About | The Madison Parks Foundation
About the Madison Parks Foundation
Since 1894, Madison Parks have added richness and vibrancy to the landscape of Madison. As the non-profit partner of Madison Parks, the Madison Parks Foundation helps our community conserve, promote, and enhance our parks. We exist to support Madison’s world-class parks system. In addition to our work helping neighborhoods steward improvements to their parks, we’ve identified three areas that advance our equity and programming goals for Madison's Parks.
Created and donated by P3Pro LLC
Fully Accessible Playgrounds
We are proud to be fundraising for fully accessible playgrounds for people of all ages and abilities, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities, making our parks more inclusive and accessible. Our goal is to raise $300,000 towards this project which will provide 100,000 Madison households access to a fully accessible playground within a two-mile radius.
Created and donated by P3Pro LLC
Madison Parks Foundation's “Learn-to…” Series
As sponsors of this program, we are able to offer fun activities in our parks such as bird watching, star gazing, disc golf and more at no cost, allowing people to use our parks and learn, regardless of income level. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to expand this program by purchasing additional equipment and supplies to allow more residents to participate, as well as sustain the programming for years to come.
Created and donated by P3Pro LLC
KNOW – Kids Need Opportunities at Warner
This program at Warner Park Community Recreation Center includes events such as Teen Night, Family Fun Night, Youth Police Initiative, a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Series and open gym, which provide meaningful opportunities for youth to feel connected and engaged with our community. We have committed to raising $150,000 to insure complimentary and engaging programming continues for this economically challenged area in our community.
See a list of our accomplishments.
Staff & Board Members
Executive Director: Stephanie Franklin
As the only employee of the Foundation, Stephanie puts her 20+ years of development experience to work raising funds and awareness for our amazing Madison Parks. She grew up in McFarland, just outside of Madison and has had the pleasure of enjoying Madison parks for her entire life. She is proud to be the Foundation's first employee (since 2013) furthering its mission of promoting and enhancing our 279 Madison Parks. Stephanie serves on the board for Opportunity 34 and with her husband, Todd, supports stream restoration for the local Trout Unlimited organization.
President: Maureen Lokrantz
Maureen is a wealth advisor at U.S. Bank, Private Wealth Management. While not born in Madison, she has lived in the Madison area for more than 30 years and loves Madison's parks. “Our parks are the few places where everyone in the community comes together, whether to relax, play, exercise, spend time with family, neighbors or pets, show support for a cause or just to connect with nature. I believe parks reflect their surrounding neighborhoods and like everything, they need care and support. The Foundation is dedicated to keeping parks accessible to all and to the preservation and development of our parks and green spaces.”
Vice President: Ty Beck
Ty is a Vice President of Business Banking at Oak Bank. He was born and raised in Oshkosh and has lived in the Madison area for more than 20 years. Ty is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology. He worked six years as a research archaeologist in the back country of Alaska prior to starting his finance career in 2002. Ty and his family are very active, and they enjoy most outdoor activities, particularly running, triathlons, and cycling. Ty is dedicated to the mission of the Foundation and is truly passionate about doing his part to pass on the gift of parks for the generations to come.
Treasurer: Julie Bogle
Julie was born in Monona, Wisconsin, across the street from Winnequah (Dream) Park. As a child, she watched Eric and Beth Heiden skate on Madison's ice rinks before they became famous. After living in other, less beautiful places, Julie returned to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a B.A. and a law degree. She is a tax partner at BDO USA, LLC.
Secretary: Kyle Engelke
Kyle grew up in New Glarus and fondly recalls the many childhood trips to Vilas Park for a picnic and visit to the zoo. He has called Madison home since he began his undergraduate studies for a journalism degree and finished with a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, proudly calling himself a “Double Badger.” Today, Kyle is a partner with the law firm Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, and as a trial attorney, he advocates for his clients by telling their stories - a role he tries to fill for the Foundation as well. Kyle discovered the Foundation when he learned that his firm traces its origins to John Olin, the same man who helped found the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association. Now that he and his wife, Mary (and their Australian Shepherds) have put down their roots in Madison, Kyle is honored to serve on the board and play a small part in helping preserve and cultivate the legacy built by others in the city he now calls home.
Board Member: Joe Clausius
Joe served four terms as Madison City Council Alder for District 17 (far east side). During that time, his favorite assignment was alder representative for the Madison Parks Commission. A native of Richland Center, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science from University of Wisconsin-Platteville and spent 33 years as a health lobbyist at American Family Insurance. Joe has also served as an alder on the Sun Prairie City Council and spearheaded the construction of the first community aquatic center in Dane County. Joe is an officer in the Clarendon Hills Homeowners Association and supporter of Friends of Starkweather Creek. He is affiliated with the summer “Concerts on the Square” series since its inception and is currently the concert volunteer coordinator. Joe and his wife, Marti, consider our park system to be on of Madison's greatest assets and serves and support the Foundation with a passion.
