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Parks

Eastmorland Park Playground Improvements

May 1, 2026 Update

Thank you to all who attended the second and third meetings on April 14 and 30! The meeting presentation slides are available to view and include the playground design options.

Parks staff will make adjustments to the final design per the comments received at both meetings in April:

  • Between the two meetings, Option A was liked the most (age 2-5 structure)
    • The tunnel and triple slide from option B are desired
      • A double slide of similar height is an acceptable substitute to the triple slide
    • The climbing structure and inclusive slide from option A are desired
    • Add a solo spinner or the wobbler from option A
    • Add a firefighter's pole to the platform
  • For playground equipment, the colors blue and purple were selected in the first meeting. We presented two blue color options, and the teal blue was preferred over the sky blue. 
  • The more organic path layout shown in option C was preferred, with the playground placed further to the south of the proposed location
    • The new path will connect to the sidewalk along Silver Road

Parks staff will work to finalize the design and will provide updates on this page when available.

View past project updates »

Project Details

Location

Eastmorland Park
99 Silver Rd
Madison, WI 53714

Status

Planning

Estimated Schedule

–

Impact

Minor

Alder District

  • District 15

Eastmorland Park

Project Information

The City of Madison Parks Division is replacing the playground at Eastmorland Park in 2026!

Background on Madison Playgrounds

The City of Madison currently owns and maintains approximately 180 playgrounds across the park system. This does not include most school playgrounds, which are owned and maintained by MMSD. The 180 playgrounds equates to 7 per 10,000 residents, consistently placing Madison within the "Top 10" on the Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) annual rating of the 100 largest municipal parks systems in the nation.  Madison Parks is certainly proud of this ranking, but such a sizable system of playgrounds means that there are significant costs to develop and maintain the system in a safe and accessible manner.

In the 1990’s there was a significant reinvestment in playgrounds to move away from wood structures, which were inaccessible, towards equipment that was safer and met ADA guidelines. During this time, the primary surfacing selected for installation was crumb rubber and/or pea gravel. By 2012, there was a significant need to reinvest in our playgrounds again as many were reaching the end of their useful life at similar times. This led to the Parks Division working collaboratively with Alders, the Mayor, and the Board of Park Commissioners to establish a programmatic approach to the replacement of over 120 of the playgrounds over the next decade beginning in 2013. The Council adopted RES-13-00034, Legistar 27854(link is external), in January 2013. This called on the Parks Division to develop a replacement program that prioritized playgrounds based on safety, age and condition in a fair and equitable manner. The program was to include a standard playground equipment package, prioritized yearly capital budget plan for the replacements and equitable guidelines that would allow for neighborhoods to contribute financially to the project.

Additional history and information on the playground process can be found in this letter from Parks Superintendent Eric Knepp to All Alders(opens in a new window) on July 28, 2020.

  1. Public Input Meeting #1

  2. Public Input Meeting #2

  3. Public Input Meeting #3

  4. Design Development

  5. Project Bidding and Contracting

  6. Construction

Project Updates

May 1, 2026 Update

Thank you to all who attended the second and third meetings on April 14 and 30! The meeting presentation slides are available to view and include the playground design options.

Parks staff will make adjustments to the final design per the comments received at both meetings in April:

  • Between the two meetings, Option A was liked the most (age 2-5 structure)
    • The tunnel and triple slide from option B are desired
      • A double slide of similar height is an acceptable substitute to the triple slide
    • The climbing structure and inclusive slide from option A are desired
    • Add a solo spinner or the wobbler from option A
    • Add a firefighter's pole to the platform
  • For playground equipment, the colors blue and purple were selected in the first meeting. We presented two blue color options, and the teal blue was preferred over the sky blue. 
  • The more organic path layout shown in option C was preferred, with the playground placed further to the south of the proposed location
    • The new path will connect to the sidewalk along Silver Road

Parks staff will work to finalize the design and will provide updates on this page when available.

April 15, 2026 Update

Public Input Meeting #3

Due to weather conditions and technical difficulties, we understand many were unable to make it to the meeting on April 14. We have decided to host a third Public Input Meeting April 30, 2026. At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from our manufacturers and seek input from the neighborhood. Attend the meeting to let us know which options you like best! 

The meeting presentation slides are available to view.

January 23, 2026 Update

Public Input Meeting #2

The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Eastmorland Park and we want your input. The new playground equipment is anticipated to be installed in 2026. Our second public meeting will take place on April 14, 2026 via Zoom. At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from our manufacturers and seek input from the neighborhood. Attend the meeting to let us know which options you like best! 

  • Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 6:00 pm
  • Virtual via Zoom – Meeting Link

January 8, 2026 Update

Thank you to all that attended the playground workshop on January 6, 2026! Parks staff presented the playground input process, background, and sought input from the neighborhood.

PUBLIC INPUT MEETING #2

Please check this webpage for the updates on when we will conduct the second public input meeting. 

December 8, 2025 Update

Public Input Meeting #1

The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Eastmorland Park and we want your input. The new playground equipment is anticipated to be installed in 2026. The first opportunity for input is a playground workshop held with five other neighborhoods on January 6, 2026 via Zoom. At this meeting City staff will present the Madison Parks playground input process, provide background on Madison’s playgrounds, and seek input from the neighborhood on each individual park playground.

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