Olbrich Park

Use 3527 Atwood Avenue for the main lakefront and beach, 3402 Atwood for softball and canoe or kayak access, 502 Walter Street for eastern fields and shelter, or 201 Garrison Street for winter ice rinks.

Yes. Lots serve the lakefront, beach, launches, athletic fields, and Walter Street shelter. Madison enforces posted three-hour park limits and prohibits parking after 10 p.m.; busy garden and Biergarten periods can fill nearby spaces.

Beach/Biergarten, canoe-launch, and Walter Street restrooms are open as listed. The Lakeland Avenue restroom is closed indefinitely because of a sewer issue as of July 23, 2026; use the Biergarten, launch, or Walter Street facilities instead.

Olbrich Park has three playgrounds distributed across its 90 acres. Use the park map to pair the desired play area with nearby parking and an open restroom rather than assuming every entrance serves the same amenities.

Developed lots, paved routes, playground areas, reservable shelter, and public restrooms provide step-free options. Beach and shoreline surfaces vary, and the adjacent botanical gardens have separate access and pet rules.

Leashed and licensed dogs with the required Madison permit are allowed in many general park areas, but must stay away from playgrounds, beach swim areas, shelters, and Olbrich Botanical Gardens. There is no off-leash dog park here.

General park entry, parking, playgrounds, beach, lakefront, canoe launch, picnic areas, and open courts are free. Launch permits, paddle rentals, Biergarten purchases, shelter reservations, organized sports, and some botanical-garden experiences charge.

Public Health Madison and Dane County tests designated beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Check the City's beach status before swimming; there are no lifeguards, and the beach or launch can close independently of the park.

Yes. Olbrich has a reservable shelter near the Walter Street side plus open picnic areas. A reservation is needed for exclusive use, and alcohol, amplified sound, or temporary structures require the applicable Madison permits.

A year-round Lake Access Permit is required at the designated motorboat launch on Lake Monona and cannot be purchased at the launch. The separate canoe and kayak launch provides paddling access; check channel warnings and use an alternate launch when advised.

No. Olbrich Beach is unguarded. Water quality is monitored during the maintained summer season, but adults remain responsible for swimmers and should check the live beach status before entering Lake Monona.

Paved sidewalks and shared-use paths connect the main lakefront, beach, launches, athletic areas, parking, and the Capital City Bike Path. The larger park landscape also includes lawn, sand beach, shoreline, and natural-surface walking areas that can become wet, muddy, snowy, or icy. Use the paved lakefront and neighborhood path network for the most predictable stroller, wheelchair, or bicycle route; the adjacent Botanical Gardens maintains separate internal walks and operating rules.

Olbrich Park has a Lake Monona beach but no splash pad is listed. This is natural lake swimming rather than a controlled pool: check Madison's current beach status and water-quality notices, supervise children closely, and do not enter during closures, algae advisories, storms, or unsafe conditions. The boat launch and Starkweather Creek are separate from the designated beach and should not be treated as swim access.

The public park includes Lake Monona beach, the Starkweather Creek kayak and boat launch, playgrounds, sports fields and courts, biergarten, shelters, open lawns, and the Capital City Trail. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is an adjacent but distinct destination; route there specifically for the Thai Pavilion, conservatory, and formal gardens. Use the beach, boat launch, Walter Street shelter, or botanical-garden entrance as your destination rather than treating the full lakefront as one arrival point.