Board Member: Jason Iverson
Jason grew up farming outside of Platteville Wisconsin. He went to school for electronic engineering, while working full-time farming. Jason put his IT skills to work at several different companies before deciding to build his own IT consulting company, after building into a solid company, decided to sell it and make a career shift to put his people skills to work Real Estate as a sales agent and consultant with Coldwell Banker Success. Making a commitment to his community is vitally important to who he is, Jason is incredibly honored to have the opportunity to serve on the board for the Foundation so he can share his love of Madison Parks with those who have helped create and maintain Madison's bountiful parks system and all that they offer to our amazing city and it’s incredible people.
Board Member: Kristin Kupres
Kristin is a senior account supervisor at Kennedy Communications, a Madison-based advertising agency. In 2017, she served as the youngest president in the history of the American Advertising Federation - Madison Chapter and was also named one of InBusiness Magazine's 40 under 40. Although Kristin did not grow up in the Madison-area, she fell in love with the city, culture, and green spaces while attending UW-Madison where she graduated with a communication arts degree. While many enjoy the parks in the warmer months, Kristin prefers to use area parks during the winter season for cross country skiing and ice skating, and thawing out by the fire afterward. Her love of the outdoors and preserving natural spaces led her to the Madison Parks Foundation. Kristin formed the Foundation's Marketing Committee to build awareness of Madison Parks and raise funds for their enhancement and preservation.
Board Member: Madelyn Leopold
Madelyn serves on the Foundation Board as liaison to Madison's Board of Park Commissioners. In that capacity, she supports collaborations between the Foundation and the City's Parks Division to further their complementary missions. Prior to her retirement, Madelyn was a partner in the law firm of Boardman and Clark LLP, specializing in estate planning with a particular interest in charitable giving.
Board Member: Claire Oleksiak
Claire's love of parks is fueled by a deep appreciation for the environmental and community connections. Her perfect day is one spent in a Madison Park and she enjoys exploring different parks around the city. Some of her favorite park activities include playing on a playground or in natural areas with her children, swimming at the beaches, sledding down a snow covered hill and enjoying a run/bike along a park path. Born and raised in Madison; she holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree from Oxford University. She has worked on local community and economic development, including park planning and operations, in Washington, DC. Upon returning to Madison, she worked on staff at the City of Madison Parks Division where she facilitated public-private partnerships, managed community facilities, and implemented the Connecting Children to Nature Initiative. Currently, Claire is the Executive Director of Sustain Dane, a non-profit with the mission to inspire, connect, and support people to accelerate sustainable actions for community well-being. Claire is passionate about innovation, collaboration, public space activation, diversity & inclusion, and social impact. She is thrilled to be a part of the Madison Parks Foundation Board.
Board Member: Pierce Sullivan
Pierce is a Program Veterinarian within the Research Animal Resources and Compliance department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and his wife moved from Memphis, TN in the fall of 2017 having never lived anywhere outside of the South. One of the first things about Madison they noticed were the number and quality of public parks they saw while exploring the city. Being a person who loves the outdoors (even the winter activities), he has enjoyed experiencing and learning more about the many opportunities the park system within Madison provides for families. He now looks forward to serving on the Board and providing any support he can to help preserve and improve the park system so that future generations will be able to enjoy them, as well.
Emeritus Board
- Lynn Adams
- Trudy Barash
- Chad Bartell
- Linda Bellman
- Sarah Bewitz
- Dorothy Borchardt*
- Bill Barker
- Joel DeSpain
- Toni Drake
- Kristine Euclide
- Alex Evans
- Grant Frautschi
- Al Friedman
- Candy Gialamas*
- Randy Glysch*
- Emily Gnam
- Bob Hemauer
- Gigi Holland*
- Chuck Koval*
- Melanie Kranz
- Molly Lahr
- Don Last*
- Betty MacDonald
- Malea Martin
- Nancy Mead
- Sally Miley
- Brennan Nardi
- Dan Petersen*
- Betsy Repaske
- Santiago Rosas*
- Emanuel Scarbrough
- Susan Schmitz
- Gail Selk*
- Jean Stewart*
- Anna Trull
- David Wallner
- Bill White
- Charlie Wills
- Dick Zillman*
- *Founding board member
