EXISTING PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES

A comprehensive land use survey was conducted in 1995 and updated in 2001 and 2006 to inventory existing park areas and recreation facilities and their relationship to residential and planned residential developments. Included in the inventory were municipal and educational recreational areas which contribute to the recreational opportunities (or supply) in the Village.

Chart of area parks and amenities click here.

Map of area parks by number click here.

The following is a description of each open space area or park and a summary of the facilities in it.
 
 1.     Upper Mud Lake Portion of E-Way: This large (123.6 acres) conservancy area, except for a 12-acre parcel owned by the City of Madison, is owned and managed by the State Department of Natural Resources.  This floodplain-wetland complex makes up the eastern edge of the E-Way, a greenbelt across the southern part of Madison urban area.
 
 2.     McDaniel Park  4806 McDaniel Lane: This area was acquired by the Village in 1976 and is a community park to complement nearby Brandt Park.  Together, the two parks are 13.6 acres in size. McDaniel Park itself is 8.7 acres; of which, the northern portion is wetland intended for conservancy use (7 acres).  The southern portion is developed and includes an open picnic shelter, 3 grills, benches, picnic tables, public restrooms, modular playstructure, a drinking fountain and sand volleyball court, trail description, trail marker and description board, Eagle Scout project Troop 53. 

 3.     Brandt Park  4601 Brandt Park: This community park is heavily used by all age groups.  Facilities serving the park include 2 softball fields (upper and lower); both are lit (6 poles each), have cyclone fence backstops and cyclone fencing, 2 sets of bleachers, a score box with a public address system (lower) and a park bench (upper).  Other facilities include restrooms, a drinking fountain, an open picnic shelter, and a basketball court.  The park area covers 4.9 acres.
 
 4.    Siggelkow Road Park  5002 Valley Road:  This park area was acquired under the provisions of the Village subdivision ordinance.  The area (approximately 5.5 acres) has the potential to become a neighborhood park.  The western portion of the park is extremely hilly. The site now is a passive park.  Protection and maintenance of the Indian Mounds located on the hilltop should be a priority.
 
 5.     Autumn Grove Park  5207 Falling Leaves Lane: This park (1.5 acres) on Falling Leaves Lane serves the north-central neighborhood.  It includes 2 tot swings, 2 swings, 2 backhoes, a play module with slides and climbing wall, a sand area, a basketball half-court, picnic tables, benches and an open playfield. 

 6.     William McFarland Park  4802 Marsh Road: This partially developed park (20.3 acres) contains five soccer fields, a pedestrian/bike path, a skate board facility, and a new baseball diamond.  An indoor curling facility is located on village parkland.  The McFarland Community Ice Arena is located next to William McFarland Park.  A sand box and play area comprised of a climbing structure with slides, 2 spring animals, 2 sand diggers, woodchips, and picnic tables have been installed in the last few years.  Construction of bocce ball courts in summer 2010.
 
 7.     Woodland Estates Park  5601 Glenway Street: This neighborhood park (2.4 acres) serves the east-central neighborhood.  The park includes a shelter house, an outside grill, a basketball half-court, a play module with slides and climbing wall, bike rack, 3 swings, 1 tot swing, a volleyball pit, picnic tables, a bench and an open playfield with backstop.  
 
 8.     Discovery Gardens: This area offers a hands on learning experience primarily geared toward children 5 and younger, and is home to the E.D. Locke Public Library.  The area is 0.2 acre.
 
 9.     Indian Mound Conservation Park  6400 Exchange Street: While serving as a specialized recreation area, this park site is a wooded hill that includes seven Indian burial mounds (Indian effigy mound cultural tradition) and a Village water tower site.  There are walking trails, some made of asphalt and some of gravel, that allow a walking tour of the area. No vehicle access is allowed.  The park’s 8.9 acres are classified as conservancy, not as a neighborhood park area.  Trail improvements and protective wood fencing around the mounds are projects planned by volunteer youth groups.  As well as providing a beautiful view of McFarland and the surrounding area, the park is an important historical site. The area is limited to passive recreational uses.
 
10.   McFarland High School/Indian Mound Middle School  5103 Farwell Street/6330 Exchange Street:  Serving as a community playfield, the school provides a baseball field, 5 bleacher sections located by the baseball field, a storage shed, and an electric scoreboard and lighting system that serves the baseball field.  There is a combination football-soccer field with track-and-field-event pits.  Surrounding the field is an 8-lane, all weather track, lighting, bleachers for 1,200 persons and a combination press box, concession stand and rest room facility.  At the Middle School are youth ball diamonds, basketball courts and swings.  About 15 acres of the school’s 42 acres are used for playfield activities.
 
11.   McFarland Primary School and Conrad Elvehjem Early Learning Center  6009-6103 Johnson Street:  Serving as a neighborhood playground, this outdoor recreation area serves both of these schools.  It provides playground apparatus (12 various climbing apparatus, 2 slides), 3 basketball courts, 2 lower basketball standards, an asphalt play area with lining for various games, 1 softball field (grass infield) with backstop, and a large grassy open area that also has one set of soccer goal posts. Eight tennis courts were built in 1998. Four courts have lights.  The area covers 13.2 acres with 6 acres for recreation.  A portion of the property is owned by the Village, with the school district holding a 50-year lease.  There is adequate parking to serve the functions currently utilizing the area.
 
12.   Babcock County Park  4214 US Highway 51:  Babcock Park (16.2 acres) is owned by Dane County and is of regional significance.  It is so heavily used by persons who live outside of McFarland that it is of little use to residents of the Village.  Despite its limited Village use, it is recognized as a location which provides picnicking, camping, boating and fishing opportunities to residents as well as playground facilities for children.
 
