Odana School Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Odana School Park is a large public park located in Madison, Wisconsin.


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Summary

It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and nature lovers. The park offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and picnicking.

Some of the points of interest within Odana School Park include the Odana Hills Golf Course, the Odana Schoolhouse Museum, and the Odana Hills Disc Golf Course. The park also features a playground, a basketball court, and a softball field.

Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the park was once a part of a farm owned by one of Madison's earliest settlers, Ebenezer Brigham. Visitors can still see the remnants of the farm, including an old stone fence and a barn.

The best time of year to visit Odana School Park depends on personal preference. Spring and summer are popular times to visit for hiking and outdoor activities, while fall is a great time to see the changing leaves. Winter sports enthusiasts can also enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during the colder months.

Overall, Odana School Park is a beautiful and diverse park that is worth visiting for anyone in the Madison area.

       

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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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