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Spring Harbor Park

Spring Harbor Park
Address: 5218 Lake Mendota Dr.
Hours: 4:00am - 10:00pm
Park Type: Neighborhood
Acres: 8.21
Restroom: Yes
Drinking Water: Yes
Shoreline On: Lake Mendota (Spring Harbor Beach and boat launch)

Park Details

Located on the shores of Lake Mendota, Spring Harbor Park is part of a series of parks in the neighborhood.  Spring Harbor Park features play equipment, Spring Harbor Beach is on the shore of Lake Mendota and Spring Harbor boat launch.

Park Highlights

spring harbor park sign with many colorful flowers
Flowers planted by Indian Hills Garden Club

At this Park

  • 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

    View all Basketball Courts

    • Spring Harbor Park - Basketball Court

      Surface: Asphalt
      Lighted: No
      Number of Courts:

  • PIER REMOVAL DATES
    • Fishing piers (non-boat launch locations), plus Law Park will be removed starting Monday, October 14.
    • Boat launch piers (listed on this page) will be removed starting Thursday, October 31. 
    • Exact removal dates depend on the weather, staffing priorities and other factors. 

    Lake Access Update

    • Olin Park, including Parks Lakeside Offices, MSCR & the Olin Park Boat Launch - Due to construction on Olin-Turville Court and East Lakeside Street, Olin Park visitors, including Parks Lakeside Offices and MSCR, will likely see a change in traffic patterns entering the park area through October. See Engineering's Olin-Turville Ct and E. Lakeside Street Resurfacing.

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

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

    2024 Fees 

    Daily $8
    Annual - Dane County Resident $50
    Annual - Non-Resident $60
    Annual - Dane County Senior (65+) & Disabled $25
    Annual - Non-Res Senior (65+) & Disabled $30
    Military/Veteran $25
    Duplicate/Replacement $20

    PURCHASE PERMIT
    2024 permit is valid through March 31, 2025. 
    2025 permit is available for purchase stating Nov. 1 and is valid through March 31, 2026. 

    Lake Access Permit

    • A daily or annual permit is required year-round to launch a motorboat, sailboat, iceboat, canoe, kayak, or ATV.
    • See Ordinance 8.215 for details.
    • Purchase permit ONLINE or by calling during regular office hours. 
    • Iron rangers are NOT available for onsite cash purchasing. 
    • 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 1 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 

    Olbrich Boat Launch, Boaters Advised to Use Caution 
    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. Channel markers are installed by Dane County Land and Water Resources to assist boaters. Boaters may consider launching at alternate sites such as Olin, Tonyawatha or Winnequah. Lake Access permit holder may use any of the designated launch sites throughout Dane County. 

    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

    • Spring Harbor Park - Boat Launch

      Location: 5218 Lake Mendota Dr.
      Lake Access Permit Required: Yes
  • 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.
      View all Canoe & Kayak Launch Sites

  • 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 March 15.
    • As spaces become available, those on the waitlist will be contacted after April 1 and given the opportunity to reserve a space.  
    2024 Fees
     
    City of Madison Resident - Annual, single watercraft $135
    City of Madison Resident - Annual, 2 watercraft, same space (100# max) $200
    Non-resident - Annual, single watercraft $260
    Non-resident - Annual, 2 watercraft, same space (100# max) $380
    (fees include tax)
    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 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 all Agreement Rules.
    Additional storage may be available at the following: View all Canoe & Kayak Storage
  • Wisconsin residents aged 16 years old or older need a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. Nonresidents aged 16 years old or older need a nonresident fishing license to fish in Wisconsin waters with hook and line. Visit the Wisconsin DNR website for more information.
     
    Every year, the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June and the third Saturday and Sunday in January, are designated as Free Fishing Weekends throughout the state of Wisconsin. Residents and nonresidents of all ages can fish without a fishing license (and trout stamps) over these two days.  Visit WI DNR

    An accessible pier is located in Vilas Park, on Lake Wingra. From WI DNR: Lake Wingra is a 336-acre lake with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. 

    MESSAGE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH MADISON & DANE COUNTY: Eating fish can be a delicious, low-cost, and nutritious meal. However, eating certain fish can also be harmful because they may contain mercury, PCBs, or PFAS. See PHMDC for more information. 
    View all Fishing

  • 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.
    Law Park: metered parking stalls
    The parking lot located on the eastern side of Law Park, commonly known as the Blair Lot, is a metered parking lot, enforced by City of Madison Parking Division between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. 
      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 accessible playgrounds in Brittingham, Elver, Rennebohm and Warner parks.  An accessible playground is anticipated in Reindahl Park in the near future.

    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

    • Spring Harbor Park - Playground

  • Seasonal Restrooms
    Restrooms throughout the park system open approximately mid/late April and close for the season starting the first week in October. The systemwide process to open/close restrooms takes several weeks depending on the weather and staffing. 

    This page lists restrooms OPEN daily, approximately 10am to 8pm. All other restrooms are CLOSED. 

    2024 Closing Schedule (subject to change):

    • Starting Sept. 30: Brittingham, Burrows, Esther Beach, Hoyt, Marlborough, Marshall, Reindahl
    • Starting Oct. 14: Demetral, Elver (open shelter), Garner, James Madison, McPike, Rennebohm, Warner (beach, softball)
    • Starting Nov. 1: Bowman, Lake Edge, Olbrich, Penn, Warner (shelter), Westmorland, Vilas
    Open Year-Round
    • Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North
    • Elver Park enclosed shelter
    • Owen Conservation Park
    • Tenney Park at the John Wall Family Pavilion
    • Warner Park boat launch 

    View all Restrooms

    • Spring Harbor Park

      Location: near boat launch
      OPEN

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