what a beautiful park! great at all times of day i assume, lots of green space to sit down and…read morestare at the lake!

We came for the beach. Maps said it had one. It was so tiny, filled with seaweed, dog poop, and…read moregarbage. A huge dumpster is sitting right next to it where people were dumpster diving. We did play at the playground for a few minutes. It was fine, but small and some parts were broken. There were spiders and wasps, but not many. There were a lot of young people there playing different sports and walking/running on the trail so if you are looking for that type of fun this will be a great place. It's a large space. We wouldn't go back. My kids kept asking to leave.

I went for the annual maple syrup weekend and enjoyed the visit. It is definitely more of a…read morechild-oriented place, but if that's what you're looking for it seems like a great place for outdoor education with indoor exhibits and classrooms plus a good-sized outdoor area with a pond and some forest.

Beautiful and scenic location that's absolutely perfect for letting my toddler run off some extra…read moresteam before bedtime. We haven't gotten to try the indoor aspects yet because their hours are pretty tight, but my boyfriend grew up going there every weekend and says it's more than 5 stars! We will definitely be here often this summer!

Our place is just a five minute walk from this park, which is also known as "Purple Park" to some…read moreneighbors because the playground equipment like the monkey bars and slides, is all painted purple. There's a great swing set for both kids and adults, as well as a gazebo with plenty of benches and tables, making it a nice spot for picnics. During the summer months, there's a portable toilet available, though it has already been removed for the season. Bring bug spray! Several black walnut trees grow nearby, so it's good to watch your step in the fall to avoid rolling an ankle on fallen walnuts. The park also has a small creek or pond where you'll sometimes see people fishing. Overall, it's a lovely neighborhood park with a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.

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!

This was a nice place to have a simple wedding. It had all the basics you'd need to put on a nice…read morewedding. As mother of the groom, I didn't know much about the whole process, but I helped decorate the venue. We brought & put up all the decorations so I'm not sure what they offered for that. The building is nice and large and perfect for a summer/ fall wedding.

I like Olin Park! It's large, it's grassy, it has a lot of nice shaded spots…read more I don't typically come here just to.. come here. Usually I find myself at this park when there is some sort of event happening. Great Taste of the Midwest, the Polar Plunge, the Festival in Lights. But regardless, I am still at this park at least numerous times per year. It's got a great location, right on the lake, and there is even a boat launch! I don't boat Lake Monona much anymore, but this used to be a place I came to often as a kid when my dad would take me out, we launched from here all the time! Oh, the memories :) The park is very versatile which is nice. It can easily host several different types of events easily. The playground area is nice and seems to be pretty well kept up. There is plenty of parking. And there is a ball diamond too. It's right on John Nolan Dr, which some might think, that's a busy road, not safe for the littles! But fortunately everything here is set very far back from the road. We're talking a huge wide open grassy area that separates the traffic from the fun. Plus, the park has it's own little "frontage road" type thing that keeps things even more separated from the busy road.

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.

This is a hidden little gem of a park that lets kids play the way we used to before kids got…read morebubble-wrapped for safety. A kid can hike in a ravine, safe from traffic, hop across a little stream on fallen logs. Have an imaginary tea party on tree stump tables and chairs. Pick wild berries and chase squirrels. Collect pocketfuls of stones. Play hide-and-go-seek among the trees. Go exploring. Imitate birdsong. Have a walk and a talk with Grandpa. The only amenity is a trash receptacle. No swings, no sport court, no spring-necked horsies to rock on. Just blue sky, rocks, trees, wind, water, and birds. Mud in the spring, snow for only about half the year. I've pulled my kids in a sled through this park after a fresh March snowfall, feeling like the only people for miles. It's an oasis of green just off the bike path and it is one of the best parts of living in this neighborhood, whether you are a kid or a kidult.

This dog park is off the beaten trail, but is worth it if you are on the west side. There is enough…read morespace for your dog to get a good hard run, plus shade trees and picnic tables if you want to chill. As a park located in an established neighborhood, you get the opportunity to talk with the neighborhood residents. Each time we have visited we have a nice chat with other dog owners who are attentive to their dogs. An added bonus is that Walnut Grove Park has a playground close to the dog park area. So you can keep an eye on your kiddo AND your dog. Lol

Pretty sweet park with some birds. I've seen some big flying things in there in the early mornings,…read morelike cranes or herons or something. I've even heard of coyotes spotted here. The sign says no dogs :( But I see lots of people walking their dogs through the park on a leash. All in all another good Madison park.