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Westmorland Park — Best Outdoor Playgrounds in Madison

Westmorland Park

4.7(171)4.7 out of 5 stars, 171 reviews Madison, WI

About Westmorland Park

Westmorland Park offers a unique blend of seasonal and year-round family entertainment. Its standout features include a highly-rated, volunteer-run public ice skating rink (and hockey rink) during winter, lauded for its excellent maintenance and wind-sheltered environment. Year-round, it provides a distinctive playground with rearrangeable tree trunk sections that encourage creative building, along with extensive open spaces and clean facilities perfect for large group gatherings and picnics.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Winter family outings, especially for ice skating enthusiasts or those learning to skate.Playdates for children who enjoy imaginative, creative, and building-focused play.Large family reunions, community gatherings, or birthday parties requiring ample outdoor space and picnic facilities.Families with older children interested in casual baseball or other open-field sports.Anyone looking for a well-maintained public park with clean facilities.

Why families love it

  • Top-tier, volunteer/community-run public ice skating rink available in winter, described as the 'best in Madison'.
  • Ice rink is regularly cleared, hosed, and well-sheltered from wind.
  • Features a dedicated hockey rink and a separate frozen area for general skating in winter.
  • Unique playground with 'old tree trunk sections that can be re-arranged to build your own course', fostering creative play.
  • Ample open spaces, a Pavilion, and areas with trees, making it an excellent gathering spot.
  • Functioning and surprisingly clean restrooms reported by multiple visitors.

Insider tips

  • Plan a visit during winter for the highly-regarded public ice skating experience; remember to bring your skates.
  • Encourage creative play by utilizing the unique, rearrangeable tree trunk sections on the playground.
  • Consider this park for large group outings, family gatherings, or picnics due to its spacious outdoor areas and clean amenities.
  • If planning to use the indoor space, contact the park beforehand to confirm its operational hours, as they are not consistently known.
  • Be aware it's a 'no big frills' park, focusing on open space and natural play rather than elaborate structures.

Good to know before you go

  • Relying on the indoor space without prior confirmation of its opening hours.
  • If your children prefer highly elaborate, 'thrills-heavy' adventure playgrounds with complex structures, as this park emphasizes open and creative play.
  • Expecting extensive organized activities, as the focus is on self-directed play and community-run facilities.
  • Operating hours for the indoor space are unknown/unclear, requiring prior confirmation if planning to use.
  • Described as having 'no big frills', which might disappoint those seeking highly elaborate or thrill-oriented playground structures.
Crowds
No specific crowd level information was provided. However, the designation as 'the best public skating in Madison' for the winter rink suggests it could attract significant crowds during peak winter hours.
Value
No admission fees or pricing were mentioned in the reviews, indicating it is a free public park. The value is exceptionally high given the well-maintained, volunteer-run ice skating rink (a top-rated amenity), a unique creative playground, and clean, functional restrooms, all accessible at no cost.
Food
No explicit food policy was mentioned, but the presence of a 'nice picnic area' strongly implies that bringing outside food and beverages for consumption is permitted and encouraged.
Accessibility
Functioning restrooms are available. No other specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., wheelchair ramps to all areas, sensory-friendly hours, specialized staff training) were mentioned in the reviews.
Safety
The winter ice rink benefits from regular and diligent maintenance (clearing and hosing) by volunteers, which contributes to a safer skating environment.

What parents say

Ryan Peterson
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Great park! The winter has both a hockey rink and a frozen area for skating on the lower field. There is an indoor space but I'm not sure when it is open. We enjoyed ice skating there."

2 months ago

David P. Fields
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Nice park with a great playground including a bunch of old tree trunk sections that can be re-aranged to build your own course."

5 years ago

Michael Holz
4.04.0 out of 5 stars
"No big frills, but a great gathering space with open spaces, a Pavillion and other areas with trees and nice play equipment. Functioning restrooms. Also, For us the functioning flagpole is a plus."

10 months ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.