Madison Parks Foundation

Another great event in our Madison Parks sponsored by the Madison Parks Foundation thanks to the generosity of our donors.

Come to The Glen patio Friday, August 7 to listen to acoustic guitarist and singer, Vince Sweeney! Sweeney plays a great blend of cover songs that everyone will enjoy🎶

GolfMadisonParks.com

Check out the new August newsletter and find out about events in our great Madison Parks.

Madison Parks Foundation Newsletter - August Grab your leg warmers and cue the soundtrack — the 9th Annual Picnic in the Park is going full Footloose this year! Join us on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center for an 80s prom night to remember, complete with live music from The Breakfast Club cover band, ...

Big hair. Neon everything. Footloose moves. Madison, we're throwing an '80s Gym Prom you won't want to miss!

Join us for the 8th Annual Picnic in the Park, presented by Event Essentials, at the newly expanded Warner Park Community Recreation Center. Six of Madison's finest chefs — Lauren Montelbano, Kyle Julius, Evan Dannells, Patrick O'Halloran, Sean Pharr, and Mickey Walker — are cooking up a night as bold as the decade itself. Add a silent auction, live music, and dancing under the disco ball, and you've got Madison's can't-miss night of the year.

🎟️ Tickets: $250 | Tables of 8: $1,600
📍 Saturday, October 10, 2026 | Warner Park Community Recreation Center

Get your tickets: https://mpf.auctionsnap.com/picnicinthepark2026/event

Every ticket helps fund our Madison Parks — because a night of fun should also do some good.

Hope to see you there supporting our Madison Parks !

Bring on the big hair and the bright colors. 🪩

This year’s Picnic in the Park 80s Prom theme is all about embracing the nostalgia, having fun, and celebrating a night that brings our community together.

Picnic in the Park is more than an unforgettable evening, it’s an event that helps support the and its mission to create vibrant, accessible parks and public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

So whether you’re channeling your original prom look or creating a totally new one, we can’t wait to see you there!

Show us your throwback! Comment with a photo from your prom below. We have a feeling there are some incredible looks waiting to be rediscovered. 📸

Accessible beaches are for everyone — and now, at three of Madison's most beloved spots, that's more true than ever.

Madison Parks Foundation is proud to announce that accessible beach pathways are now open at Tenney Beach, Warner Beach, and Esther Beach. Permanent paved pathways combined with seasonal beach matting create a seamless, barrier-free route from beach facilities all the way to the water's edge — welcoming people of all ages and abilities to fully experience Madison's beautiful shoreline.

This project is part of our Parks for All campaign, a $10 million initiative to ensure sustainability and accessibility across all 297 parks in Madison's park system — for generations to come.

None of this happens without the generosity of our donors. Thank you for believing that every resident deserves full access to the joy of Madison's parks and waterways.

Learn more at MadisonParksFoundation.org

It's a scorcher out there ☀️ — with mid-to-upper 90s in the forecast all week, we've got the perfect excuse to duck into somewhere cool.

Head to Gibs Bar (1380 Williamson St) this month for Community Cocktails, their ongoing series supporting Madison Parks Foundation. July's feature is Going Green — tequila, yuzu, cucumber, and a hyssop salt rim.

Every Going Green you order this month helps support MPF's work across our 297 Madison Parks. Cool drink, warm cause — stop by and raise a glass with us.

📍 Gibs Bar, 1380 Williamson St
🍸 Going Green — available all July

We were there and we think John's post summed up this great event best! John is our Master of Ceremonies for Picnic in the Park 2026 event and we can't wait for him to share the story of the great things that are happening at Warner Park Community Rec Center!

Your support of the Madison Parks Foundation helps sponsor the Learning Series for Madison Parks! We love sponsoring events like this! Thank you Madison Mallards for partnering with this great event!

The kitchen at Warner Park Community Recreation Center just got a major upgrade — and we can't wait to show it off!

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, WPCRC's kitchen has been completely renovated for the first time since the building was built in 1999. New commercial-grade appliances from Kavanaugh's — including a six-burner range, two warming units, side-by-side refrigerators, a new dishwasher, and six induction burners — plus new shelving and cookware, mean this space can now serve even more of our northside community, from K.N.O.W. cooking classes to senior meals.

Come see it for yourself at the Ribbon Cutting & Grand Reopening Celebration on Wednesday, July 8, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at 1625 Northport Dr! Ribbon cutting kicks off at 10 a.m., followed by tours, activities, a movie, and food trucks through 2 p.m.

A huge thank-you to Kavanaugh Restaurant Supply for their expertise on this project.

See you July 8!

✂️ It's Almost Time — Ribbon Cutting & Grand Reopening at WPCRC!

Mark your calendars, Madison! 🎉 Join us for the Warner Park Community Recreation Center Ribbon Cutting & Grand Reopening Celebration!

📅 Wednesday, July 8, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
📍 1625 Northport Dr., Madison, WI 53714

The celebration kicks off at 10:00 a.m. with the official ribbon cutting and remarks, followed by tours, activities, a movie, food trucks, and more through 2:00 p.m.

Madison Parks Foundation is proud to support this incredible community space — and we can't wait to celebrate with you! See you there! 💚