Brittingham Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Brittingham Park is a 50-acre green space located in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin.


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Summary

This park is known for its beautiful views of Lake Monona and its many recreational activities. One of the main reasons to visit this park is to enjoy the water-based activities like sailing, kayaking, and fishing. Visitors can rent boats and equipment from the Brittingham Boats rental shop.

The park also has a beach area, playgrounds for kids, and picnic areas for families and friends to enjoy. There are walking and biking paths that lead around the park and the lake. Another main attraction is the Brittingham House, which is a historic home that has been restored and is now used for community events.

Interesting facts about the park include that it was named after a former city treasurer, Edward Brittingham, who purchased the land in the 1920s. The park has been a popular spot for community events and festivals since the 1970s. It was also the location of a Native American village for thousands of years before European settlement.

The best time of year to visit the Brittingham Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm, and the water activities are available. The park is open year-round, but visitors can enjoy the lush vegetation and beautiful views in the spring and fall seasons.

Overall, Brittingham Park is a beautiful and historic park that offers many recreational activities for visitors. It is an excellent spot for families, friends, and anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors in Madison, Wisconsin.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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