Esther Beach Park

Esther Beach Park is a small neighborhood park located along the southeastern shore of Turville Bay in Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin. The park covers an area of 1.60 acres and offers visitors a scenic view of downtown Madison across the water.

The beach itself is approximately 70 feet long and 50 feet wide, with a 7.5% average slope. Due to its orientation within Turville Bay, the beach is prone to accumulating aquatic vegetation and debris carried by prevailing winds. This can sometimes lead to issues with weeds along the shoreline.

In 2018, Esther Beach Park underwent significant improvements. These enhancements included the addition of a restroom building, a reservable picnic shelter, and a new playground area with an accessible path. The parking lot was repaved, and measures were taken to improve the park's environmental impact, including shoreline restoration, the addition of a raingarden and stormwater swale, and reconstruction of storm infrastructure to reduce pollutants and runoff into the lake.

The park has historical significance dating back to the 1870s when Charles Askew and his brother operated a passenger boat business in the area. In 1901, they established a dance hall and picnic grounds at what is now Esther Beach Park. The park was named after Charles' daughter, who passed away in 1883. The dance hall, known as Hollywood-at-the-Beach, continued to operate until 1952.

Esther Beach Park is open from 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Visitors should note that the beach does not have a lifeguard on duty, and swimming is at one's own risk. The park is subject to water quality testing during the summer months, and swimming may be prohibited if high levels of bacteria or blue-green algae are detected.