The 20 best public squares in Madison

Cool, serene and neat park. Good for fishing too. Caught one today too...

1st time visiting warner park. park have absolutely beautiful and charismatic lake. but please STOP throwing trash in it.

Loved the nature trails! The sand hill cranes were beautiful!

What a spacious park! There were many paths, one in which led through the woods and then down a hill. There were so many birds in the water! This is a great place to get exercise. There is a dog park in Warner Park, if you have a dog. I love the multicolored building and the tiny statue of liberty replica. There was a fair amount of litter by the water. I think this park could be cleaner.

Ground is beautiful given it's spaces. It has a nice kitchen to prepare meals to raise funds. Lots of spaces to sit around for spectators. Bathrooms are well maintained.

Incredible place for a family or anyone for that matter to watch a baseball game. It’s a shame that UWisconsin doesn’t have a baseball team…if they did, they’d get unreal support. Terrific stadium with every bell and whistle you could imagine. Perfect for young kids and great beer specials for the older ones. Highly recommended!

Beautiful park one of my favorite in madison area! All dog owners are very attentive to there dogs and very freindly dogs and dog parents...we have 3 dogs 2 big one and a small one and they can all play together or they also have a small dog area as well... pretty wooded walking trails and a lake for bird watching or for the. Pups to swim....all fenced in big of leash park... Remember to bring water as there isn't anywhere to fill or get any in the park...

I played a pickleball Round Robin sponsored by Monona Parks & Rec today. The court consists of two tennis courts that are split into four pickleball courts. The courts are in okay condition. There is almost no shade. Overall though, it's a decent place to play pickleball.

Also known as Dream Park Playground. It is a really nice park with a lot of green space and a large varied playground.

Who equal park has a quaint lagoon and gazebo that is picture perfect in any season. In the warmer months, the MY Dream Park is an amazing labyrinth of fun for all ages. I was in elementary school and got to help design the park many years ago!!

I haven't been over here in 20 years, and it's still absolutely beautiful. I had actually forgotten about this part. I love this gazebo

Absolutely love this park, it’s one of my son’s favorite, so much room and extremely well maintained. We were recently there for the Monona Festival and it was a ton of fun and it was awesome to see so many family’s out with big smiles now that the covid restrictions have been lifted!

Near public library Nice neighborhood park on Lake Monona near Madison, WI. Playground, picnic area, tennis courts, and municipal building. Hosts various events during the year. Was here for annual Lake Monona 20k/5k race. Good time!

One of our favorite parks in the area as it has public restrooms! Always a plus with multiple littles. The park is wooden and amazing! Pictures wouldn't do it justice! There are swings and handicapped accessible areas. I've rented the Dream Park Shelter for graduation parties- perfect for rain or shine, as the shelter has multiple garage doors that can protect from the elements, if need be!

Beautiful Gardens that is well maintained. Took us over 2 hours to go through the whole thing. I think its all free except one part they want 6$ a head and that's amazingly worth it.

We went to see the re-gilded Thai Pavilion. It was my first time I took the tram ride with its tour introduction to the park, very nice! The Thai Pavilion sparkled in the bright sun, the bonsai accent tree was impressive, and the Gardens beautiful. 💖👏

Loved visiting the garden when my wife and I had time to spare. Spent about 2 hours walking around and enjoying the beautiful gardens. You can really tell they take great care and pride in the planning and maintenance of this garden and its Free! I would definitely recommend for a short afternoon.

Wonderful botanical garden. Self guided exploration. Small tram tour. Beautiful gardens free to walk. Also has an arboretum and butterfly garden for cost. Gift shop, restrooms and bottled water available inside

The butterfly's and the waterfalls were so pretty, lots of families with small children there. The Gardens are spectacular, they reminded me of the gardens of English Castles I have visited. There are kayaks for sauntering along the Park River. A beautiful and unforgettable experience for all ages with plenty of benches to sit on.

Fabulous botanical garden! Been here before but it was many years ago, so many great things to see and experience fun and educational for all ages. Found out after we were done that they have a tour that you can ride on a mobile cart and they can tell you all about the garden I definitely recommend that.

