Large Shelters
Shelter and Pavilion News
- 2025 reservations opened Friday, November 1.
- Reservations may be made online, by phone or in person at Parks Lakeside Offices.
- See 2025 Special Event Reservations for unavailable dates and locations.
- Olin Park Pavilion 2026: to ensure the long-term structural integrity of this historic building, City Engineering will be addressing necessary repairs and maintenance in 2026. We anticipate the pavilion to be closed in 2026 but will have a better idea of the timeline by November 2025.
Madison Parks offers larger shelters and pavilions perfect for a casual event, staff retreat or celebration. Most are available to reserve from mid-April through mid-October, with a few exceptions as noted below. The Shelter Reservations Guide provides details on seating capacities, and amenities such as outlets, fireplaces, and picnic tables. Reservations may be made online, in person or by phone. Please follow these helpful steps when making a reservation.
STEPS TO RESERVE A SHELTER
- Review RESERVATION POLICIES and SHELTER PRICES.
- Review Parks Projects. As we continually improve our park system, some projects may impact a nearby shelter.
- Reserve one of three ways. Full payment is due at the time of processing.
- ONLINE - credit card only
- Calling (608) 266-4711 - credit card only
- In-person at the Parks Lakeside Offices - credit card, cash or check (made payable to City Treasurer)
Important Notes:
- Any required permits, such as amplified sound, or alcohol are required at the time of processing.
- All reservations are subject to our standard cancelation policy.
- Opening day to reserve a park shelter for the following year begins on the first business day in November.
- 2025 reservations opening day is Friday, November 1, 2024.
- IMPORTANT: Canceling a reservation made on opening day will result in a 50% refund and must be submitted at least 11 or more days before the event date. No refunds are given if the request is submitted 10 days or fewer before the event.
- Dogs are prohibited inside a shelter or other City building.
- Picnic shelters may be reserved online or by calling -OR- if not reserved, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Day of signage is posted at the shelter.
- 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 park amenities. If you are interested in reserving the entire park, please visit Special Events.
- Alcohol is permitted in most Madison Parks. Glass is never allowed. There are a handful of alcohol-free parks. In these locations, if you would like to bring alcohol, you will need an alcohol permit, which may be obtained when placing your reservation. An alcohol permit, without a reservation, is not given.
- Public 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 continue throughout the year. Please visit Park Projects for a partial list of major capital improvement projects.
- Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters. Violators may be considered trespassers and may be subject to forfeiture or arrest.
Open Schedule Exceptions
- Open year-round:
- Open mid-April through mid-November:
- John Wall Family Pavilion in Tenney Park
- Elver Park (enclosed shelter)
- Warner Park
- Olin Park (through October)
-
Brittingham Park
Address: 829 W. Washington Ave.
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Brittingham ParkBurrows Park Shelter
Address: 25 Burrows Rd.
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In separate building
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Burrows Park ShelterCountry Grove Park
Address: 7353 East Pass
Capacity: See seating.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Country Grove ParkDemetral Park
Address: 601 N. Sixth St
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Demetral ParkDoor Creek Shelter
Address: 7035 Littlemore Dr
Capacity: See Seating
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Door Creek ShelterElvehjem Park
Address: 1202 Painted Post Dr
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Street parking
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Elvehjem ParkElver Park Open Shelter
Address: 1260 McKenna Blvd
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Elver Park Open ShelterElver Park Pavilion Shelter
Address: 1250 McKenna Blvd
Capacity: This is an enclosed and open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Elver Park Pavilion ShelterEsther Beach Park
Address: 2802 Waunona Way
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Esther Beach ParkGarner Park
Address: 333 S. Rosa Rd
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Garner ParkHighland Manor Park Shelter
Address: 10 Manor Drive
Capacity: This is an enclosed shelter with max capacity posted as 212. Seating provided for approx. 100.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Highland Manor Park ShelterHoyt Park Main Shelter
Address: 3902 Regent St
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In separate building
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Hoyt Park Main ShelterHoyt Park Roys Shelter
Address: 3902 Regent St
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In separate building
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Hoyt Park Roys ShelterGates of Heaven
Address: 302 E. Gorham St
Capacity: See Seating.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Gates of HeavenJames Madison Park
Address: 614 E. Gorham St
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Street parking
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: James Madison ParkLake Edge Park
Address: 511 Park Ct
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Street parking
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Lake Edge ParkLake View Heights Park
Address: 1621 Sunfield St.
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Street parking
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Lake View Heights ParkMarlborough Park
Address: 2222 Whenona Dr.
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Street parking
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Marlborough ParkMarshall Park Shelter
Address: 2101 Allen Blvd
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In separate building
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Marshall Park ShelterOlbrich Park - Walter St.
Address: 502 Walter Street
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Olbrich Park - Walter St.Olin Park Pavilion
Address: 1156 Olin-Turville Court
Capacity: See Seating.
Restrooms: In separate building
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Olin Park PavilionPenn Park
Address: 2101 Fisher St.
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In separate building
Water: Not available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Penn ParkRennebohm Park
Address: 115 N. Eau Claire Ave
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Street parking
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Rennebohm ParkTenney Park at John Wall Family Pavilion
Address: 402 N. Thornton Ave.
Capacity: See Seating.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Tenney Park at John Wall Family PavilionTenney Park Beach Shelter
Address: 1300 Sherman Ave
Capacity: See seating.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Alcohol-Free Park: Yes - alcohol permit is required.
Shelter Details: Tenney Park Beach ShelterVilas Park
Address: 1602 Vilas Park Drive
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Vilas ParkWarner Park
Address: 2930 N. Sherman Ave
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter with covered-patio.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Warner ParkWarner Park Beach Shelter
Address: 1101 Woodward Dr.
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Parking lot
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Warner Park Beach ShelterWestmorland Park
Address: 4114 Tokay Blvd
Capacity: This is an open-air shelter.
Restrooms: In shelter
Water: Available in shelter
Parking: Street parking
P.A. (Amplified Sound) Permit Allowed: Yes
Shelter Details: Westmorland Park
or call 608-266-4711 Mon - Fri, 8 am - 4:30 pm
Please Note: We are continually improving our park system. Please see Parks Projects for more information on specific park projects that may impact your shelter reservation.
More Information
Contact Madison Parks
- City of Madison Parks Division
330 E. Lakeside Street
Madison, WI 53715 - Phone: 608-266-4711
- Contact Form
- Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
- Park Hours: 4:00am - 10:00pm
- After Hours, Weekends & Holidays: Contact Park Rangers, 608-235-0448
Facilities
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Beach
- Biking
- Boat Launch
- Boat Mooring
- Botanical Garden
- Canoe & Kayak Launch Sites
- Canoe & Kayak Rental
- Canoe & Kayak Storage
- Cemetery
- Conservation Park
- Cricket
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Disc Golf
- Dogs in Parks
- Fireplace
- Fishing
- Football
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical Feature
- Horseshoe/Bocce
- Ice Skating
- Multipurpose Field
- Parking Lot
- Pickleball
- Playground
- Pool
- Recreation Center
- Restroom
- Scenic Overlook
- Shelters & Pavilions
- Skate Park
- Sledding
- Snowshoeing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Splash Park
- Tennis
- Volleyball