LIFEGUARD SEASON begins Thursday, June 13, 2019*

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 September. See below for specific days and times for each location.

*PRE-SEASON LIFEGUARD SERVICE (weather permitting) at BB Clarke & Vilas regional beaches

• Saturday, May 25 - Monday, May 27 
• Saturday, June 1 - Sunday, June 2
• Saturday, June 8 - Sunday, June 9

• BB Clarke 
• Olbrich 
• Tenney
• Vilas 

• Bernie's
• Esther
• Spring Harbor
• Warner

• Brittingham Park: Madison Boats
• Olbrich Park: Rutabaga Paddlesport 
• Marshall Park: Madison Boats

• Brittingham
• James Madison
• Marshall
• Olin

• Marshall Beach

  Status:

  Closed

  Address: 2101 Allen Blvd.
  Restroom: Yes
  Drinking Water: Yes
  Parking: Parking Lot
  Amenities: Boat Ramp, Canoe/Kayak Rental, Concessions, Picnic Tables, Playground, Volleyball
  
  Swim Ropes: No
  Lifeguard: No
  
  Beach Details

FREE LAKE ACCESS DAY -  all day, no permit needed on Saturday, June 22 LEARN MORE

2019 Closure Notices: Improvements are happening at Warner boat launch parking lot. During this process, the launch is closed. We anticipate reopening by Friday, May 3. Visit Projects for more information.

Launch your watercraft or ATV!
Madison Parks maintains a number of sight-seeing and boat launch piers throughout the city's lakefront parks. The piers are put in during the springtime and removed again in late fall.  

• A daily or annual Lake Access Permit is required year-round for launching a motorboat, sailboat, iceboat, canoe, kayak, or ATV from a designated lake access parking lot.
• The permit is valid for the issue year through March 31 of the following year at designated launch sites in Madison, Monona and Dane County (see brochure map).
• The permit should be displayed on the inside driver's side windshield.
• The City of Madison's designated launch locations include:
  • Law
  • Marshall
  • Olbrich
  • Olin
  • Spring Harbor
  • Tenney
  • Warner

• Long stalls are for parking vehicles with trailers only. 
• Regular-size stalls are for parking vehicles with no trailer only. 
• Parking on the grass is prohibited.
• When the launch parking lot is full, you must find an alternative launch site
• Violators are subject to a citation. 

• Marshall Park - Boat Launch

  Lake Access Permit Required: Yes
  

Sailboat mooring spaces are available to rent from May 1 through October 20 annually.  These spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Preference is given to City of Madison residents. Any additional names will be placed on a waiting list. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications for mooring spaces.  

For more information or to rent a mooring space, please call (608) 266-4711.

Rental Fees (tax included):
$825 Madison Resident
$1,145 Non-Resident

• Marshall Park - Boat Mooring

  Notes: The Marshall Park mooring field has 30 sailboat spaces available for rent. Please call to check availability.

Interested in getting out on one of Madison's lakes but you don't have your own watercraft? No problem! We have partners at locations throughout the city offering these great lake amenities!

• Madison Boats at Marshall Park

  Telephone: (608) 228-8333
  More Information: Madison Boats at Marshall Park
  Notes: Available: Pontoon Boats, single and tandem kayaks, stand up paddleboards, canoes, pizza and ice cream.

Watercraft Storage Spaces 

• You may be placed on our waitlist at no charge by calling: (608) 266-4711 or EMAILING. 
• 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 wait list 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

Madison Parks has 175 playgrounds to spark your imagination right in your neighborhood. In fact, the City of Madison has the most playgrounds per resident of any city in the nation, with almost 2 more playgrounds per 1,000 residents than the city that got second place!  From swing sets, to unique climbing features our playgrounds are perfect for your toddler to your teen. 

• Marshall 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.

• Marshall Park - Restroom

  Lighted: Yes
  Open Year-Round: No
  

• Marshall Beach Bathhouse

  Lighted: Yes
  Open Year-Round: No
  

Reservations and checking the availability of our larger shelters may be completed ONLINE or you may call the Madison Parks Office at (608) 266-4711 Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 4:15 pm. More information and details on reserving a large shelter may be found in our Shelter Reservations Guide.

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. 
• 2020 RESERVATIONS: Available beginning on Lottery Day - Date TBD

ANNUAL LOTTERY DAY 

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.

• Marshall Park Shelter

  Address: 2101 Allen Blvd
  Capacity: Seats 100 people
  Restrooms: In separate building
  Water: Not available in shelter
  Parking: Parking lot
  
  
  Shelter Details

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.
 

• Marshall Park - Volleyball Court

  Surface: Sand
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 1