Henry Vilas Park

Vilas Park is one of Madison's oldest and largest parks, located along the northern shore of Lake Wingra. The 45.67-acre park was established in 1904 through donations from Senator William Freeman Vilas, who contributed $35,000 to purchase the land. It was named after Senator Vilas's son Henry, who had died of diabetes as a young man.

The park features a sandy beach on Lake Wingra for swimming in the summer months. There are also numerous fishing sites along the lakeshore, including two accessible fishing piers. In winter, visitors can enjoy ice skating on the park's frozen lagoon and ice rinks. A seasonal warming shelter offers concessions and skate rentals during the winter skating season.

For recreation, Vilas Park has tennis courts, a basketball court, a soccer field, and large grassy areas for picnics and other activities. There are multiple playgrounds for children, including one with a famous "Old Woman in the Shoe" slide built in 1962. The park also contains Native American burial mounds, including a bird effigy mound, which were designated as a City of Madison landmark in 1990.

Vilas Park is connected to the University of Wisconsin Arboretum via a lakeside trail popular with joggers and walkers. The park is also home to the Henry Vilas Zoo, a free public zoo adjacent to the park grounds. With its diverse offerings and scenic lakefront setting, Vilas Park provides year-round recreation opportunities for Madison residents and visitors of all ages.