I love Olbrich Gardens so much. It is such a necessary part of the Madison community. They always engage with such great groups in the area. For Make Music Madison they hosted MACH (Madison Area Concert Handbells) which was such a great time. I always love coming back!

Even though it was FREEZING COLD the day we went, I can see how beautiful the park is. It was very clean, absolutely gorgeous place to picnic or go visit the lake if it wasn't 40 with wind coming off the lake. 😅 You can go right up to the water, but we weren't there long enough to see if there was an area to get into the water. There was also an emergency station that I found very comforting that it was there in case anyone needed a defibrillator. Im from California but I've NEVER seen one of those at a park in cali?

This is a nice view of Lake Mendota. I stopped by on a cloudy day in June to enjoy the breeze of the lake. I was able to park along the road, but there's also a small parking lot that is available. With numerous benches around, I was able to sit and relax. I noticed that there's a playground, 2 basketball courts, and a volleyball court on site. I saw people running along the trail along the lake. I saw people sunbathing on the grassy lawn. I saw people walking their dogs. It's a good place to come to enjoy the views of Madison.

Quiet urban park with plenary of green space, playground, even a small beach to share with the ducks. A few benches to view Mendota and a nice little reprieve from the busy streets downtown.

While driving by, we've seen this park and stopped. There is not much here, just a big open area and a nice view. There's a small play area for kids on the right side and a walkway, jogging path, along the front of the lake.

If you're looking for a place to unwind and reconnect with nature, this is it. The air feels fresher the moment you walk in. The park boasts a variety of plants and trees—some local, some exotic—with nameplates that make it educational as well. The walking track is smooth and scenic, and there are plenty of shaded spots to sit and relax. Whether you’re doing yoga, reading a book, or simply enjoying the greenery, this garden brings inner peace. Also, amazing photo opportunities during sunrise and sunset!

Enjoyed dancing in a drum circle while watching the sunsets

Classic park vibes! Nice spot for a picnic and to watch the lake!

I had an event at Brittingham Park Shelter about 2 weeks ago and I was severely disappointed in the state of the shelter. I had booked it for my daughter's 2-year birthday thinking that it would be a wonderful place with a beautiful playground next door for kids to enjoy, instead I was extremely stressed and worried that my daughter or her cousins were going to witness something inappropriate, pick up something dangerous on park grounds or worse. 1. There were individuals on parking lot/park/shelter grounds clearly doing and selling drugs, drinking alcohol and leaving liquor bottles around the park, taking trash cans, getting into fights, etc. Someone stole my daughter's party decorations and threw them / launched balloons so they flew away. 2. The shelter was dirty. There was vomit and old food laying around, empty liquor bottles, full trash cans, cigarette / "joint" debris, etc. 3. There was nothing displayed to let community members know when the shelter was reserved so there were groups there expecting to use the shelter who had not reserved it. There was a group that was in the middle of the shelter when we arrived playing loud music with curse words, and smoking marijuana who we had to ask multiple times to leave so we could set up for our event. They also parked their car on the grass right next to the shelter even after our reservation had started and continued "partying." I understand this is a public park, and I expected there to be other people using the playground, however the state of the shelter and lack of supervision was shocking, and was beyond disgusting and dangerous to be right next to a children's playground. The playground itself was nice, had everything around it not felt so dangerous, dirty and uninviting. I will not be booking a park with Madison in the future. I hope something will be done to improve the state of this shelter for future individuals who chance to reserve it.

Beautiful park by the lake. Home of the Good Neughbor Gathering and ultimate Frisbee. Playground area has an interesting bouncy surface. Restrooms have a couple of stalls.

Two playgrounds in one area!! 3 mile loop around the lake. Community garden flowers were poppin!

This park is an accessible park so it had ramps, but also has a "course" (think "perfect for 'floor is lava') for older kids. This works well for us because we have kids from 18 months to 6, so they all find things they enjoy/can do here. Then the lake is right there so that's a nice walk to go on. There is another playground across the field, and then another "nature" playground down the trail a bit.

Pretty park, lake was beautiful.

