Parks in Madison: the big ones and how to use them

The signature city parks

Acreage and features are from each park's City of Madison page.

• Olin Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct.: 47 acres on Lake Monona with views of downtown, four boat launch piers, a playground and a historic 1884 pavilion.
• Henry Vilas Park, 1602 Vilas Park Dr.: 45.7 acres on Lake Wingra, beside the Henry Vilas Zoo and the UW Arboretum, with a sand beach, three playgrounds and a winter skating lagoon.
• Tenney Park, 1414 E. Johnson St.: 38 acres on Lake Mendota, with a beach, lighted tennis and pickleball courts and the Tenney Locks, which Dane County runs, usually May through October.
• James Madison Park, 614 E. Gorham St.: 12.6 acres downtown, with a Lake Mendota beach, two basketball courts and the Gates of Heaven historic site.
• Warner Park, 2930 N. Sherman Ave.: 213 acres on the north side, home of the Madison Mallards, with a beach, boat launch, skate park and an off-leash dog park of about 8.5 fenced acres.
• Elver Park, 1250 McKenna Blvd.: 250.8 acres, the city's largest community park, with a splash park, a lit sledding hill and cross-country ski trails.
• Olbrich Park, 3527 Atwood Ave.: 90 acres on Lake Monona beside Olbrich Botanical Gardens, with a beach, boat launch and seasonal biergarten.
• Owen Conservation Park, 6021 Old Sauk Rd.: 96.8 acres of prairie and oak savanna, with monthly volunteer-led nature walks.
• Cherokee Marsh – North Unit, 6098 N. Sherman Ave.: 946.6 acres in what the city calls Dane County's largest wetland.

None of the city beaches has lifeguards. See our lakes guide for beaches and water quality, and the hiking guide for trails.

Dane County parks

Dane County Parks says it manages more than 18,000 acres, including 25 recreation parks (8 with dog parks), 20 wildlife areas and five campgrounds. Three to know:

• Lake Farm County Park (345 acres), about five miles from the Capitol Square: a 47-site campground, three reservable shelters, an observation tower and trails linking to the Capital City State Trail.
• Token Creek County Park (418 acres), off Highway 51 south of Windsor: a 33-acre dog park, five shelter facilities, a 27-hole disc golf course and a boardwalk through a sedge meadow.
• Fish Lake County Park (126 acres), in the far northwest corner: a hiking trail, fishing and no restrooms.

County parks are open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless posted otherwise. Dogs need a county permit; see our pets guide.

State parks nearby

Both are open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round.

• Governor Nelson State Park: a day-use park on Lake Mendota with a sand beach, boat launch, reservable shelters and more than 8 miles of trails.
• Lake Kegonsa State Park: on a 3,200-acre lake, with a swimming beach, reservable shelters, hiking trails and a campground.

The DNR requires a vehicle admission pass on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas. It's a sticker inside the driver's side windshield and doesn't transfer between vehicles. Options include daily, 12-month and senior (Wisconsin residents 65 and older) passes, sold online, at the park or with Wisconsin plate renewals. The DNR lists waivers, including a free weekend in June. See the DNR admission page for current prices.

Hours, alcohol and other rules

From the City of Madison's park rules:

• Hours: general parks are open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.; conservation parks 4 a.m. to one hour after sunset.
• Alcohol: most parks allow it in a non-breakable container. Some, including Brittingham, Olbrich and Tenney, are alcohol-free without an alcohol permit. Conservation parks prohibit it.
• Glass is banned in every city park, and fireworks are prohibited in the city.
• Grills are allowed in most general parks, not conservation parks.
• Parking: none from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., with a three-hour limit.
• Dogs: leashed, licensed, permitted dogs are allowed in most parks, not conservation parks.

In Dane County parks, adults 21 and older may drink, glass is barred on designated beaches, and gatherings of 25 or more need an alcohol permit. The city's Park Ranger line is 608-235-0448.

Reserving a shelter

The city lists 30 shelters and pavilions, most available mid-April to mid-October. Reservations for 2027 opened November 2, 2026, online through WebTrac, by phone at 608-266-4711 or at the Parks Office, 330 E. Lakeside St., weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A reservation covers the shelter, not the whole park. The city says Olin Park Pavilion is unavailable in 2027 for rehabilitation. See the city's shelter page for deadlines and refund terms.

Dane County shelter reservations must be made at least two days ahead by someone 18 or older, through the county reservation site or the Parks Office at (608) 224-3730.

Splash parks and pools

The city runs four free splash parks: Cypress (902 Magnolia Ln.), Elver (1250 McKenna Blvd.), Reindahl (1818 Portage Rd.) and Rennebohm's Jeff Erlanger Sprayground (115 N. Eau Claire Ave.). They run daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and are closed for the season now. A new Cypress splash park and playground is expected in May 2027.

Goodman Pool, 325 W. Olin Ave., is closed for the season, and the city plans to reopen it in June 2027. Check its page for hours and the waiver required for visitors 3 and older.

Accessible features

The city's pages describe accessibility for only some parks, so call the Parks Division at 608-266-4711 if you need specifics. What they list:

• Warner Park: the Frautschi Family Accessible Playground, with a rubberized surface, a wheelchair-accessible swing and communication boards.
• Elver Park: an accessible playground with ramps and a rubber surface.
• Henry Vilas Park: a beach mat in season and two accessible fishing piers.
• Lake Farm County Park: two accessible campsites, two accessible fishing piers and a barrier-free boat launch.
• Token Creek County Park: an accessible fishing pier.