Initiatives | The Madison Parks Foundation

Our Work


Our mission is clear: “Parks for All, Forever.” We aim to keep our parks accessible, enjoyable, and thriving for everyone for years to come. While tax dollars provide less than $1 per park per household annually for essential maintenance, private donations are vital for creating exceptional parks.

The Parks For All Fund allows us to invest in important improvements—like mobility-friendly walkways, scholarships, and affordable programming—that make our parks special. Without private donations and sponsorships, community parks and open spaces are at risk. By contributing to the Parks For All Fund, you join a community dedicated to enhancing our parks.



Current Parks For All Initiatives

All MPF initiatives focus on improving accessibility across our parks. This includes mobility features such as wheelchair access to beaches and trails, braille signs, playgrounds and splash pads with zero entry points, as well as inclusive programming and scholarships to community amenities — and so much more!

Here are just a few of the current projects the Parks for All Fund supports:

Building More Accessible Playgrounds

We are raising funds to improve our parks and playgrounds, making them more welcoming for people of all ages and abilities, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities. With funding for five new playgrounds, we will offer 100,000 Madison households a more accessible playground within a two-mile radius.

Funding K.N.O.W. Teen Program

K.N.O.W. (Kids Need Opportunities at Warner) is a Warner Park Community Recreation Center program that includes events such as Teen Night, Family Fun Night, an Angler (fishing) program, a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Series, and Open Gym time. These events provide meaningful opportunities for youth to feel connected and engaged with our community. We are committed to raising $150,000 to ensure safe, free, and engaging programming continues.

Sponsoring Free Learning Series

This program allows the City of Madison Parks Division to offer enjoyable activities in our parks, such as birdwatching, stargazing, disc golf, and more, at no cost. This enables people to enjoy our parks and learn, regardless of their ability to pay. We aim to raise $50,000 to expand this program by purchasing additional equipment and supplies, allowing more residents to participate and sustaining the programming for years to come.

Goodman Pool Access Scholarships

Since the Goodman Community Pool opened in 2006, we have provided scholarships for swimming lessons for kids facing financial challenges. Our support also offers free admission passes for families and local community centers, ensuring everyone can enjoy this special place. The Madison Parks Foundation backs the Goodman Waves, Madison’s only public swim and dive team, making fees affordable and offering scholarships. We also provide life jackets for free use and invest in CPR equipment for lifeguard training and certification.

Dog Parks

We are incredibly proud to be helping the City of Madison Parks Division expand and enhance its dog parks. Currently, there are nine off-leash dog parks in the city, ranging in size from 1/3 of an acre to 37 acres. We aim to raise funds for the Parks Division to create three additional off-leash dog parks located on the east side, near the east and southwest areas of Madison.

Learn more