Madison, WI
2020 ParkScore® ranking: #12
Our analysis is based on four characteristics of an effective park system:
access, investment, acreage, and amenities.
How we calculated Madison’s ParkScore rating:
Access
93 out of 100
Acreage
57 out of 100
Investment
74 out of 100
Amenities
71 out of 100
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How does it work?
Cities can earn a maximum ParkScore rating of 100.
In evaluating park systems, we include land owned by all public agencies within the 100 most populous U.S. cities that functions as a park. ParkScore index methodology
We're working to ensure there's a park within a 10-minute walk of home
of every person, in every neighborhood, in every city across America.
Is Madison meeting that goal?
95%
of residents live within a 10 minute walk of a park.
National average 55%
Percent of residents within a
10-minute walk of a park by age
Children (0 - 19)
Adults (20 - 64)
Seniors (65+)
Percent of residents within a
10-minute walk of a park by income
Percent of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park by race/ethnicity
14%
of Madison's city land is used for parks and recreation.
National median 15%
Where in Madison are parks needed most?
Madison has 284 parks
We’ve mapped park access in 14,000 cities and towns across the country. Our free mapping platform helps you pinpoint where to focus park investments in your city.
Explore the map
See Madison's Map
Madison Park Amenities Compared to the 100 Largest U.S. Cities
Basketball Hoops
97 th percentile
10.5 per 10,000 people
Dog Parks
91 st percentile
3 per 100,000 people
Playgrounds
100 th percentile
7 per 10,000 people
Bathrooms
78 th percentile
2.7 per 10,000 people
Recreation and Senior Centers
1 st percentile
0.1 per 20,000 people
Splashpads
46 th percentile
1.1 per 100,000 people
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ParkServe methodology
Download the data
Park summary for Madison
All park access data for the U.S.
2020 City Park Facts
Parkscore ranking analysis
Our 10-Minute Walk™ campaign calls on mayors to demonstrate their commitment to parks and adopt long-term, system-wide strategies to ensure every resident has a great park close to home.
Tell your mayor: pledge to make parks a priority!
Find out how
Partner with us
You believe everyone deserves access to great parks. We can help you reach that goal.
Contact Susan Schmidt, Wisconsin State Director at the Trust for Public Land
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Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge

The Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is an hour's drive for the 12 million people who live in the region between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison, Wisconsin.Read more