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

• Sycamore Park - Basketball East

  Location: East of dog park
  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 1 full
  

• Sycamore Park - Basketball South

  Location: South of dog park
  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 1 half
  

Dog Park News

• As of Monday, April 7 - all off-leash dog parks are open. 

While leashed dogs are allowed in most Madison parks (see dog-prohibited areas), we also offer 9 fenced, off-leash dog park areas. Three of the locations, Odana School, Warner and Sycamore, also provide a separate small-dog fenced area. 

2025 Fees

• REQUIRED A daily or annual dog permit is required and may be purchased ONLINE or by calling (608)266-4711
  • 2025 permit is valid from the time of purchase through December 31, 2025. 
    • A permit is required in order to bring your dog to any park, off-leash and on-leash, where a dog is allowed. See Dog Free Park for exceptions. 
    • The dog permit is part of the Cooperative Dog Park Program and is also valid for use in Dane County Parks, City of Sun Prairie parks, and City of Middleton parks.
  • 2026 permits go on sale November 1.
• A dog license is required for ALL visiting dogs. City of Madison residents may purchase through the City of Madison Treasury Office.
  • Dogs visiting from other areas are always welcome with proper licenses and/or vaccinations from your town/municipality. Be prepared to show proof if asked by a Park Ranger.
  • A dog license is ONLY available after a veterinarian administers a rabies vaccination within 30 days after the dog reaches 4 months. Dogs under 5 months of age or without proper vaccinations, are therefore not licensed and are PROHIBITED.
• REQUIRED Dogs must remain on a leash to/from your vehicle to the inside of the dog park area.
• PROHIBITED AREAS
  • Dogs are not allowed in any conservation park, near playgrounds, designated beaches, athletic fields, in or near park shelters, and a few other notable locations. See Dog Free Parks for a complete list of locations.
  • During the winter dogs are not permitted on designated cross-country ski trails. See Cross-Country Skiing for locations.
• Bring Your Own Water Sharing water is not recommended and can lead to parasites and disease transmission. DO NOT LEAVE WATER OR WATER BOWLS. 

• Sycamore Park - Dog Off-Leash Park

  Location: 4517 Sycamore Ave.
  Bag Dispenser: Yes
  Benches: Yes
  Fountain: No
  Fencing: Yes
  Shelter: Yes
  
  OPEN
  
  Notes: 19.9 acres

Open or Multipurpose Fields are reservable athletic fields with no game-specific design or limitations. Often used for soccer, ultimate, lacrosse or football, yet open to your imagination. Multipurpose Fields are located throughout the city and may be used on a first-come, first-served basis if not already reserved. RESERVE ONLINE

SPECIALIZED FIELDS
Specialized fields include soccer, cricket, ball diamonds - baseball or softball and both fenced and non-fenced, may be viewed on the individual pages. See the sidebar on the Athletics webpage. 

• Sycamore Park - Soccer 1

• Sycamore Park - Soccer #2

• Sycamore Park - Multipurpose Field

Picnic shelters, also called sun shelters, are smaller, open-air structures that provide a little shade and typically some seating. They do not protect from severe weather, such as lightning. A picnic shelter may be reserved or used on a first-come, first-served basis if not previously reserved. 

• 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, as long as there is no glass. A handful of parks are alcohol-free and require a permit to bring alcohol. You must have a reservation to obtain an alcohol permit.
• All picnic shelters are open year-round, however, if the picnic shelter has restrooms, these are open seasonally and closed for the winter typically October - April.
• In the event of severe weather, picnic shelters are not lightening protection areas. Please seek an alternative location. 
• Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters. Violators may be considered trespassers and may be subject to forfeiture or arrest.
• Park 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 see Park Projects for park improvement that may impact a nearby shelter.

• Sycamore Park Picnic Shelter

  Restrooms: No
  Lighted: Yes
  

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. 

• Sycamore Park - Playground

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
 

• Sycamore Park - Volleyball Court

  Surface: Turf
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: