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 Concerts in Olin Pavilion each Wednesday in May, 2025
FREE concerts return to the Olin Park Pavilion this May on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 PM:
-- Slipjig with Daithi Wolfe - Irish 'trad' music on Wednesday, May 7th
-- Ramblin' Kind - a western swing band on Wednesday, May 14th
-- The Whiskey Farm - a danceable favorite on Wednesday, May 21st
-- Mark Croft duo - Americana with fiddlin' on Wednesday, May 28th
Bring the family, bring a picnic - chairs and tables provided. Since the pavilion is sheltered, all 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
Turville Bird & Nature Walks: 2nd Sunday each month at 1:30 PM
On the second Sunday of each month, join us for Bird & Nature Adventures in Turville Conservation Park. Follow rolling hiking paths through the Turville Point Conservation Park woodlands and prairie with beautiful vistas of Lake Monona and Monona Bay. Walks at Turville Point are held on the 2nd Sunday every month co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners, Madison Parks and Friends of Olin Turville. Meet at the Turville Point parking lot, entrance at the E. Olin Ave. stoplight from John Nolen Drive at the railroad tracks, south of Olin Park (not at the boat launch). No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
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, and educational. For more information, contact 608-698-0104.
Most recent FOOT meeting was January 16, 2025
Six of us gathered in person at Tom DeChant's home on Thursday, Janurary 16th for a FOOT meeting. Key topic of discussion were:
1) Review of attendance and donations at our fall dance series.
2) Discussion of future spring and summer FOOT activities, including a Dark Sky/Starry Night event; a Kid-Friendly movie night; summer yoga sessions; and a Kids for Kids instructional session when the goats return to Turville.
3) Presentation of UW freshman engineering project guided by Prof. Katie Kalscheur that developed a goat-proof 'cage' for the young oak trees planted by FOOT members. Group agreed to try to fund 7 additional cages with help from Madison Parks Division. Volunteers needed!!
Folks on our email list automatically receive meeting FOOT-Notes, and FOOT-Notes are also archived here on our website (eventually!)