Madison Parks

08/14/2026

Today's the day! Celebrate 20 years of Goodman Pool with us today, Friday, August 14 from 3:00-7:00pm! We'll have music, games, prizes, food carts and fun! The first 500 people will receive a Goodman Pool yellow duck! Free leis while supplies last.

Prizes!
•Park Shelter 1/2 day Reservation (up to $240 value)
•WPCRC annual membership ($220 value)
•2027 Goodman Pool pass - family pass, up to 6 family members ($185, resident or $310, non-resident value)
•Magic 98 - (2) Tim McGraw Alpine Valley tickets - for Saturday, Aug. 22, 7pm show ($150 value, Elkorn WI)
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens – Garden Family Membership ($80 value)
•Pool Cabana Rental (up to $75 value, valid through 2027 season)
•MSCR - $50 gift card for MSCR programming; goggles & MMSD pool pass ($25 value)
•Simply Swimming - $40 gift card
•20th Anniversary Special T-shirt ($15 value)
•Goodman Waves - swim bundle (swim cap, goggles, t-shirt)
•Chocolate Shoppe ice cream - free scoop coupons
•Pool concessions - $1 and $5 coupons
•Ian's Pizza slice coupons
•Yahara Hills Golf Course - 18-hole round with cart

🍴Updated Food Trucks ($) (No concessions)
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Crepuw
•Famous Mediterranean Fire
•Tacos El Pechu
•The Ranging Rooster

⭐Thank You Sponsors! ⭐
•Celebrations Entertainment
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Golf Madison Parks
•Goodman Waves
•Ian's Pizza
•Magic 98
•MSCR - Madison School & Community Recreation
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens
•Simple Swimming
•WPCRC - Warner Park Community Recreation Center

💲Event Cost - Regular pool admission prices.
✅All visitors must have a completed Pool Waiver before entering the gates.

cityofmadison.com/parks/pool/events

08/13/2026

Did you know we manage approximately 190 playgrounds? This results in about 7 playgrounds per 10,000 residents, placing Madison in the top 10 of the Trust for Public Land’s national parks ranking. Maintaining this extensive, safe, and accessible system involves significant costs.

Check out Parks Projects and Archived Projects for the full list of playground improvements (by park name).

cityofmadison.com/parks/projects

08/13/2026

The Goodman Pool is closed today, Thursday, August 13 for Open Rec Swim due to inclement weather.

Welcome to the Goodman Pool! 2026 Season: Thursday, June 11 - Sunday, August 23Pool Waiver RequiredStarting this season, all visitors aged 3+ must complete a Pool Waiver before entering. See Goodman Pool Checklist for more information.

08/13/2026

If you've been following along this week, it's been a trip down memory lane as we spotlight Goodman Pool with images collected through the years. Check out these from before opening its gates in June 2006 including a site visit with Irwin and Robert Goodman in April 2006.
📷 (1-3) groundbreaking - June 2005
📷 (4-6) construction underway - 2005-06
📷 (7-9) pre-opening site visits

Madison's first municipal swimming pool was funded by a $2.8 million donation from philanthropists Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman. They stipulated that the groundbreaking must occur by July 2005, prompting the City and the Madison Parks Foundation to dive into action. The pool is officially named in their honor.

Celebrate with us on Friday, August 14 from 3:00 - 7:00pm! We'll have music, games, prizes, food carts and fun!

Prizes!
•Park Shelter 1/2 day Reservation (up to $240 value)
•WPCRC annual membership ($220 value)
•2027 Goodman Pool pass - family pass, up to 6 family members ($185, resident or $310, non-resident value)
•Magic 98 - (2) Tim McGraw Alpine Valley tickets - for Saturday, Aug. 22, 7pm show ($150 value, Elkorn WI)
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens – Garden Family Membership ($80 value)
•Pool Cabana Rental (up to $75 value, valid through 2027 season)
•MSCR - $50 gift card for MSCR programming; goggles & MMSD pool pass ($25 value)
•Simply Swimming - $40 gift card
•20th Anniversary Special T-shirt ($15 value)
•Goodman Waves - swim bundle (swim cap, goggles, t-shirt)
•Chocolate Shoppe ice cream - free scoop coupons
•Pool concessions - $1 and $5 coupons
•Ian's Pizza slice coupons
•Yahara Hills Golf Course - 18-hole round with cart

