Celebrating National Park and Recreation Month and 130 Years of Parks

For nearly 40 years, the nation has celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote the importance parks and recreation have in our health and well-being. Living close to parks and other recreation facilities is consistently related to higher physical activity levels for both adults and youth. Moreover, parks provide a connection to nature, which studies demonstrate relieves stress, strengthens interpersonal relationships and improves mental health.

In addition to helping connect people to nature, local parks are essential environmental stewards helping to protect the most precious public resources — our land, water, trees, open spaces and wildlife. Evidence shows parks and green spaces are cooler than their surrounding concrete cities and contribute to overall urban cooling. Since its beginning, Madison Parks has continued to play a vital role in the protection of our environment through the management of these green spaces and more.

Help us celebrate 130 years of Madison’s parks! Join us at The Glen Golf Park on Sunday, July 21 from 2-4pm as we commemorate our rich history of connecting people to green spaces. We’ll celebrate our history where public-private partnerships have transformed our park system into a world-class treasure. This event will honor the legacy of those who have contributed to making Madison's parks what it is today and beyond. We’ll celebrate with live music, food carts, and yard games, followed by a free movie showing starting at 5pm. This celebration promises a fun-filled day for all. Join us for 130 Years of Madison Parks Celebration on July 21, as we continue to support and preserve Madison’s beloved parks for generations to come.

About Madison Parks
The City of Madison Parks Division manages 280+ parks totaling nearly 6,000 acres. The Parks Division employs more than 400 employees, including seasonal staff and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of special facilities such as Olbrich Botanical Gardens, the Warner Park Community and Recreation Center, the Goodman Pool, four public golf courses, the Forest Hill public cemetery, and the State Street and the Capitol Mall Concourse.

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 areas that advance accessibility, equity and programming goals for Madison's Parks.