

• 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* 

• James Madison Park

  Location: 614 E. Gorham St
  
  OPEN

Shelter and Pavilion News

• 2025 reservations opened Friday, November 1.
• Reservations may be made online, by phone or in person at Parks Lakeside Offices.
• See 2025 Special Event Reservations for unavailable dates and locations.
• Olin Park Pavilion CLOSED 2026 - City Engineering will conduct essential repairs and maintenance to this historic building in 2026. We anticipate the pavilion closed for the year. A clearer timeline will be available by November 2025.

Madison Parks offers larger shelters and pavilions perfect for a casual event, staff retreat or celebration. Most are available to reserve from mid-April through mid-October, with a few exceptions as noted below. The Shelter Reservations Guide provides details on seating capacities, and amenities such as outlets, fireplaces, and picnic tables. Reservations may be made online, in person or by phone. Please follow these helpful steps when making a reservation. 

Important Notes: 

• Any required permits, such as amplified sound, or alcohol are required at the time of processing.    
• All reservations are subject to our standard cancelation policy. 
• Opening day to reserve a park shelter for the following year begins on the first business day in November. 
• 2025 reservations opening day is 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. 
• Dogs are prohibited inside a shelter or other City building. 
• Picnic shelters may be reserved online or by calling -OR- if not reserved, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Day of signage is posted at the shelter.
• 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 park amenities. If you are interested in reserving the entire park, please visit Special Events.
• Alcohol is permitted in most Madison Parks. Glass is never allowed. There are a handful of alcohol-free parks. In these locations, if you would like to bring alcohol, you will need an alcohol permit, which may be obtained when placing your reservation. An alcohol permit, without a reservation, is not given. 
• 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 continue 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.

Open Schedule 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)

• Gates of Heaven

  Address: 302 E. Gorham St
  Capacity: See Seating.
  Restrooms: In shelter
  Water: Available in shelter
  Parking: Parking lot
  Alcohol-Free Park: Yes – alcohol permit is required.
  
  Shelter Details: Gates of Heaven

• James Madison Park

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

Dos and Don'ts

• DO: Sunrise to 30 minutes prior to sunset
• DO: Temporary only and may never be left unattended or overnight
• DO: Only on trees greater than 1' in diameter and 4.5'
• DO: Tree protect is used at connection points
• DON'T: Never tether on Oak, Hickory or Birch trees
• DON'T: Never in any conservation park 

Proper Tree Protection

Prohibited Trees

When in Doubt, Don't 

Park Rangers have the authority to remove or order the removal of any slackline or hammock which they deem as harmful to the tree or as a danger to the safety of park users. 

Most of the volleyball courts are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  If you are planning a new league or tournament RESERVE ONLINE
 

• James Madison Park - Volleyball Court

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