Gorgeous and right off the bike trail. Nice park, bathrooms, pavillion, large fields to play ball, volleyball courts, and benches to view the lake and city.

A very nice park along Monona Bay with parking, playground and of course, the Bay. In the spring of 2022, Madison's city parks on lake shores are trying to deter the gathering of geese on park lands by adding a coyote intently looking out on the water in each park. Each coyote has a fake fur tail that can move in the wind. From a distance, they look quite real.

A neighborhood park on Lake Monona. Quaint and quiet. Great for strolling by the lake. Lot of grassy areas and trees. Includes a kids playground and horseshoe throw area. People lounge, fish, and play along. Safe and clean park offers a great spot to be in nature. It’s a great little park winter and summer. Only street parking is available and that’s limited too. You can park away and walk to it if needed. Whether this park or some other one, get out there and get your daily dose of nature!

Super chill and very long park that goes along the lake. Lovely walking path, benches, volleyball court, playground. Very relaxing and quiet area.

Lakefront featival with friends. Great music and Free. 2 days of live music with some good bands. Neil Francis and his Hammond B3. They travel gig to gig with the organ. Nice. ERic Mcfadden from New orleans. Loved his song writing and music. The festival stull has long lines for food and beer, but the music is free and the weather was nice.

Love this park along lake Monona. A good mix of sun and shade and often a nice breeze. It's also the home of one of our favorite festivals.

It's a very nice park beside the lake

Long, narrow park on the western shore of Lake Monona at the Yahara River. Very few picnic tables and no restrooms.

Love the park, so nice to have such a nice lake front that is for the public. Although the beaches are not something I would use for swimming!

Some nice hills. Very peaceful

This is truly an amazing place. Somehow, the city sounds seem to fade away, and you're left with a peaceful silence rarely found in the middle of the city. I really enjoyed taking the trail along Bluff Street, the signs along the way made this city park as nice as a county or state park. Lots of shade on a hot day, and some nice, large grass areas to get some sun as well. Great park!

My Take on Hoyt Park: A Madison Gem! If you're anything like me, you appreciate finding those hidden havens in a bustling city, and Hoyt Park is exactly that for Madison. Tucked away just enough to escape the constant hum of traffic, it truly feels like a breath of fresh air. Whether you're planning a lively get-together or just craving some peaceful solitude, this park absolutely delivers. For the nature lover, Hoyt Park is a dream. You'll be captivated by the rich tapestry of both young and old-growth trees, all crisscrossed by a fantastic network of trails – some paved for an easy stroll and others unpaved for a more rugged hike. It's the kind of place where you can really lose yourself in the natural beauty, observing the diverse plant life and enjoying the quiet rustle of leaves. And for those who love to stay active, you won't be disappointed! I was thrilled to see a full-sized basketball court, a well-kept softball field, and a spacious grassy area perfect for a game of soccer, football, or even just tossing a Frisbee around. It's clear this park was designed with community and recreation in mind. But it's not just about nature and sports; Hoyt Park truly shines when it comes to social gatherings. The two welcoming shelters are perfect for events, and parents will be grateful for the dedicated play equipment that keeps the kids entertained. What really sets this park apart, though, is its fascinating connection to the past. As you wander, you'll discover a bunch of beautifully restored historic fireplaces nestled throughout the landscape – they're like little whispers from another time. The restored prairie, along with the unique rock and tree formations, further enhances that feeling of stepping back in time. Honestly, Hoyt Park feels like a treasure. It's a place where you can connect with nature, engage in some friendly competition, gather with loved ones, and even feel a sense of history. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a truly versatile and enchanting outdoor experience in Madison!

Excellent semi hidden park in Madison. The trails are very expansive. There's lots of history here as well. There's a pavilion for hosting parties and some very cool outdoor fireplaces. It's a great spot to spend the day.

Amazing 🤩 If you ever want a great place to have a bonfire date or just want to hike in a near by forest preserve, then I highly recommend giving Hoyt Park a try! There is wood provided and many fire pits to choose Perfect for cold summer/fall nights

I gave it 4 stars because I was unable to explore it more in depth. When I was there, it was beautiful. It was pretty quiet, except for the soccer game going on, but it wasn’t bothersome.

