08/10/2026
Expanding Madison’s Playing Field ~ The City of Madison Parks Division wants to know: Is there a way to address our community’s athletic facility needs without increasing the tax levy?
Madison residents looking for athletic field space know how difficult it can be to find multipurpose fields. For decades, the park system has lacked sufficient athletic field spaces, especially capable of supporting tournament play.
Demand since the acquisition of Northeast Park has continued to outpace the growth of the Madison park system. With Madison’s population growing by nearly 1.5% annually and a younger median age, the demand for community recreation is strong. From 2018 to 2024, the annual number of reservations for field sports increased by more than 21%. Notably, soccer has seen the largest overall growth during that period. Ultimate Frisbee continues to grow and pressure the system with high utilization. There is also a known demand for sports that are somewhat new to the Madison area, including cricket and lacrosse.
Within Madison, Northeast Park, 5501 Tancho Drive, may be an ideal location for a sports complex. Situated near Interstate 90 and State Highway 151, the park offers convenient regional access. It is a quick 13-minute drive from Dane County Regional Airport, and about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Throughout the country, creative public private partnerships have successfully developed athletic complexes that benefit both the public and private entities in the partnership. While every partnership is structured differently, they all demonstrate how collaboration can expand recreational opportunities without relying on public funding.
Madison is exploring what a private-public partnership could look like in our community, and we want to hear from interested parties.
Check out the Request for Information (RFI) for more information and how to respond.
citofmadison.com/parks/blog or directly
cityofmadison.com/parks/blog/2026-08-10/expanding-madisons-playing-field
