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. 

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• Olbrich Park - Basketball Court

  Location: By softball fields
  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 1 full
  

• Olbrich Park - Basketball Court

  Location: By tennis courts
  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 2 full
  

• Olbrich Park - Basketball Court

  Location: Garrison Street
  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts:
  

NO LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY
Due to limited staffing resources, we are unable to provide lifeguards at the beaches for this season. We apologize for this reduction in service. Beaches are cleaned several times each week and remain open when PHMDC's water quality testing is acceptable.

WATER QUALITY
Water quality testing is performed Memorial Day through Labor Day by Public Health Madison & Dane County. Results are posted on this page with "OK" or "CLOSED." If CLOSED, the beach area and park remain open but the water is closed for swimming. Please do not go in the water.  

RESTROOMS
Due to limited staffing resources, most beach restrooms remain closed. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this causes. Nearby restrooms at Vilas and Tenney are located at the shelter. The new shelter design at Esther and Warner beaches allow for the restrooms to be open daily approx. 10am to 8pm. See RESTROOMS to view other open locations.  

RULES
Before your beach visit, please read the RULES. 

View all Beaches

• Olbrich Beach

  Public Health Water Testing:

  Open

  Address: 3527 Atwood Avenue
  Restroom: Yes
  Drinking Water: Yes
  Parking: Parking Lot
  Amenities: Boat Ramp, Canoe/Kayak Rental, Concessions, Picnic Tables, Volleyball
  
  Swim Ropes: Yes
  Lifeguard: No
  
  Olbrich Beach Details

OLBRICH BOAT LAUNCH ADVISORY

Boaters are advised to use caution navigating the narrowed channel where the Starkweather Creek meets Lake Monona due to low lake levels and creek sediment. READ MORE

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ACCESSING THE LAKES 

A daily or annual permit is required year-round at designated sites to launch a motorboat, sailboat, iceboat, canoe, kayak, or ATV (see locations below). Piers are available spring through fall. Installation and removal are dependent on the weather and lake conditions.  
 

LAKE ACCESS PERMIT (Ordinance 8.215): See Purchase Permit 

• A daily or annual permit is required year-round to launch a motorboat, sailboat, iceboat, canoe, kayak, or ATV.
• Purchase permit ONLINE or by calling during regular office hours. Onsite kiosks are not available. 
• The permit is valid for the issue year through March 31 of the following year.
• Permits for the following year may be purchased starting November 15 of the previous year. 
• The permit should be displayed on the inside driver's side windshield. 
• The permit is valid at designated launch sites throughout Dane County. MAP

• LAKE MONONA: Law, Olbrich, Olin 
• LAKE MENDOTA: Marshall, Spring Harbor, Tenney, Warner

2022 Fees

Daily	$8
Dane County Resident Annual	$40
Nonresident Annual	$50
Dane County Senior (65+)	$21
Nonresident Senior (65+)	$28
Disabled	$21
Duplicate/Replacement	$18

LAUNCH AREA PARKING RULES AND TIPS (Ordinance 8.16):

• 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. 

View all Boat Launches

• Olbrich Park - Boat Launch

  Location: 3401 Atwood Ave.
  Lake Access Permit Required: Yes
  
  Notes: Boaters are advised to use caution navigating the narrowed channel a may consider using an alternate park launch site.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Madison Parks offers various locations to launch a canoe or kayak and is allowed at all of Madison Parks motorboat launch sites. Additionally, the parks listed below have a specially designated area for launch.

If you are looking to store your kayak or canoe in a park, please visit the storage webpage.

James Madison Park pier update (as of 03/23/2021): The pier at James Madison Parks sustained significant damage during the flood of 2018 and was removed as a result. Due to FEMA regulations and approvals, the replacement of this pier is delayed. Unfortunately, we still do not have a timeline for its replacement.  View all Canoe & Kayak Launch Sites

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!

View all Canoe & Kayak Rental

• Rutabaga Rentals at Olbrich Park

  Telephone: 608-513-1308
  More Information: Rutabaga Rentals at Olbrich Park
  Notes: Available: single and tandem kayaks, stand up paddleboards, fishing kayak

Watercraft Storage Spaces 

Explore Madison's beautiful lakes, rivers, and creeks by paddle and store your canoe, kayak or paddleboard on the shores of your favorite park. All storage racks are outdoors and uncovered. The annual storage period begins each year on April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year.
 
How to Reserve:

• 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 will be able to renew their watercraft storage beginning in late winter/early spring each year and must renew by April 1.
• As spaces become available, those on the waitlist will be contacted after April 1 and given the opportunity to reserve a space.  

2022 Storage costs (tax included):
Watercraft storage rules include:

• Watercraft must not exceed 100 pounds, 18' length, 42" width or 24" height.
• Storage is for permitted watercraft only. No personal property.
• 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.
• See agreement for complete rules.

If you believe your watercraft has been stolen or removed by Parks staff: Call a Park Ranger to report at (608) 235-0448.

Additional storage may be available at the following:

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

View all Canoe & Kayak Storage

View all Fishing

Before you step out, check the status of your favorite rink!