🍴Updated Food Trucks ($) (No concessions)
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Crepuw
•Famous Mediterranean Fire
•Tacos El Pechu
•The Ranging Rooster

⭐Thank You Sponsors! ⭐
•Celebrations Entertainment
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Golf Madison Parks
•Goodman Waves
•Ian's Pizza
•Magic 98
•MSCR - Madison School & Community Recreation
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens
•Simple Swimming
•WPCRC - Warner Park Community Recreation Center

💲Event Cost - Regular pool admission prices.
✅All visitors must have a completed Pool Waiver before entering the gates.

08/12/2026

We're spotlighting Goodman Pool through images collected since its opening in June 2006. Today's feature are the aquatics staff! We couldn't do what we do without the dedicated staff throughout the years. Do you recognize any faces?
Photo (1) - 2006
Photo (2) - 2008
Photos (3-4) - 2009
Photo (5) - 2010
Photo (6) - 2011
Photo (7) - 2013

Madison's first municipal swimming pool was funded by a $2.8 million donation from philanthropists Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman. They stipulated that groundbreaking must occur by July 2005, prompting the City and the Madison Parks Foundation to dive into action. The pool is officially named in their honor.

Celebrate with us on Friday, August 14 from 3:00 - 7:00pm! We'll have music, games, prizes, food carts and fun!

Check out these prizes!
•Park Shelter Half Day Reservation (up to $240 value)
•Warner Park Community Recreation Center annual membership ($220 value)
•2027 Goodman Pool pass - family pass, up to 6 family members ($185, resident or $310, non-resident value)
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens – Garden Family Membership ($80 value)
•Pool Cabana Rental (up to $75 value, valid through 2027 season)
•MSCR - $50 gift card for MSCR programming; goggles & MMSD pool pass ($25 value)
•Simply Swimming - $40 gift card
•20th Anniversary Special T-shirt ($15 value)
•Goodman Waves - swim bundle (swim cap, goggles, t-shirt)
•Chocolate Shoppe ice cream - free scoop coupons
•Pool concessions - $1 and $5 coupons
•Ian's Pizza slice coupons
•Yahara Hills Golf Course - 18-hole round with cart

🍴Updated Food Trucks ($) (No concessions)
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Crepuw
•Famous Mediterranean Fire
•Tacos El Pechu
•The Ranging Rooster

⭐Thank You Sponsors! ⭐
•Celebrations Entertainment
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Golf Madison Parks
•Goodman Waves
•Ian's Pizza
•Magic 98
•MSCR - Madison School & Community Recreation
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens
•Simple Swimming
•WPCRC - Warner Park Community Recreation Center

💲Event Cost - Regular pool admission prices.
✅All visitors must have a completed Pool Waiver before entering the gates.

👕Special 20th Anniversary T-shirts
Available for purchase inside the Parks Tent for sale $15/each - youth and adult sizes.

cityofmadison.com/parks/pool/events/2026-08-14/goodman-pool-20th-anniversary-celebration

08/12/2026

ICYMI: One of our tick check stations is on the move! The Warner Park location is moving into Elver Park for the month of August.

The station includes tweezers to remove unattached ticks and a jar to dispose of them, as well as information about the ticks that spread disease and what they look like. Thanks to Madison Parks for collaborating with us on this project!

Learn more: publichealthmdc.com/ticks

08/11/2026

Goodman Pool is closed for lap swim on Tuesday, August 11. We will open at 12:30 PM for Open Recreation Swim.

Welcome to the Goodman Pool! 2026 Season: Thursday, June 11 - Sunday, August 23Pool Waiver RequiredStarting this season, all visitors aged 3+ must complete a Pool Waiver before entering. See Goodman Pool Checklist for more information.

08/11/2026

The year was 2006 and the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Pool opened its gates for the first time. Check out these images from 2006. Do you recognize any faces?

Madison's first municipal swimming pool was funded by a $2.8 million donation from philanthropists Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman. They stipulated that groundbreaking must occur by July 2005, prompting the City and the Madison Parks Foundation to dive into action. The pool is officially named in their honor.

