Olin & Turville Parks

Located on the shores of Lake Monona, with stunning Capitol views, Olin and Turville Parks together form one of Madison's most beautiful, accessible natural assets. Facilities in these two parks accommodate a broad range of outdoor activities, from the quietest to the most active. Olin Park has a public boat launch, beach, soccer field, playground equipment, a restored historic pavilion that can be reserved, and trails for walking, jogging, and biking. Adjacent Turville Point Conservation Park is a quiet, wooded preserve where you can retreat into a contemplative nature walk or a moon-lit cross-country ski tour.

FREE Barn Dance - October 4th at 6 PM in Olin Pavilion

We invite our WORLD DAIRY EXPO friends to a lively night of Contra dancing in the historic Olin Park Pavilion. It's just a short walk north from the hotels along John Nolen Drive. Dance instruction and live music provided by MadCoCo (formerly Madison Contra Dance Co-op). No experience or partner required. Contra is a fun, easy-to-learn, social dance style that brings folks together. Dance will be inside the pavilion, so it will proceed rain-or-shine, but with plenty of fresh air. So 'come on down' and meet your Madison friends and neighbors!

FOOT-Loose Dances return to Olin Pavilion this fall!

Let loose, learn some new steps, or just come to watch, listen and enjoy. FOOT-Loose free dances return to the Olin Park pavilion this fall, 2022. Each of the five sessions will be held on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 PM in the historic Olin Park pavilion. No experience or partner necessary - this is just an easy, fun, and social learning opportunity.

Here's the line-up:

  • September 6 - Madison Tango Society Stylish Latin ballroom

  • September 13 - Dairyland Cowboys & Cowgirls Texas line dancing

  • September 20 - Madison Folk Dance Unlimited Multiple classic folk styles

  • September 27 - Madison Contra Dance Co-op An easy country style

  • October 4 - Madison Contra "Barn Dance" - World Dairy Expo folks invited!

Free Concerts Return to Olin Pavilion in Spring of 2022!

Live music will once again flow from the historic Olin Park pavilion this spring. We've reserved three Wednesday's in May and the first one in June for a series of four FREE concerts, each from 6 to 8 PM.

Here's the line-up:

  • May 4 - Evan & Tom Leahy An Irish folk/rock duo

  • May 11 - Mark Croft Trio Classic Americana sounds

  • May 25 - Panchromatic Steel Madison's premier steel drum band

  • June 1 - Cris Plata Texas twang with a twist

Dance 'Learning Series' at Olin Pavilion May 6 & 7, 2022

As part of the Madison Parks Division's 'Learning Series', Parks and FOOT will be co-sponsoring two weekend dance sessions in early May. Each of the two sessions will be held from 6 to 8 PM in the historic Olin Park pavilion. No experience or partner necessary - this is just an easy, fun, and social learning opportunity. Or just come to listen, watch and enjoy. Please register here for this free event.

  • Friday, May 6 - Madison Scottish Country Dancers Learn easy reels & jigs

  • Saturday, May 7 - Madison Contra Dance Co-op Easy, social and fun folk dances

Most recent FOOT meeting was Tuesday, March 15, 2022

We gathered both in person and virtually on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30 PM for our regular bi-monthly FOOT meeting. Meeting location was Tom's place, with a Zoom link provided as well. Folks on our email list automatically receive meeting FOOT-Notes, and FOOT-Notes are also archived here on our website.


Monona Waterfront Design Challenge Announced

In February of 2022, the city of Madison announced a national-level design competition for the redesign of Law Park and its adjacent Monona waterfront components, extending along the John Nolen causeway to the northern edge of Olin Park. Read more about it here. Or visit the Parks Division's Monona Waterfront Design Challenge page, where you can find a copy of the city's Request for Qualifications (RFQ).