Orton Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Orton Park is primarily highlighted as a well-shaded outdoor space in the Williamson Street neighborhood, offering a valuable, reservable covered gazebo ideal for parties and shelter from weather. It's most renowned for hosting the annual, long-running Orton Park Festival, a free music event featuring diverse food carts, artisan tents, and a relaxed community atmosphere.
Key Highlights
- ✓A spacious, covered gazebo with benches is available, which provides excellent shelter from rain and ample shade, making it perfect for parties or gatherings.
- ✓The park offers abundant natural shade from mature trees, making it comfortable even on sunny days.
- ✓Hosts the annual Orton Park Festival, a popular free music event known for its 'chill vibe', variety of food carts, and artisan tents.
Standout Features
- ⭐Spacious, covered gazebo with benches, which proved to be a 'day saver' during torrential downpours and offers consistent shade.
- ⭐Plenty of natural shade provided by mature trees throughout the park.
- ⭐The annual Orton Park Festival, described as a 'great event' with free music, tasty food carts, delicious cider, and artisan tents.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If planning a party or gathering, *reserve the gazebo in advance* to guarantee availability and benefit from its covered shelter and shade.
- →To experience the park at its liveliest, plan a visit during the annual Orton Park Festival for music, food, and artisan crafts.
- →During the festival, check for happy hour deals, such as 'half price beer and wine' on Friday evenings.
- →Consider combining a park visit (especially during the festival) with a bike ride around the lake, as suggested by a reviewer.
Things to Consider
- ⚠The gazebo 'should be reserved to ensure it is available', indicating potential unavailability if not booked in advance.
- ⚠Reviews focus heavily on the annual festival and general park amenities (gazebo, shade) rather than specific playground equipment, so parents looking for detailed information on slides, swings, or play structures for children will not find it here.
Price & Value
The Orton Park Festival offers 'free music,' providing significant entertainment value. Festivalgoers can also find 'half price beer and wine' during happy hour. The use of the general park amenities like the gazebo (once reserved) appears to be free. Food, cider, and artisan items at the festival are additional costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations or features are mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •During the Orton Park Festival, food carts and cider are available for purchase.
- •The reviews do not specify the policy on bringing outside food for regular park visits when no festival is occurring, though the presence of benches at the gazebo suggests picnicking may be common.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking information is not mentioned in any of the provided reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The Orton Park Festival, while popular, is described as having a 'chill vibe,' suggesting it's enjoyable without being overwhelmingly crowded.
- •No information is provided about crowd levels during regular park hours.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features or measures are mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Parents primarily seeking a park with a modern, extensive, or age-specific playground equipment might find the reviews lacking in relevant details.
- • No specific times or situations to avoid are mentioned in the reviews, which are uniformly positive.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
🍎Food Policy
- • Alcohol is permitted in most Madison Parks, as long as there is no glass.
- • A permit is required to bring alcohol to alcohol-free parks.
- • A reservation is required to obtain an alcohol permit.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Picnic shelters do not protect from severe weather, such as lightning. Seek an alternative location.
- • Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters. Violators may be considered trespassers and subject to forfeiture or arrest.
📅Booking Policy
- • Basketball courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for casual use.
- • Multipurpose Fields may be used on a first-come, first-served basis if not already reserved.
- • Picnic shelters may be reserved or used on a first-come, first-served basis if not previously reserved.
- • Reservations can be made Online, by calling (608)266-4711, or in-person at the Parks administration office.
- • Full payment is due at the time of processing your reservation, along with any required permits.
- • Credit card is the only accepted method of payment for reservations.
- • A reservation reserves only the specific facility, not the entire park or other facilities within the park.
What People Say
What's Great
- Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Dan Leunig
a year agoNestled in the Williamson Street neighborhood, Orton Park has a lot going for it. The Gazebo (which should be reserved to ensure it is available) is great for a party. It is spacious, covered and has benches. It was open the day of our daughters 26th birthday party, so we used it and it saved the day when the torrential downpours came. It has plenty of shade and is clean.
Annie Chen
a year ago58 years of Ortan Park Festival! Great music and chill vibe with snacks and games. Lovely to spend an afternoon here~
Beth Ann
a year agoSuper nice park under the shade of trees. The music was great. The food carts were tasty. The cider was delish. Great artisan tents. Great 2023 Orton Park Fest.
Tammy Bieberstein
8 months agoOrton Park Festival is always a great event, Photo of the Cycropia Oak tree that we wish to live more years. It has been retired from being used by the beautiful aerial dancers.
TRAVELS withDavid
5 years agoOrton Park fesitval. Another great park in Madison with free music festival. We wemt for 2 days. 1st happy hour on Friday half price beer and wine and great music from Slow Pulp. Saturday stopped in after bike ride around the lake.