Garner Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Garner Park is a highly versatile outdoor destination, distinguished by its unique blend of a beautifully maintained botanical garden with labeled plants and fountains, extensive sports facilities (including dedicated pickleball courts and seasonal ice rinks), and a large, architecturally interesting shelter. It caters to a wide range of ages and interests, offering both active play and tranquil natural spaces.
Key Highlights
- ✓Features a dedicated botanical garden section with many walkways, trails, labeled plant species, ample seating (benches, shelters, pavilions), and sculpted fountains.
- ✓Boasts comprehensive sports facilities including soccer fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a baseball field, and dedicated pickleball courts (not just lined tennis courts).
- ✓Offers seasonal ice rinks during winter months, adding a unique cold-weather activity.
- ✓Includes an 'excellent playground' or 'smaller play structure' suitable for young kids.
- ✓Provides vast green spaces ideal for open play, football, soccer, and other field activities.
- ✓Has a large, architecturally notable shelter/pavilion that is reservable for parties and events.
- ✓Features numerous connecting paved paths throughout the park, suitable for walking, jogging, or strollers.
- ✓Occasionally hosts cultural events like 'Opera in the Park'.
Standout Features
- ⭐Dedicated pickleball courts, specifically designed for the sport.
- ⭐Beautifully maintained garden section with educational plant labels and serene fountains.
- ⭐Large and architecturally distinct shelter/pavilion, suitable for gatherings and available for reservation.
- ⭐Vast green spaces for unstructured play and field sports.
- ⭐Excellent playground suitable for younger children.
- ⭐Seasonal ice rinks available in the winter.
- ⭐Extensive network of paved paths ideal for walking, biking, and strollers.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If aiming for pickleball, consider visiting during events like 'Opera in the Park', as they might divert crowds from the courts.
- →Utilize the ample street-side parking or the large dedicated parking lot if the main entrance lot is full.
- →Explore the garden section for a more peaceful, educational, and multi-generational family experience.
- →Inquire about reserving the large shelter/pavilion if planning a party or large gathering.
- →Check the park's schedule for seasonal activities, particularly the ice rinks in winter, and 'Opera in the Park' events.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Pickleball courts, while excellent, can get crowded, especially on non-event days.
- ⚠The main park entrance parking lot is relatively small (approx. 20 cars) and may fill quickly.
Price & Value
Entry to Garner Park appears to be free as a public park. The mention of a 'beautiful shelter for reserved parties' implies a cost for reserving this amenity, but specific pricing is not detailed in the reviews.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Numerous connecting paved paths throughout the park suggest good accessibility for strollers and potentially wheelchairs, but no specific accessibility accommodations for special needs are explicitly mentioned.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not specified in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •A small parking lot (approximately 20 cars) is located at the main park entrance. However, there is also a 'large, dedicated parking lot' and 'plenty of street-side parking' available, making overall parking ample despite the small main lot.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Pickleball courts can be popular and potentially crowded. Events like 'Opera in the Park' were noted to reduce the crowd at the pickleball courts, suggesting crowd levels can vary based on park activities.
🛡️Safety Features
- •None explicitly mentioned in reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • While generally well-received, those solely focused on pickleball during peak times might experience crowded courts if no other park events are drawing visitors away.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Opera in the Park
Annual
Free community event
Hosted by Madison Opera.
🍎Food Policy
- • Alcohol is permitted in most Madison Parks; glass is never allowed.
- • An alcohol permit is required if bringing alcohol to designated alcohol-free parks (not specified for Garner Park, but general policy).
- • Fires in general parks (not conservation parks) are allowed with conditions: spark arrestor/heavy screen, at least 10 ft. clearance from combustibles, smoke does not create a nuisance, continuously monitored by an adult, method to extinguish fire readily available. Bring your own wood.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Park Rangers have authority to remove slacklines or hammocks deemed harmful to trees or a danger to users.
- • Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters.
- • Playgrounds are routinely inspected to assess equipment conditions and repair safety concerns.
- • Slacklining/Hammocking rules: must use tree protection (min. ¼" thick by 10" wide carpet, foam pads or towels), only on trees greater than 1' in diameter and 4.5' from the ground, never tether on Oak, Hickory or Birch trees, never in any conservation park (Garner is a Community park).
📅Booking Policy
- • Shelter reservations may be made online, in person, or by phone ((608) 266-4711).
- • Full payment is due at the time of processing for shelter reservations.
- • Opening day to reserve a park shelter for the following year begins on the first business day in November (e.g., 2026 reservations open Monday, November 3, 2025).
- • Picnic shelters, if not reserved, are available on a first-come, first-served basis; day-of signage is posted.
- • Basketball courts, Multipurpose fields, and Volleyball courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis if not reserved, or can be reserved online for leagues/tournaments.
- • Pickleball courts are available for individuals on a first-come, first-served basis, but ALL LEAGUES AND LESSONS MUST RESERVE IN ADVANCE online.
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking lot available on site.
- • Parking lots in parks are available for park programs or events during regular park hours: 4:00 am to 10:00 pm.
- • Parking Rules: Driving/parking motorized vehicles on grass or near shelter is not allowed and subject to citation. Three-hour limit in all parks as posted. No parking after hours (10pm to 4am); overnight parking not allowed. Violators subject to fine. Follow all onsite parking regulation signs.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 6 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Rylan Kelley
3 years agoThis garden was an absolutely lovely place, and I am so grateful that I was able to experience it. There's many walkways in trails within this garden, most plants were labeled with their species name. There were many places to sit within the garden moving benches around greenery and small shelters and pavilions. There were also several beautifully maintained and sculpted fountains. This would be an amazing trip to go on with family members of all kinds. When I went there was even a marriage ceremony that was being helpful. I highly recommend experiencing this breathtaking garden.
Heather Li
9 months agoOn a random Saturday afternoon, I popped by Garner Park. Luckily, Opera in the Park was happening so there weren't a ton of people at the pickleball courts 🙌🏻 The courts are really nice. I love that they are actual pickleball courts not just tennis courts with pickleball lines. My partner and I met a player there who was REALLY GOOD and gave us a ton of pointers (shout out to Peter). Great park!
Felipe Hernandez
6 years agoExcellent park! Very spacious and lots of amenities. Small parking lot at the main park entrance that can fit approximately 20 cars. Plenty of street-side parking though. Large pavillion, soccer fields, basketball courts, a volleyball court, tennis courts, and a baseball field. Lots of connecting paved paths throughout the park. Occasionally, they have Opera in the Park here.
Joel Bryhan
11 months agoLovely park. The shelter is both large and super cool from an architectural standpoint. There is TONS of green space for football, soccer, whatever. They have an excellent playground, a nice basketball court, and even pickleball courts! There is a large, dedicated parking lot and more street parking. Seriously, a great park!
Johan Vermaak
7 years agoLarge space featuring ice rinks in the winter, soccer tennis, basketball, volleyball in the warmer months. Beautiful shelter for reserved parties. Smaller play structure for young kids. Trails to walk.