Olbrich Park Nature Play Area

Construction is now complete and the area is available for use. Parks crews will perform touch up work as necessary in the Spring. 

The embankment slides have been installed. However, they will not be available for use for a few weeks while the concrete footings cure. 

In the meantime, crews will begin installing the remaining features next week. There will be one adjustment to the project plan due to the soil types encountered. There will now be two boulder climbing features on the hillside, instead of one boulder feature and one wooden "steps" feature.

Additionally, the safety surfacing for the play area at the base of the slide will now be wood mulch, instead of pea gravel. After assessing site conditions, staff feels the wood mulch will do a better job of staying in place at the base of the slides.

Parks has received the slides and plan to begin installation and the rest of the build-out on Monday, October 21. 

The swings have been installed and are ready for use. Parks crews will complete the remainder of the project after the embankment slides have been delivered. 

Parks is planning to start construction of the nature play area at Olbrich Park in the coming weeks. Next week (week of July 15) crews will be cutting existing vegetation to a height of 2-3 inches on the hillside in areas where the slides and climbing features will be installed. This is necessary in order to prepare for and install these features. Parks construction team will then begin work either late next week, or the week after (week of July 22).

The slides will be installed at a later date due to long lead times from the manufacturer. At this time, the delivery date of the slides is unknown. Some allowances during the initial phase of construction will be required to ensure equipment can access the slide locations for future installation.

Parks intends to begin construction in mid-to-late July. The specific timeline is weather dependent on the Parks construction team completion of current projects which are in-progress. 

The embankment slides will not be delivered in time for construction and will be installed at a later date after they are received from the manufacturer.

Parks is working to procure the necessary products and materials for construction of the play area. Some products, particularly the slides, require custom manufacturing and extended manufacturing timeframes. Parks will identify a construction timeframe after the delivery dates of products is known. 

Parks has prepared a revised plan based on feedback from the second public meeting, held on March 11. If you have comments, please send them to akaniewski@cityofmadison.com by March 31. 

View the Revised Plan

Thank you to everyone who attended the second public meeting. The meeting recording and presentation slides have been added as links in the Public Input section below.

A revised plan has been uploaded for viewing prior to the second public meeting, scheduled for March 11. Please see below to find the link to register in advance, and additional information.

The second public meeting has been scheduled for March 11. Please see below to find the link to register in advance, and additional information.