Nice park for a decent sized hike, hills and geological structure to view, a couple of shelters and plenty of picnic tables.

Pretty basic off leash dog park and close to our home which makes it convenient. My pups prefer water and some shade (this park is full sun/ no swimming). Easy parking but gets really muddy in spring and when it rains.

Huge space with a large play structure and one for smaller kids, a basketball court, a soccer field, and a volleyball net around the corner. The dog park next door is a really cool, large open space too!

A great local dog park. Usually a nice breeze as it sits on an old landfill with methane release systems. There is neat view of the capitol. Nice wild flowers too.

My favourite place to take my dog in Madison. There's so much open space with a number of walking or sitting options and also a smaller section fenced off for small or older dogs.

Lots of play area Soccer, field baseball, field stuff to do nice and flat.

Nice, large place to take my dog off leash. Even though it gets busy, it doesn't feel crowded ever

Great place to let the doggo run free! Gets windy in the winter time so bundle up! Beautiful in the summer, Dobie likes to roll in the wildflowers. 😂

Maddy and I walk the park every day. Whether it’s morning, afternoon, or evening, there’s always plenty of space to play n train! I think I accidentally joined a dog walking gang in the mornings haha! Other owners are always super welcoming and I’ve yet to meet a dog that isn’t a total sweetheart.

Great dog park close to downtown. It's nice and pretty large for being so close to downtown but would love a couple trees or something to offer shade throughout the park

(No water) even so, one of our FAVORITE dog parks in Madison. Finally a fully fenced DP that’s big enough for Lena Bear to sprint without limits. Always positive experiences with other dogs/owners. Some baggies at the entrance. Two entrances across from one another.

Murphy loves the tall grass here, and it is very convenient to get to! I very much appreciate that this park utilizes all of the space on the Alliant Energy Center Expo grounds when there isn’t an event going on too!

Beautiful, open area, but pointless if they can’t keep its fences in good shape. Our 35lb dog easily crawled under the fence this morning. Fortunately, we were able to get to him before he went too far and reached the road. Will definitely not return here until there’s maintenance done.

Great dog park, water for pets and hoomans... No shade unless you go by the tennis courts. People run in the mornings with pets.

Great mellow dog park thats quite large. One section has swimming for the dogs on wingra creek.

We reserved tge shelter which was great for our large gathering. The low rating is due to the issue with lighting for the shelter. It was overcast and so the shelter was very dark. The park ranger who stopped by was not able to help us as apparently the lights are on a timer that park personel cannot control. Consider putting shelter lights on a photo-cell or a switch to over ride the timer would be helpful.

Beautiful - nicely groomed grass area for kids to run around. Pretty views of sailboats- Shoreline isn't as well kept as it could be (overgrown with plants) but overall, a great picnic spot.

Best place to launch Scows with Mendota Yacht Club.

Conveniently located in a lovely lakeshore spot. Restrooms, a hilltop shelter, plentiful parking and a fantastic sunset view make it a top choice for summer gatherings.

Thoroughly enjoyed the sunset recently at Burrows Park. So peaceful, and seemingly well maintained. Will definitely go again!

Beautiful park to hang out in, play soccer, or just swing on the swings. The waterfront view is breathtaking, especially at sunset. Stop on by and enjoy the view and amenities.

Alcohol is allowed at this park and it's a cute spot by the lake

This a free quaint natural prairie and swamp preservation in the backyards of a small semi-rural residential area. There are multiple entrances to the conservation, one from the residential neighborhood, one from the neighboring school and one from the address listed on googlemaps which has a small gravel parking lot. The trails are very short and clearly marked by a gravel and/or dirt path. There are a few tributaries that loop around and three paths that lead to the three entrances listed above. It does not take more than 30min to leisurely walk the entire park. The trail is a flat landscape so no special footwear is required. The conservation protects a combination of forestry, swamp and prairie space. The highlight of this trail is a small pier where you can cross the pond. There are no pets allowed on this trail. As forementioned, the trail is gravel and dirt which makes wheelchair access difficult. However, given the flat terrain this trail can be accessed amd completed by individuals who use mobility assisters including canes and walkers.

