Olin Terrace Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Olin Terrace Park is a beautiful public park located in Madison, Wisconsin.


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Summary

There are many good reasons to visit this park, including its stunning views of Lake Monona and the city skyline. The park is also home to several unique and interesting features, such as the Olin Park Beach, the Olin Park Pavilion, and the Olin Park Boat Launch. Visitors can take a stroll along the park's paved paths, enjoy a picnic on the grassy areas, or even take a swim in the lake. Interesting facts about the area include its history as a Native American burial site and its use as a quarantine station during the early 20th century. The best time of year to visit Olin Terrace Park is during the warmer months, when the beach and other amenities are open to the public. Overall, Olin Terrace Park is a great place to relax, enjoy nature, and take in the beautiful sights of Madison.

       

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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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