Athletic Fields & Courts

• Review the Changes & Cancelations policies, as fees may apply.
• Payment may be made by credit card, cash or check.
  • Fields – 25% payment is required when submitting a reservation request. After a request is approved, full payment is due to confirm the reservation.
  • Courts – Full payment is required when making a reservation.
• Required special use permits for amplified sound, a temporary structure, or alcohol (see Park Rules for locations) may be purchased when placing a reservation. Permits must be obtained at least ten (10) business days before the reservation date.
• A confirmed field or court reservation does not include any shelters or other park amenities.
  • If you are interested in reserving a shelter, please see Shelters.
  • If you are interested in reserving the entire park, please see Special Events.
• Parks Projects may impact park facilities. Be sure to review this website before reserving and prior to your reservation date.

• If you submitted a reservation request for a field, you do not have permission to use the field until you receive approval and pay the remaining balance due.
• Verify all information on your receipt and immediately notify parks of any errors.
• Read all the accompanying attachments; all policies and rules must be followed.
• Temporary structure permits require contacting Diggers Hotline and returning a completed application.

If you are planning to organize a tournament, you must complete the Special Event in a Park packet. If you are planning to start a new league, you must first discuss with Madison Parks your proposal, as well as discuss the reservation fees.

Lighting, where available, is required after sunset for your safety. Lights are charged per use, regardless of the length of time your reservation goes past sunset. Please review the price table to see the cost of lighting.

• Amplified Sound, for amplification other than game announcements: $60, maximum of 6 hours, must be done by 9pm.
• Temporary Structure: $110 per structure, per day
• Alcohol in an alcohol-free park requires a permit: $55 per day
• Vendors: A request to vend during an athletic reservation may require a Park Event permit. Please contact the Community Events team at madisonevents@cityofmadison.com or 608-264-9289 if you are planning on selling anything in a Madison park.
• Damage: $50/hour plus cost of materials

Closed Fields and Weather Cancelations

Fields listed as closed are under rehabilitation to improve playing conditions. During this rehabilitation period, maintenance efforts are increased and may include overseeding, herbicide treatments, aerification, and fertilizer applications, among other methods.

• Additional fields may be temporarily closed throughout the season as needed for quick repairs or other maintenance.
• Fields may be closed due to inclement weather (current or predicted), ground conditions, or for any other reason deemed necessary by Madison Parks.
• 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.

Changes and Cancelations

• Cancelation requests must be submitted at least 11 or more days before event date.
• No refunds are given if the request is submitted 10 days or fewer before event date.
• Changes can be made by calling the Parks Lakeside Offices at 608-266-4711.
• Cancelation requests must be submitted to parksathletics@cityofmadison.com or in writing to:
  • Madison Parks - Cancelations
    330 E. Lakeside Street
    Madison, WI 53715

Credits

All credits on your account must be used by October 15 of the year issued. After October 15, credits will be removed from your account.

Weather Information or Hazardous Conditions

If the National Weather Service issues a Watch, Warning, or Advisory, or there are hazardous conditions on fields or courts, on the day of your reservation and you do not use the space, you may submit a refund request, in writing within three (3) business days after your event. Requests that meet the criteria will receive an 85% refund and 15% credit on your account (good through October 15 of the year issued).

Public reservations begin the third Monday in February each year. Prior to that date, there are two weeks of priority scheduling, beginning on the first and second Mondays in February, with eligibility determined by reservations made in the previous calendar year.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Athletic reservations of 200 to 400 hours in duration
2. Athletic reservations of more than 400 hours in duration
3. Any athletic reservations in one of these parks: Aldo Leopold, Allied, Arbor Hills, Badger, Berkley, Cypress Spray, De Volis, Elver, Greentree-Chapel Hills, Hammersley, Lerdahl, Lucy Lincoln Hiestand, Meadowood, Marlborough, Newville (Kenneth), Owl Creek, Penn, Pilgrim, Rimrock, Sheridan Triangle, Warner, or Worthington
4. Household account is tax-exempt

Household accounts meeting one criterion will be offered one week of priority scheduling ahead of the public reservation start date; accounts meeting two or more criteria will be offered two weeks of priority scheduling. Notifications of priority eligibility are typically sent in late January.