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 Dances in Olin Pavilion each Thursday in September, 2024

FREE dances return to the Olin Park Pavilion this September on Thursdays from 6 to 8 PM:

--  Dairyland Cowboys & Cowgirls line dancing  on Thursday, September 5th  (It's their 30th Anniversary!!)

--  MadCoCo contra dancing on Thursday, September 12th

--  Madison Tango Society on Thursday, September19th

--  Madison Folkdancing Unlimited on Thursday, September 26th

Each session includes instruction - no experience or partner necessary. And since the pavilion is sheltered, dances will proceed rain or shine.  The Pavilion is located within Olin Park at 1156 Olin-Turville Ct, Madison, WI 53715 

Free Concerts in Olin Pavilion each Wednesday in May, 2024

FREE concerts return to the Olin Park Pavilion this May on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 PM:

--  Ladies Must Swing  on Wednesday, May 8th  

--  Grouvin' Brothers (Frankie Lee) on Wednesday, May 15th

--  Mark Croft Duo  on Wednesday, May 22nd

--  Cris Plata and Extra Hot  on Wednesday, May 29th

Bring the family, bring a picnic - chairs and tables provided. Since the pavilion is sheltered, concerts will proceed rain or shine.  But let's hope for really great spring  weather! The Pavilion is located within Olin Park at 1156 Olin-Turville Ct, Madison, WI 53715 

Looking for Ephemerals:  Sunday, April 14, 1:30 PM

On Sunday, April 14th, join naturalist Alex Singer for a look at Spring Ephemerals in Turville Point. Meet up at the entrance to Turville Point Conservation Park at the southern Olin Turville parking lot. Trilliums, Trout Lilies and other beautiful early wildflowers take advantage of available sunlight before trees and bushes fully leaf out and provide important sources of nectar for bees before other plants bloom. Try using the Seek app to take a photo and help identify what you see along the trail! Note: Please stay on trails since this is a Conservation Park.  


Post comments and pictures on the Friends of Olin-Turville (FOOT) Facebook page and join the group to help support this wonderful Conservation Park in the heart of Madison!  Free, fun, family friendly, welcoming, educational, no registration required, no pets.  Join us the second Sunday of every month for guided Bird and Nature Adventures at Turville Point Conservation Park. These walks are co-sponsored by Madison FUN partners Madison Parks, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, Four Lakes Sierra Club and Friends of Olin-Turville (FOOT). See the partner group websites and Facebook pages for updates and more activities! Contact 608-698-0104.  


How Animals Winter:  Sunday, March 10, 1:30 PM

On Sunday, March 10th, at 1:30 PM, meet up at the entrance to Turville Point Conservation Park at the southern Olin Turville parking lot for "Animal Adaptations" a Bird and Nature Adventure.


Explore the beautiful lakeside trails of Turville Point on this free naturalist guided walk with Stephanie Brand and Kaitlin Knudson. Learn the three ways that animals survive cold winters. While some migrate to warmer climates, others hibernate to conserve energy. Still others have special adaptations to stay active while resisting cold temperatures and food scarcity. Learn all about Wisconsin wildlife and their adaptations for winter!


Dress warm.  We may have a campfire with hot chocolate and smores after the walk. Free, fun, family friendly, welcoming, educational. No registration required, no pets. Join us the second Sunday of every month for Bird and Nature Adventures at Turville Point Conservation Park. These walks are co-sponsored by Madison FUN partners, Madison Parks, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and Friends of Olin-Turville (FOOT). See the partner group websites and Facebook pages for updates and more activities. Contact 608-698-0104

Bird & Nature Adventure:  Sunday, January 14, 1:30 PM

On Sunday, January 14th, at 1:30 PM, meet up at the entrance to Turville Point Conservation Park at the end of the southern parking lot for "Magic of Winter" Bird and Nature Adventure.