Such a gem in the Monona area. Really nice network of trails. I always see tons of wildlife (especially birds) when I come. Great place to see different kinds of ducks and there are usually sandhill cranes here in the warmer months.

I'm loving seeing green spaces that sprawl through what is otherwise a booming city. No matter where you go in Madison there is some sort of green space to enjoy and explore. Edna Taylor Conservation is no different. I love living in a progressive city with forward thinking attributes. Edna snakes through this space and is teaming with wildlife. If you love cranes and geese Edna is your jam. The boardwalks that guide through the marshes were particularly worthwhile; a great way to see the marshes wildlife. There were recent prescribed burns, which will grow even more lush here soon. Can't wait to visit again.

Great place to explore! Well maintained natural space. I wish the trails made a loop, but you can't win them all 🤣

Still here, still beautiful. They did have to close a trail 🙄. To close to people's houses I guess. Still a beautiful place to go for a walk. Did really like the high trail, going to miss that.

Hadn't been there in about 10 years...had a great time bird watching and just enjoying the beauty of park with my sister-friend.

DOG NOT ALLOWED! Despite searching on Google and the maps listing saying “dogs allowed”, dogs are in fact NOT allowed.

This place is awesome. Trail is in a densely wooded area. Trails are nice to walk on and shaded for the most part. Seems like the trail forks into hilly areas for mountain bikers to ride through. We walked through these trails just to get an uphill hike out of it. Dog allowed on a leash but no place to discard waste so you have to carry it all the way back to the entrance where there is a trash can.

Ok, so this place is awesome. I've lived on the near west side for over 30 years and just found Quarry park this year. On the map it's small, but the elevation changes and trees allow you to forget it's surrounded by a city and explore a crazy patchwork of forest trails. Plan to hike or mountain bike only, since there isn't any open space for sports or picnics, or play equipment for kids.

It would appear simple because it's so small, but this really is a great place to practice technical mountain biking skills. There are some jumps that are mostly low consequence, so they can be good for learning (though there are a couple that you need to know what you're doing). The small pump track isn't so great, but there's only so much you can do with natural conditions. I hope the trail crews don't come in and "smooth out" the trails like they did at Quarry Ridge. We need these kinds of trails to remind mountain bikers that you need technical skills, not just "get rad" skills.

Not as many trails as I was hoping for but a great place to go for a quick walk!

We walked this trail which is also a bike park. It was a unique place to wander with lots of winding paths in all directions. Some of the hilly areas were kind of slick from the ice but that's to be expected this time of year. We went on a week day and it wasn't crowded at all. I think we saw one other person as we were leaving. It was a nice and quiet place to walk. We also felt we were in the country versus actually surrounded by a neighborhood and close to University avenue.

Trails aren't clearly marked or well maintained in many areas. I had to clear a medium sized tree off the main loop trail to pass. The pump track is a good way to spend a few hours and tire yourself out. There's also some jump lines but it was quite difficult to find the proper paths that lead to them while following the recommended direction of riding. If you're in the area it's worth checking out but there's better trails about 10 minutes down the road

Great little park tucked away in the city near Whole Foods with some great limestone outcropping. Some fun mtn. bike rides through it with easy to difficult trails. Lots of little ups a downs. Fun times walking or biking. Only down side is it's small size...

Love coming here all the time, and the view is amazing. The only problem is that more people know about it now so you're often not alone anymore.

Beautiful place for sunset! Even saw a pair of foxes while there!

Absolutely awesome place to go if you want to watch the sunset

Very cute and quiet spot for a nice lunch or just to hang out for a moment. Wish there weren't buildings right in the only clearing but c'est la vie.

Beautiful view. I didn’t take any pictures but next time I will. Was up there at night and all the city lights were very pretty.

Overrated sunset spot, perhaps more known for the nearby concentration of residential houses adapted from Frank Lloyd Wright architectural styles than the small stretches of concrete retaining walls called Lookout spot, or the lackluster park nearby.