13.   Thurn Marsh Park and Conrad Jaeger Park  6400 Jaeger Road:  Like the Grandview Conservancy Area, Thurn Marsh is a wetland area of approximately 6.2 acres located adjacent to the high school/middle school site.  The northwestern edge of the park has a graveled path identified as “Jaeger Hiking and Biking Trail.” This trail links Yahara Drive with Highland Drive and Conrad Jaeger Park.  Conrad Jaeger Park is a 2-acre parcel located west of the marsh on the Yahara River and is accessible by Jaeger Road.  The site is leased by the DNR to the Village and consists of a paved parking lot, 2 picnic tables, a fishing platform and a small boat ramp.
 
14.   Lewis Park  5012 Highland Drive:  When combined with adjacent Legion Memorial Park, this area serves the southern half of the Village as a 22.2-acre community park.  Lewis Park itself provides a volleyball pit, one softball field with backstop, play module, and climbing apparatus, benches, picnic tables, 7 swings and 1 tot swing on 6.4 acres.  Located on the western portion of the park are a shelter house with a fireplace inside, public restroom, an outdoor grill and several picnic tables.  The play area includes 4 swings.
 
15.   Legion Memorial Park  5301 Marshwoods Drive:  This park, like McDaniel Park, serves two functions.  The eastern portion consists of wetlands and woodlands.  It also has frontage on Mud Lake, where an observation deck is located.  The western portion of this 15.8-acre park includes a lit ice-skating rink and an open playfield by Lewis Park’s softball field.  The parking area is located at the end of Highland Drive.  The eastern conservancy portion of the park can be accessed from Marsh Woods Drive.  Legion Memorial Park, together with Lewis Park (adjacent), serves as a combined community park for the southern half of McFarland.
 
16.  Marsh Woods Park  5305 Marshwoods Drive:  This park is a specialized recreation area located on Mud Lake and is predominately a wetland area of 19.2 acres, classified as conservancy use.  The wetland area should be used strictly as a conservancy area, and is accessible through Legion Memorial Park. The area could best be used for educational purposes.  A nature trail constructed of wood chips has been completed by volunteer youth groups.
 
17.   Grandview Conservancy Area  5601 Creamery Road:  This specialized area was acquired in 1984. The southern 25.6 acres were received by dedication and the northern 7 acres by purchase.  A small part of the conservancy area south of Creamery Road could be improved for passive recreation purposes.
 
18.   Public Boat Launch Site  South Court:  This Village owned access site located on Lake Waubesa is relatively unimproved and consists of a public right-of-way called South Court ending at the water’s edge.
 
19.   Valley Totlot  5100 Broadhead Street:  This one-acre greenway on Valley Drive has been filled after installation of storm sewer and developed as a totlot.  The play equipment includes 2 tot swings, a play module with slides, a bench and picnic tables. 

20.     Egner Park  5703 Bird Song Court:  This neighborhood park (2.3 acres) serves the southeast side of the Village. It is developed with a shelter house, well house included, picnic tables, a basketball half-court, a children’s basketball court, 3 swings, 1 tot swing, 2 tot backhoes, 2 spring toys, and an ADA-accessible modular-climbing unit.
 
21.    Arnold Larson Park  6002 Exchange Street: This village redevelopment area (1.4 acres) is located downtown with a gazebo, 8 park benches, and 3 picnic tables. It is the home of the Community Band’s summer performances.
 
22.   Glenway Totlot  Glenway Street:  This 0.2-acre play lot serves the immediate neighborhood and is owned by the developer.  A neighborhood park should be developed. Equipment includes a picnic table, 2 back hoes, 2 spring toys, a slide, 2 swings, and 2 tot swings.
 
23.   Ridgeview Totlot  5323 Black Walnut Drive:  This 0.4-acre play lot serves part of the Ridgeview neighborhood with small playstructure, spring animal, open play area, and picnic table.
 
24.   Cedar Ridge Park  5303 Wild Cherry Lane:  This 3.9-acre neighborhood park serves the northeast portion of the village with a playground of 4 swings, sandbox, slides, backhoe, gazebo, picnic tables, walking path, open play area, bench, small playstructure and soccer practice field.
 
25.   Taylor Road Conservancy Area:  This 5.9-acre hillside conservancy preserves the northeastern slope of the drumlin adjacent to Taylor Road.
 
26.    Waubesa Intermediate School  5605 Red Oak Trail:  This 25.5-acre neighborhood school provides 18.5 acres for a play area with 2 varsity softball fields with dugouts and concession stand, 4 bleachers, 2 batting cages, 1 shed, 1 soccer/football field with 4 goals, 6 swings, tether ball, one handicap swing, 1 climbing apparatus, and 3 basketball hoops.
 
27.    Yahara River Park  6623 Meredith Way:  This 1.8 acre conservancy area located north of the Yahara River provides pedestrian access to the river and a canoe launch.
 
28.    Highland Oaks Park  Osborne Drive:  This 2-acre park provides a park shelter, basketball court, 2 swings, 2 tot swings, 2 benches, sandbox, 2 back hoes, 2 spring animals, play structure with 4 slides, climbing wall, climbing bars, pathway and picnic tables.
 
29.    John Urso Community Park  6201 Elvejem Road:  38.8 acres acquired as part of parkland dedication requirements for Park View Estates.  It includes walking trails and a 7 acre, fenced  dog exercise area.  A Master Plan for passive recreation areas was completed in 2005.
 
30.    Woodland Commons Park  5604 Lexington Street:  5 acres acquired as a result of parkland dedication requirements for Woodland Commons Subdivision.  The park is currently used for passive recreation.

31.    Schuetz Property  6601 Hidden Farm Road