Warner Park Community Recreation Center

We're just 2 weeks away from the Madison Parks Photography Contest entry deadline!

✨ This beautiful sunrise photo taken in Period Garden Park was a 2019 calendar winner by Denise DeSerio!

Enter your favorite photos taken in a city of Madison park by 11:59pm on Monday, September 7 to be considered in the 2026 Madison Parks calendar.

Easy online submission:
cityofmadison.com/parksphotography

Temporary Closure Notice: To complete the final phase of the partition addition, the Fitness Center will be closed Monday, August 24 - Monday, September 7, 2026.

Expanding Madison’s Playing Field ~ The City of Madison Parks Division wants to know: Is there a way to address our community’s athletic facility needs without increasing the tax levy?

Madison residents looking for athletic field space know how difficult it can be to find multipurpose fields. For decades, the park system has lacked sufficient athletic field spaces, especially capable of supporting tournament play.

Demand since the acquisition of Northeast Park has continued to outpace the growth of the Madison park system. With Madison’s population growing by nearly 1.5% annually and a younger median age, the demand for community recreation is strong. From 2018 to 2024, the annual number of reservations for field sports increased by more than 21%. Notably, soccer has seen the largest overall growth during that period. Ultimate Frisbee continues to grow and pressure the system with high utilization. There is also a known demand for sports that are somewhat new to the Madison area, including cricket and lacrosse.

Within Madison, Northeast Park, 5501 Tancho Drive, may be an ideal location for a sports complex. Situated near Interstate 90 and State Highway 151, the park offers convenient regional access. It is a quick 13-minute drive from Dane County Regional Airport, and about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

Throughout the country, creative public private partnerships have successfully developed athletic complexes that benefit both the public and private entities in the partnership. While every partnership is structured differently, they all demonstrate how collaboration can expand recreational opportunities without relying on public funding.
Madison is exploring what a private-public partnership could look like in our community, and we want to hear from interested parties.

Check out the Request for Information (RFI) for more information and how to respond.

citofmadison.com/parks/blog or directly
cityofmadison.com/parks/blog/2026-08-10/expanding-madisons-playing-field

📅Make plans to join us one week from today for the Warner Park Community Recreation Center's Ribbon Cutting and Grand Reopening Celebration!

⭐Wednesday, July 8, 2026⭐
10:00am - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
10:30am - 2:00pm - Guided Tours, All-Ages Activities, Food Carts, and more!

cityofmadison.com/parks/events/2026-07-08/wpcrc-ribbon-cutting-grand-reopening

Every year, we publish a gorgeous spiral-bound wall calendar featuring amazing photos from our Madison Parks Photography Contest. Enter your winning Madison park pics right from your smartphone now through 11:59 pm, Monday, September 7. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Madison Parks 2027 calendar!

cityofmadison.com/parksphotography

We’re seeking entrepreneurs, groups, nonprofit organizations and businesses with creative ideas that can activate parks and positively enhance visitors’ experiences. Check out the Recreational Services and Placemaking Request for Proposals on VendorNet and on DemandStar. The deadline to submit proposals is September 1, 2026.

Do you have a creative concept that can help make your parks more vibrant, welcoming and engaging? We want to hear from you! Let's build something together.

Get all the details with links to apply at cityofmadison.com/parks/blog or directly at
cityofmadison.com/parks/blog/2026-06-24/help-us-bring-more-life-to-madisons-parks

Photo: Aldo Leopold Park by Liz Zimdars

📅Make plans to join us in two weeks for the Warner Park Community Recreation Center's Ribbon Cutting and Grand Reopening Celebration!

⭐Wednesday, July 8, 2026⭐
10:00am - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
10:30am - 2:00pm - Guided Tours, All-Ages Activities, Food Carts, and more!

cityofmadison.com/parks/events/2026-07-08/wpcrc-ribbon-cutting-grand-reopening