• FREE-TO-USE All designated rinks and lagoons are free to use. No reservation is required! 
• CHECK THE STATUS Is the rink open? See the status below.
  • DO NOT skate, walk, or otherwise go on a rink or lagoon until it is declared open. Doing so is not safe and slows the opening process by damaging the ice.
  • While ice is never 100% safe, staff monitors the ice depth to be at least 5" to safely support humans and grooming equipment.
• SKATE RENTALS Elver, Tenney and Vilas, Wednesday - Sunday (when the rink is listed as open)
  • No rentals on Mondays and Tuesdays. No warming shelters or concessions. 
• GIFT CERTIFICATES for ice skate rentals are available. Call (608) 266-4711 to purchase. 
• SKATE HELPERS for children and adults to assist in ice skating. Thanks to the Madison Parks Foundation, we have free-to-use Skate Helpers available at Elver, Tenney and Vilas.  
• FREE LOANER SKATES Borrow a pair of ice skates to use while at the rink! Limited quantities are available at Olbrich, Rennebohm, Warner and Westmorland.
• ATTEND a FREE ice skating event. 
  • Groove & Glide
  • Skate Cinema
• LEARN MORE about winter recreation in Madison Parks.
  • Read Your Guide to Ice Skating in Madison Parks 
  • Subscribe to Winter Recreation News

A big thank you to our many volunteers and the ADOPT ICE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM! 

View all Ice Skating

• Olbrich Park - Hockey Rink

  Location: 201 Garrison St
  
  Closed
  
  More Information: Skating at Olbrich Park - Hockey Rink
  

• Olbrich Park - Ice Rink

  Location: 201 Garrison St.
  
  Closed
  
  More Information: Skating at Olbrich Park - Ice Rink
  

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

• Olbrich Park - Open Field Games

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

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. 

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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. 

View all Playgrounds

• Olbrich Park - Playground

• Olbrich Park - Playground

• Olbrich 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. 

View all Restrooms

• Olbrich Park - Walter St.

  Location: 502 Walter Street
  
  OPEN

• Olbrich Park Beach

  OPEN
  
  Notes: Restrooms are open when Olbrich Biergarten is open. See www.olbrichbiergarten.com

• Olbrich Park Canoe Launch

  OPEN

Many of the Madison Parks are located in ideal locations for sight seeing.  Enjoy the view! View all Scenic Overlooks

Reserve a Shelter

Shelter 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)

Note: 

• 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 facilities within the park. 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 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.
• Reservations for the following year begin in November of the proceeding year. 

View all Large Shelters

• Olbrich Park - Walter St.

  Address: 502 Walter Street
  Capacity: Seats approx. 50 people
  Restrooms: In shelter
  Water: Available in shelter
  Parking: Parking lot
  Alcohol-Free Park: Yes – alcohol permit is required.
  
  Shelter Details: Olbrich Park - Walter St.

Slacklining or hammocking in a park is allowed following the guidelines below at specific times, on specific trees, and never in a conservation park. Always keep in mind, 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. The best advice, WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T.
 

Dos and Don'ts

Tethering to trees for the purpose of slacklining or hammocking is allowed following these guidelines:

• 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 

For more information, see POLICY & GUIDELINES
 

Proper Tree Protection

Tree protection is required for tethering any equipment to help prevent damage to the tree's bark. Carpet, foam pads or towels make good protection. Make sure the fabric padding completely encircle the tree at the connection points and is a minimum of ¼" thick by 10" wide. For more information and examples, see  TREE PROTECTION
 

Prohibited Trees

Never tether on an oak, hickory or birch tree. When in doubt, don't For more information, see TREE IDENTIFICATION

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. 

View all Slacklining and Hammocking

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. 

The Elver Park sledding hill is one of the most popular and is lit for nighttime sledding during the open season. 
 

View all Sledding

• Olbrich Park - Sledding

  Warming House: No
  Concessions: No
  

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 (608)266-4711.  Find out more about Athletic Field Reservations.

Fields, open or closed?
If a field reservation is canceled, a notification is emailed to the user who made the field reservation. Notifications are sent by 2:00 pm Monday through Friday and by 9:00 am on weekends and holidays. 

View all Soccer Fields

• Olbrich Park - Soccer Central

  Bleachers: No
  Lighted: No
  Setup: Adult
  Type: Game
  

• Olbrich Park - Soccer East

  Bleachers: No
  Lighted: No
  Setup: Adult
  Type: Game
  

• Olbrich Park - Soccer West

  Bleachers: No
  Lighted: No
  Setup: Youth
  Type: Game
  

Many of the softball diamonds are programmed with youth and adult league play.  If you are looking to join a league contact Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR).  If you would like to reserve a field or facility, please call the Athletic Scheduler at (608) 266-4711.  Find out more about Athletic Field Reservations.

Fields, open or closed?
If a field reservation is canceled, a notification is emailed to the user who made the field reservation. Notifications are sent by 2:00 pm Monday through Friday and by 9:00 am on weekends and holidays. 

View all Softball Fields

• Olbrich Park Softball #1

  Bleachers: Yes
  Lighted: Yes
  Setup: Adult
  Type: Game
  

• Olbrich Park Softball #2

  Bleachers: Yes
  Lighted: Yes
  Setup: Adult
  Type: Game
  

• Olbrich Park Softball #3

  Bleachers: Yes
  Lighted: Yes
  Setup: Adult
  Type: Game
  

• Olbrich Park Softball #4

  Bleachers: Yes
  Lighted: Yes
  Setup: Adult
  Type: Game
  

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.
 

View all Tennis Courts

• Olbrich Park - Tennis Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 2
  

Ultimate Frisbee fields are typically large open spaces.  Organized groups may reserve these fields for their league play using our online reservation system Athletic Field Reservations. 

Fields, open or closed?
If a field reservation is canceled, a notification is emailed to the user who made the field reservation. Notifications are sent by 2:00 pm Monday through Friday and by 9:00 am on weekends and holidays. 

View all Ultimate Frisbee Fields

• Olbrich Park - Ultimate Frisbee

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

• Olbrich Park - Volleyball

  Location: By beach
  Surface: Sand
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 4