Beautiful place to enjoy nature and overlook the city. Nice and quiet. Easily accessible while being secluded. Wonderful.

Today, I decided to check this place out. I had seen on Facebook that they were having a 150th birthday party celebration. And oh my goodness, what a cute little library. Everyone here was so friendly and helpful even with a party going on. I highly recommend this place. I know I'll definitely be spending my free time here more often. I'm new to this side of Madison, and this is a nice little gem. They've got lots of things going on here. You can sign up for their newsletters and learn about all the different events that they host. They are really good at helping everyone out and making anyone in the community feel welcome. I saw all kinds of families here.

A lovely library. The staff are always helpful and kind to me. There is a shelf with puzzles you can take home and return later, a shelf with food, covid tests, and other items donated for those in need. There is a cart with free books available. And you can bring food and items to donate as well. There is also an area with free seeds, all nicely labeled and organized. Libraries are a safe space that provide resources and shelter to those who seek it. Whether you're a broke college student who needs to use their computers, an unhoused individual seeking shelter from the elements, or a kid who needs somewhere safe and inviting to hang out for a while, a library opens their doors for all sorts of people from all walks of life. This library is exactly the sort of library a community needs.

Not exactly a library vibe. I understand it's a public space and anyone can come and go but the amount of people that come to sit, sleep, borrow wifi, charge the phone, use their phone, stare in space and disturb the peace is kinda of ridiculous.

Stopped in here to quickly print something and the person at the front desk was so kind and patient with me, helping me to figure things out and as I was trying to get the file! Thank goodness for libraries 💖

Seems like they're trying, and I don't have a solution, but the amount of showerless homeless people here using the wifi and playing music/videos off their phone is kind of ridiculous. From the perspective of a 20 year old, I would never feel safe bringing my kids here. Hopefully it's better during the daytime hours. This was at 7pm.

Super friendly staff, needed a physical bus card and recommended me to take 2 just in case I needed to borrow it to someone visiting, thanks for the tip!

The place is awesomely set up and has a whole bunch of different things for a person to do such as sitting in using their electronics reading including also going on the computer and various different actual sections for all people also some cool free stuff as well as also and stuff for sale!

They don’t let you search for books audiobooks etc. since they are just trying keeping you out I’m returning what books I have I will turn in my library card and cancel my account. I will never waste my time with linkcat.info. And good I never have to drive to that library again.

There is a male employee that answers the phone that just lies about services available to the public. When I was at the center filling out paper work for a new job and employee helped me scan and fax my paperwork and I had to call them back to get an email address and when I explained my situation and who helped me and was told the person I spoke to was never there that day. I was also told that study rooms could be reserved for playing video games if you asked to have it available, but now this same phone employee is telling me that I am lying about that. This is very frustrating, if this person doesn't want to work there he should get a different job.

This library is all about the community! The staff is very friendly and willing to help you with all your requests. It does get loud in there because it is attached to a youth community program, but they do have a decent study room if you need it to be quiet. Holds get there really fast, and they are super easy to find!

Love the convience of placing and picking up library holds, especially inter-library loans. Libraries are vital community resources that I greatly appreciate. Thank you to all staff at Meadowridge for the work you do (especially during the pandemic).

This location may be small, but the staff are really great. They have gone out of there way to help me more than once. I used interlibrary loan weekly and now that i frequent another library, i sort of miss the human interaction, vs the highly recommended self checkout system.

We love Meadowridge Library ! Fantastic librarians, awesome kids activities and great selection of books, especially in the "Too Good to Miss" section.

This is NOT a quiet place to read or study!! Librarians let’s kids RUN AND YELL and get away with it!!! Extremely frustrating when just trying to read or do any studying! Especially when this is my neighborhood library!! STAY AWAY!!!

Nice neighborhood resource. Very friendly and helpful staff.

