Goodman Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Goodman Park offers a well-rounded outdoor experience featuring a playground, an acclaimed swimming pool suitable for all ages with unique 'learning to film' classes, and abundant natural shade from trees. It's a convenient 15-minute drive from Madison and provides access to city bikes and volleyball courts, making it more than just a standard park.
Key Highlights
- ✓Swimming pool highly rated as great for kids of all ages.
- ✓Offers unique 'learning to film' classes for both parents and children at the pool.
- ✓Abundant natural shade from trees makes it comfortable for summer afternoon visits.
- ✓Located conveniently, just a 15-minute drive from Madison.
- ✓Features city bikes on site and volleyball courts, adding to activity options.
- ✓Small sun shelter available, ideal for picnics near the playground and pool.
Standout Features
- ⭐Swimming pool with diverse offerings, including unique 'learning to film' classes.
- ⭐Extensive natural tree cover providing ample shade for visitors.
- ⭐Access to city bikes for exploration.
- ⭐Volleyball courts available for active play.
- ⭐Dedicated small sun shelter for picnics.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Be aware that pool access is required for restrooms, so plan accordingly for children.
- →Prepare for 20-30 minute 'safety checks' at the pool every two hours, which temporarily close the pool.
- →Consider the playground slides might be uncomfortable for some users.
- →If using the nearby beach, manage expectations regarding cleanliness.
- →Utilize the ample tree shade for comfortable visits during sunny weather.
- →Bring your own picnic to take advantage of the small sun shelter and potentially avoid perceived pressure to buy food during pool breaks.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No public restrooms are available outside the pool area; access requires a pool entrance fee.
- ⚠Playground slides are reported to be uncomfortable ('kinda hurt your back').
- ⚠The beach area near the park is noted as not clean (though a common issue in the Madison area).
- ⚠Pool enforces 20-30 minute 'safety checks' every two hours, which some visitors perceive as a tactic to encourage food purchases.
- ⚠No explicit mention of pavilions for larger gatherings.
Price & Value
The park itself appears to be free to access. However, there is an entrance fee for the public swimming pool, which also grants access to restrooms. City bikes likely involve a rental fee. One reviewer noted perceived pressure to buy food during pool 'safety checks', suggesting potential incidental costs at the pool.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •A 'small sun shelter perfect for a picnic' suggests outside food is permitted in the park area.
- •Food is sold at the pool, with 'safety checks' perceived by one reviewer as a tactic to encourage purchases.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking details were not explicitly mentioned in the provided reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The park is described as a 'popular softball location for leagues', indicating potential for crowds in those areas, especially during league games. No specific crowd levels mentioned for the playground or pool.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The pool conducts regular 'safely checks' every two hours for 20-30 minutes, indicating a focus on pool safety.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families needing free, easily accessible public restrooms outside of pool operating hours or without paying pool admission.
- • Visitors sensitive to playground slides that 'kinda hurt your back'.
- • Those who prefer uninterrupted swimming, due to frequent 20-30 minute 'safety checks' at the pool.
- • Expectations for a pristine beach area.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Winter Recreation Party (Group Outing)
Seasonal (typically ends third weekend in February, or sooner depending on ice conditions)
Groups can reserve for winter recreation activities. All winter activities depend on weather and conditions and are subject to change.
🍎Food Policy
- • Alcohol is permitted in most Madison Parks, as long as there is no glass.
- • A permit is required to bring alcohol in alcohol-free parks (if applicable) and requires a reservation.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • No ice is completely safe. Always check the ice rink status online or call the Parks office before skating.
- • Rinks/lagoons will close if meltwater is visible to prevent extended closures from damaged ice.
- • Picnic shelters do not protect from severe weather, such as lightning.
- • Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters.
- • Pets and bikes, including well-behaved dogs, are never allowed on any ice rink or lagoon.
📅Booking Policy
- • Basketball courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis, unless reserved online for leagues or tournaments.
- • Multipurpose fields are available on a first-come, first-served basis, unless reserved online.
- • Softball fields are available for reservation online (Softball Fields: RESERVE ONLINE, Backstop: RESERVE ONLINE).
- • Picnic shelters may be reserved or used on a first-come, first-served basis if not previously reserved.
- • Picnic shelter reservations for the following year open on the first business day in November (e.g., 2026 reservations open Monday, November 3, 2025).
- • Picnic shelters can be reserved ONLINE, by calling (608)266-4711, or in-person at the Parks administration office.
- • Full payment is due at the time of processing your picnic shelter reservation, along with any required permits.
- • Credit card is the only accepted method of payment for picnic shelter reservations.
- • Madison Parks does not guarantee absolute privacy to any group; a reservation reserves only the facility, not the entire park or other facilities within the park.
- • If a field reservation is canceled, a notification is emailed to the user who made the field reservation. Notifications are sent by 2:00 pm Monday-Friday and by 9:00 am on weekends and holidays.
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking lots in parks are available for park programs or events during regular park hours: 4:00 am to 10:00 pm.
- • Driving or parking motorized vehicles is not allowed on the grass or near a shelter and is subject to a citation.
- • Three-hour limit in all parks, as posted.
- • No parking after hours: 10pm to 4am. Overnight parking is not allowed.
- • Violators are subject to a fine.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Pramod Koli (Pbkoli)
a year agoThis park is just 15 min drive from Madison. Nice place for kids to play around. Beach is not clean but I see it's not clean everywhere around madison. The place has lot of trees so you get a shade for summer afternoon. Will visit this place again. There are other parks and trails nearby.
Kelvin Alfaro
3 years agoI really enjoy this park and swimming pool. They have really great classes for learning to film both for parents and children. The pool is really great for kids of all ages.
Ann Buckley
9 months agoThere is playground equipment and places to walk. No public restrooms, besides the pool which can only be accessed with a pool entrance fee. There is also a public pool. There are city bikes at this location as well. Volleyball courts too. I don't see pavilions. Some places are shady and others are sunny.
Sebastian Rousseau
5 years agoGoodman Park features a playground and small sun shelter perfect for a picnic before or after swimming at Goodman Pool. This park is also a popular softball location for leagues.
Cooper Cat
a year agoSlides kinda hurt your back but overall pretty good however seemingly every 2 hours there is a "safely check" for like 20 30 minutes that's really made so you'll get out of the pool and buy food. Overwise good pool