Accomplishments | The Madison Parks Foundation
Accomplishments
The Madison Parks Foundation is extremely proud of our accomplishments over the past 19+ years and is receptive to attainable opportunities as they arise.
Timeline of Accomplishments
2003
- The Madison Parks Foundation is established as a 501(c)3 organization
2003-2005
- Partners for the Goodman Pool – Madison’s first community pool
2004 - 2006
- Partners for the Brittingham Boathouse Renovation
2005 - 2008
- Partners for the Veteran Memorial Park
2004 - present
- Establishes partnerships with Friends & Neighborhood groups for park projects
2005 - present
- Partners for the swimming lesson scholarships & free/reduced admissions-Goodman Pool
2011
- Partners for the Tenney Park Shelter Renovation
2012 – 2014
- Partners for the Skate Park at McPike Park
April 2013
- Hires first employee – Executive Director
2013 - 2014
- Completes $300,000 raising goal for 2 additional splash parks (Elver and Reindahl Parks)
July 2013
- Launches website
January 2014
- Launches Parks Tributes & Memorial Program
February 2014
- Launches a presence on social media – Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
March 2014
- Sponsors Volunteer Appreciation Night at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
April 2014
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Commits $15,000 grant to replace the playground at Goodman Pool creating the City’s 1st fully accessible playground
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Ad2 Madison grant recipient to assist with social media, marketing plan
Summer 2014
- Celebrates 120 years of Madison Parks with free, community building events – ice cream social and Concerts in the Breese, as well as a Legacy Golf Outing fundraiser
July 2015
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Concert in the Breese event & Legacy Golf Outing
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Partners with the City Parks Division to administer legacy gifts and establishes endowment
October 2015
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Launches 1st Picnic in the Park in partnership with Event Essentials – MPF’s annual fundraiser
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With a grant from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation launches Historical Signage project – 10 historical signs in major parks
2016
- Fundraising partner for the Pickleball Complex at Garner Park
June 2016
- MPF sponsors Four First Tee Scholarships
July 2016
- Hosts Concert in the Breese event & Legacy Golf Outing
August 2016
- Media campaign -History of our Parks– 4-part series (Channel 3) – Olin, Brittingham, Vilas & Tenney
2017 to present
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MPF partners with Parks Division to sponsor the Madison Parks Foundation’s Learning Series
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Fundraising partner for the Connecting Children to Nature program – national grant
January 2017
- MPF grant for Friends of Urban Nature to receive 4 sets of binoculars to expand nature walks
February 2017
- MPF begins work with local veterinarians to establish project to improve dog parks
June 2017 - present
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Partners with Madison Mallards as a sponsor for Shake the Lake – community building free event
celebrating the 4th of July
August 2017 & 2018
- Establishes Makeshift Festival – a free community event celebrating food & art in public spaces in which proceeds funded an original piece of public art in Elver Park — Momental
October 2017
- 2nd Annual Picnic in the Park in partnership with Event Essentials – MPF’s annual fundraiser
February 2018
- Sponsors a free community free event with multiple winter sports (cross country skiing, sledding, ice skating, snow castle contest)
April 2018
- Initiates and completes the renaming Central Park to McPike Park
October 2018
- 3rd Annual Picnic in the Park in partnership with Event Essentials – MPF’s annual fundraiser
November 2018
- Formally establishes new fundraising initiatives – Fully Accessible Playgrounds, Learning Series, KNOW (Kids Need Opportunities at Warner)
December 2018
- Negotiates a transfer of funds from Friends of Nakoma Park to a less advantaged park (Doncaster) for playground renovation
January 2019
- New logo and rebranding package revealed
May 2019
- Launches electronic newsletter
July 2019
- Commits to raising $150,000 for KNOW and will provide a match up to $100,000 at August event.
August 2019
- Partners with Madison Mallards to have event to raise funds for KNOW (Say Yes to KNOW)
October 2019
- 4th Annual Picnic in the Park in partnership with Event Essentials – MPF’s annual fundraiser
April 2020
- Launches new website making park information easier and more fun for the user
May 2020
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Launches Parks Positivity Campaign with fun activities to inspire people to use our parks and
promote healthy activities during a time of quarantine and pandemic. -
Adds 3 Aldo Leopold benches to 3 Madison Parks Dog Parks
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Adds MPF informational posters to all Madison Parks Kiosks
June 2020
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Commits $40,000 for Swimming Admission Scholarships to support Madison Parks Division’s efforts
to open Goodman Pool during COVID-19 restrictions that make our pool more accessible and inclusive. -
Acquires a matching grant from the Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Foundation to match gifts to support Swimming Admissions.
September 2020
- Begins work with Compassionate Friends group to identify new location for memorials.
December 2020
- Receives $100,000 commitment from Jerry Frautschi to name Fully Accessible & Inclusive Playground at Warner Park.
March 2021
- Receives $100,000 gift from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation to name the Fully Accessible & Inclusive playground at Rennebohm Park after Jeffrey Erlanger
April 2021
- Receives $10,350 in grants from the Capital Times Kids Fund to support KNOW, Playgrounds & the Learning Series
May 2021
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Making a Difference segment airs on Channel 15 (see Initiatives Tab). Interview with John Stofflet discussing the importance of fully accessible playgrounds for the community.
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Facilitates major gift from Michael & Jocelyn Keiser to renovate Glenway Golf Park.
June 2021
- Commits to add the first Fully Accessible Beach Mat to Bernie’s Beach to make the first accessible Madison Parks’ beach.
July 2021
- Receives $100,000 from Pleasant Rowland to establish a Fully Accessible & Inclusive Parks Fund to make all of our parks more accessible and inclusive.
August 2021
- Donates $40,000 to renovating patio at Glenway Golf Park to make it fully accessible.
September & October 2021
- Launches its Dog Park initiative to raise funds to enhance and expand our dog parks.
October 2021
- Receives $10,000 grant from Festival Foods in support of the Fully Accessible & Inclusive Playground at Warner Park.
December 2021
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Receives $5,000 grant from Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation in support of the Fully Accessible & Inclusive Playgrounds project.
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Receives grant from Adams Outdoor Advertising which will provide 1 year of billboard advertising promoting MPF and our mission.
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Receives $30,000 grant from Madison Community Foundation in support of the Fully Accessible & Inclusive Playgrounds project.

