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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• Wingra Park and Boat Livery - Basketball Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts:
  

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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Limited & Reduced Trailer Parking in 2022

• Marshall - Approx. April 15 - May 31
  Due to the City of Middleton construction project, the Marshall Park boat launch will have reduced available trailer parking from approximately April 15 until May 31. 

• Olin - Saturday, May 21
  Due to permitted events, the Olin Park boat launch will have limited available trailer parking all day on Saturday, May 21, 2022.  

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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

• Wingra Park and Boat Livery - Boat Launch

  Lake Access Permit Required: No
  
  Notes: No trailer parking available.

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

• Madison Boats at Wingra Park

  Location: 824 Knickerbocker St
  Telephone: (608) 233-5332
  More Information: Madison Boats at Wingra Park
  Notes: Available: Canoes, single and tandem kayaks, stand up paddleboards, paddle boats, water mats, fishing boats and pontoon boats

View all Fishing

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

• Wingra Park and Boat Livery - 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

• Wingra Park at Madison Boats

  OPEN
  
  Notes: Restrooms are open when Madison Boats is open. Hours vary, see www.madisonboats.com

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

• Wingra Park - Soccer

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