We attended toddler story time this Summer and absolutely loved it. Madeline is so exceptional with the kids. She is soft spoken, engaging, understanding, inclusive and knows all of the kids that come, by name after the first time they attend. The songs and activities she does are spot on to keep the little ones attention and if they are having an off day, she will alter her plan to keep them as engaged and entertained as possible. 10 stars to their toddler program and Madeline. We don’t spend too much time in the rest of the library, the children’s play area is nice and clean, if not a bit small. They’ve got an adequate amount of books, we always have something new to check out. It’s a small library, but they definitely do their best with the amount of space they have.

We love Madison libraries. Tonight they had the North side Coop doing a food presentation and sharing what they made with library patrons and families. What a nice treat. The library staff are always helpful and it's a great resource for books and movies and of course, all free. Also being able to print what we need from the internet is affordable as well. We absolutely recommend Madison libraries.

From Abdelhamid & Mahmoud family we want to thanks 🙏 AAA and public library for tax return is best place and wonderful people every one is kind thank you so much 💓.

By far the loudest library I've ever been in. (I've been in a couple dozen, from small towns to large cities). Examples: Children yelling, talking loudly, cell phone ringing, snoring loudly, and even a child screaming for a half hour straight. Screaming at the top of his lungs, while the adult with him didn't care to bring him outside or to the restroom, and staff didn't care to say anything to them. Some staff are helpful. Some don't give a damn. Example: told someone that an item was missing and they told me basically that wasn't their job and to tell a different staff member who wasn't even present. Magazine and newspaper room is often off limits lately. The good: A computer is usually available, as is printing and scanning.

Been with this library since 2004. Most of the staff are kind, helpful, wonderful people. I enjoy the community aspect of this library, as well as being able to go beyond just the individual brance. Out of all the libraries i've been to in different states, madison's lakeview branch is the very best.

This library is amazing. So many resources and fantastic and helpful people

Water temperature was ice cold the whole 3 hours. There are no directions on how to start the water. There's no changing area. Had a large [but dirty] porty potty, 3 small tables. Unfortunately, a long fence separated the wet area from the playground.

Finding parking was a bit of a challenge but the park itself was great for a little cool down, it was a hot one today and it was nice and close to the zoo (less than 10 minutes away) so that was a highlight for us. There were several tables for sitting and the play area was okay with a few options for slides and like rocking options(fire truck, horse) We will definitely check it out again.

Very cold water but worth it on a hot day. Nice park right beside it but those tire pieces that fill it in can get pretty hot. No life guard on duty much anymore I know when they first opened there was one. Portapotty for the restroom. Takes a bit for some of the sprayers to spray but my daughter was okay with them.

It's usually not very crowded and my kids have so much fun. I prefer it over the mckee farms and elver park splash pads because there's never too many people there.

Not the newest or best working splash pad but it accomplished the goal. Next to a little park

This park is not huge but it’s well designed and safe for kids. Parking is plentiful as well. Worth a visit on a hot day!

Small park. No shade for the playground. Equipment is in good order and maintained. The splash park has not been in operation this year.

New park in Monona on site of old Friary. Great little spot to explore the grounds and enjoys views of lake and capital or a nice sunset. New chairs and tables added in back of house and the grounds are fully open besides house. Found some large bramble vines as well. Bring the kids or the dog for a leisurely stroll! 5 or so parking spots near house.

It was kinda hard to find the way to access this park but glad I got to find it. Pay attention to find the sign reads “enter” and go on the narrow road. It looks like a someone’s house but parking is there. The scenic view is superb!

Beautiful retreat spot, along the lake shore. Wonderful grounds, chairs and picnic tables Any season of the year is enchanting.

Quiet, serene spot on the lake with tons of potential for public use.

We went to watch the sunset. It's a nice, usually quiet place. Unfortunately, there was a boat full of folks playing music and laughing and talking loudly. But those things can't be avoided. Nice picnic spot!

Surprisingly quiet, serene place with great views of the Capital. New chairs by lake’s edge are a nice place to enjoy the view. Quite a few birds on the grounds and in the water nearby. The road into the park looks extremely narrow, but you can use it to get to the parking on the property.

Wonderful property and so thankful that the city bought this so everyone can enjoy! We did a house/property tour through the Friends of San Damiano and it was wonderful to learn more about the history. Definitely a place to go!