Celebrate with us on Friday, August 14 from 3:00 - 7:00pm! We'll have music, games, prizes, food carts and fun!

Visit the Parks tent in the pool area during the event to complete a prize form. Drawings will be at 5pm, 6pm and just before 7pm. You must be present to win!

Check out these prizes!
•Park Shelter Half Day Reservation (up to $240 value)
•Warner Park Community Recreation Center annual membership ($220 value)
•2027 Goodman Pool pass - family pass, up to 6 family members ($185, resident or $310, non-resident value)
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens – Garden Family Membership ($80 value)
•Pool Cabana Rental (up to $75 value, valid through 2027 season)
•MSCR - $50 gift card for MSCR programming; goggles & MMSD pool pass ($25 value)
•Simply Swimming - $40 gift card
•20th Anniversary Special T-shirt ($15 value)
•Goodman Waves - swim bundle (swim cap, goggles, t-shirt)
•Chocolate Shoppe ice cream - free scoop coupons
•Pool concessions - $1 and $5 coupons
•Ian's Pizza slice coupons
•Yahara Hills Golf Course - 18-hole round with cart

🍴Food Trucks ($)
Chocolate Shoppe
Famous Mediterranean Fire
Greenhouse Matcha
Sista's Chicken & Fish
Tacos El Pechu
Pool concessions are closed during the event.

⭐Thank You Sponsors! ⭐
•Celebrations Entertainment
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Golf Madison Parks
•Goodman Waves
•Ian's Pizza
•Magic 98
•MSCR - Madison School & Community Recreation
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens
•Simple Swimming
•WPCRC - Warner Park Community Recreation Center

💲Event Cost - Regular pool admission prices.
✅All visitors must have a completed Pool Waiver before entering the gates.

👕Special 20th Anniversary T-shirts
Available for purchase inside the Parks Tent for sale $15/each - youth and adult sizes.

cityofmadison.com/parks/pool/events

08/10/2026

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

08/10/2026

Third time's the charm, right? After rescheduling Goodman Pool's 20th Anniversary Celebration twice - first due to air quality and then weather - we're finally ready to celebrate this Friday, August 14!

Keep your eye on our social posts this week as we spotlight some of those 20 years!

Celebrate with us on Friday, August 14 from 3:00 - 7:00pm! We'll have music, games, prizes, food carts and fun!

Visit the Parks tent in the pool area during the event to complete a prize form. Drawings will be at 5pm, 6pm and just before 7pm. You must be present to win!

Check out these prizes!
•Park Shelter Half Day Reservation (up to $240 value)
•Warner Park Community Recreation Center annual membership ($220 value)
•2027 Goodman Pool pass - family pass, up to 6 family members ($185, resident or $310, non-resident value)
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens – Garden Family Membership ($80 value)
•Pool Cabana Rental (up to $75 value, valid through 2027 season)
•MSCR - $50 gift card for MSCR programming; goggles & MMSD pool pass ($25 value)
•Simply Swimming - $40 gift card
•20th Anniversary Special T-shirt ($15 value)
•Goodman Waves - swim bundle (swim cap, goggles, t-shirt)
•Chocolate Shoppe ice cream - free scoop coupons
•Pool concessions - $1 and $5 coupons
•Ian's Pizza slice coupons
•Yahara Hills Golf Course - 18-hole round with cart

🍴Food Trucks ($)
Chocolate Shoppe
Famous Mediterranean Fire
Greenhouse Matcha
Sista's Chicken & Fish
Tacos El Pechu
Pool concessions are closed during the event.

⭐Thank You Sponsors! ⭐
•Celebrations Entertainment
•Chocolate Shoppe
•Golf Madison Parks
•Goodman Waves
•Ian's Pizza
•Magic 98
•MSCR - Madison School & Community Recreation
•Olbrich Botanical Gardens
•Simple Swimming
•WPCRC - Warner Park Community Recreation Center

💲Event Cost - Regular pool admission prices.
✅All visitors must have a completed Pool Waiver before entering the gates.

👕Special 20th Anniversary T-shirts
Available for purchase inside the Parks Tent for sale $15/each - youth and adult sizes.