 Join Master Naturalists Sean Gere and Gregory Roliardi and Andria Blattner with Friends of Olin Turville (FOOT) for a free family-friendly guided nature walk or take a walk on your own to enjoy the beauty of winter at Turville Point on Lake Monona. Learn about snow! Use a cold dark colored surface such as a plastic dish to catch some flakes and examine them with a magnifier. As snow falls, drifts, compresses and melts it goes through transformations that help form shelter for a variety of bugs, birds and animals living in the 'subnivian' layer beneath snow covered plants that provides a warm place to hide and feed over winter. 


We will also look for animal tracks and signs, Great Horned Owls nesting in the pines, and beautiful winter birds along the trails and lake. See http://tinyurl.com/MadisonFUNAdventures for a Map and Fun Facts about Snow and a Winter Bird Bingo Card. Post comments and pictures on the Friends of Olin-Turville (FOOT) Facebook page! 


Dress warm and enjoy a campfire with cocoa and smores after the walk. Free, welcoming, family friendly, educational, no registration required, no pets. Second Sunday every month guided Bird and Nature Adventures and suggestions for self-guided walks and activities at Turville Point Conservation Park are co-sponsored by Madison FUN partners Madison Parks, Badgerland Bird Alliance and Friends of Olin-Turville (FOOT). See the partner group websites and Facebook pages for updates and more activities! Contact 608-698-0104 

Concerts in Olin Pavilion each Thursday in September, 2023

FREE fall concerts return to the Olin Park Pavilion this September on every Thursday from 6 to 8 PM:

--  CRIS PLATA  on Thursday, September 7th  

--  MARK CROFT TRIO on Thursday, September 14th

--  THE WHISKEY FARM  on Thursday, September 21st

--  GROOVIN BROTHERS (FRANKIE LEE) Thursday, September 28th

Bring the family, bring a picnic - chairs and tables provided. Since the pavilion is sheltered, concerts will proceed rain or shine.  But let's hope for really great September weather! The Pavilion is located within Olin Park at 1156 Olin-Turville Ct, Madison, WI 53715. 

Dances Return to Olin Pavilion on Tuesdays in May, 2023

Sorta last minute, but FREE instruction and dancing will return to the Olin Pavilion on the following Tuesdays this May from 6 to 8 PM:

--  Tuesday, May 9th:  Madison Tango Society

--  Tuesday, May 16th:  Madison Tango Society

--  Tuesday, May 23rd:  MadCoCo (Contra)

--  Tuesday, May 30th:  West Coast Swing

Yoga Returns to Olin Pavilion in the Summer of 2023

Friends of the free asanas - mark your calendars for the remaining  two sessions of yoga in the Olin Park pavilion:  Monday, June 26th, and Monday, July 17th at 6 PM, in the pavilion. Sam Kellogg will again provide instruction and guidance in her Alignment Yoga method. Her classes are open to all levels of experience, and will focus on the yoga fundamentals of breathing and asana postures. Bring a mat if you have one, but mats and props will be available. So come together with mindful others in the serenity of the historic Olin Park pavilion to nurture your yoga practice and enjoy the city skyline view. 

Most recent FOOT meeting was Thursday, March 23, 2023 

Eight of us gathered in person at The Borough's Brew Company on Thursday, March 23 at 6:30 PM for a long overdue FOOT meeting. Two key topic of discussion were:

1)  Planning for the 2023 'season' at the Olin Park pavilion. Concert, dance and yoga series were
       proposed, and dates will be established soon. 

2)  Discussion of likes, dislikes and concerns regarding the three final designs for the Lake Monona
      Waterfront Design Challenge.  Those comments have been summarized and submitted to the city's
      Ad Hoc Committee overseeing the Design Challenge.

Folks on our email list automatically receive meeting FOOT-Notes, and FOOT-Notes are also archived here on our website.

Three Finalists for Monona Waterfront  Design Challenge 

In late 2022, the city of Madison announced the three finalists among the national-level design firms competing for redesign of Law Park, the John Nolen causeway and the northern edge of Olin Park. Those three firms were:


To view the final submissions,  visit the Parks Division's Monona Waterfront Design Challenge page,