Cute park for kids, port-a- potty, little old and rickety but still fun for little kids, not for…read morebig kids- for age 10 max

This is one of 5 "Dream Parks" in Dane County. They all were community built. The playground is…read moretruly huge and has tons for kids from 18 months and up to explore. Bring a picnic, there are plenty of places to sit.

Wonderful park for the little ones. There are two separate play areas. The park is fully fenced so…read moreyou don't have to worry about the kiddos running into the street. The equipment is unique and great for the little ones who love to climb.

If you have kids who are just walking, up to about 3 or 4, this is the best small park in Madison…read morefor them to play that I know of. It is extremely well designed for the toddler crowd. It is totally gated, so no one can make a run for the street. The equipment is interesting and exciting to kids without posing almost any danger, and from 18 months on, they can do almost everything themselves. There are no swings you have to push them on, no ladders you have to hover over while they climb. Just sit on one of the many benches and relax! If you live within a mile or two, and are in charge of some people in diapers, do yourself a favor and find this little patch of fun tucked just outside the elementary school grounds.

Hoyt park is one of many sneaky natural treasures tucked away within the city of Madison. Easy to…read moremiss, but absolutely worth searching out. I hadn't been to the park in ages, in fact, when looking at the map earlier in the day I'd forgotten that I'd been there before. This is probably because we'd stopped and spent some time at the main shelter, but didn't really check out the rest of the park. Shame on me! We missed out back then; not only does the trail make for a lovely and mostly shady walk, but the history here is fantastic. The park was once a quarry, and it shows because this local stone was used throughout. You can access the park from three areas. First is a footpath next to Hoyt School on Regent Street (street parking only here). The primary entrance is a bit farther up Regent Street, and here is where you'll find the parking lot and the main facilities for the park. Lastly, you can hike down from the the scenic outlook at Owen Parkway. There is limited parking up there and on the street by Hoyt School, so I'd suggest the main lot. Hoyt offers a bit of something for everyone. As you pull into the parking lot you'll notice the stone shelter and restroom facility. There are enough picnic tables in the shelter for a good sized get together (reservable) and a large fireplace on each end. While we were there I saw two different groups cook up something on a teeny fire in there. There's a children's playground near the parking lot, more picnic tables scattered about, and a large open grassy area for soccer, lawn games or frisbee. A basketball court and softball field round out the sporting options. Also, as of June 2015, this is one of 10 Madison parks that will be participating in a pilot program for slacklining sites in the city. Neat! The trail (about a mile total) is a mix of paved and unpaved surfaces. It weaves through the trees and rock formations in a way that really maximizes the 31 acres the park sits on. There are picnic areas with stone fireplaces and tables tucked here and there, and a second shelter full of picnic tables down the path into the woods. A smaller clearing past this shelter opens to a restored prairie area, which was loaded with flowers and butterflies when my friend and I walked through. I noted a few benches here and there where one could sit and watch the pollinators at work. There were raspberries everywhere! At one point we walked past old mossy quarry walls, and up/down stone stairways. There were wildflowers all along the trail, which always makes me happy. We shared the trail with a number of people running through the park or walking their dogs. But beware! Technically dogs are only allowed along Owen Parkway and must be leashed while there (via City of Madison website). I don't know how strict they are at the park if you're caught. Regardless, I was pleased to see so many people using the park in a couple hours time. Unfortunately there are some signs of vandalism once you get into the woods. There are not-so-pretty patches in the fencing where people have tried to get through to the blocked off lower quarry area, and some of the beautiful stone tables have been spray painted. Hopefully the Friends of Hoyt Park are on top of these things; from what I read they're pretty active.

We stumbled upon this while staying nearby. It's a nice place to go to forget you are in a city and…read morehas many hidden gems if you have time to look around. There is a pyramid hidden there if you are fortunate enough to find it.

A wide variety of playground equipment for the kids; mostly old but in great condition. The merry…read morego round was a hit. Plenty of shade for parents.

Nice little community park. Soft walking material on ground and safe if one happens to fall…read more Kept up nicely!

A fabulous variety of playground equipment and clean, well-maintained restrooms make for a terrific…read moreneighborhood park.

Nice playground. Looks like newer equipment. Some shade for parents. Nice walking path for people…read moreand their dogs, and lots of field area to run around.

What a great park! I stopped by for a round of pickle ball with a friend and found that half the…read morecourts were reserved but they keep the other half always open for first come first serve! This was a great aspect that I loved about the courts. They were clean and even had ball stoppers for the stray balls that might go rolling. It also had an accessible bathroom (M/W), plenty of parking, playground for kids, and a large field!

Not a lot of shade, but lots for kids to do. Multiple tennis courts, full basketball court, soccer…read moreand football fields, and a sand pit

This is such a sweet little park. Really unique playground equipment and beautiful views. There was…read moreno one there when we went on a warmer winter day and it was just a short walk from our home off of Atwood Avenue. Another one of those hidden gems in the neighborhood that you should definitely check out!

Edward Klief park is truly a staple of the neighborhood. It has everything you could want! slides,…read moreswings, and a complex jungle gym. But be careful of the turf, you could slip and twist an ankle! The park has been a cultural icon for both elementary school kids and college students, who throw keggers on the grass and then ride those kegs down the slides. picture attached. Also, the original name of the park is Milton Street Playground!

This is a great park for enjoying a warm summer day or tailgating prior to a Badger Football game…read more There is a backstop and small baseball/softball area, plenty of green space, a playground for the little ones, a basketball court, and a sand volleyball court with an above average quality net. On warm days, one can always hear people playing baskbetball and volleyball. There are brick ledges with brick floors on two corners of the park which are perfect for adding extra seating or places to put food and other items while tailgating. The whole park is filled with tailgaters prior to Badger Football games. This is one of only a couple Madison parks that allow alcoholic beverages. You just can't have glass containers!