MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Parks Foundation (MPF) is proud to announce that accessible beach
pathways are now open at three of Madison’s most beloved public beaches: Tenney Beach, Warner Beach,and Esther Beach. Made possible through the generosity of donors to Madison Parks Foundation, this project reflects MPF’s deep commitment to ensuring every resident, regardless of ability, can fully experience the joy of Madison’s parks and waterways.
Tenney Beach Warner Park Beach Esther Beach
This project is a cornerstone of MPF’s broader Parks for All campaign, a $10 million initiative to ensure sustainability and accessibility across all 297 parks in Madison’s park system in perpetuity. At the heart of that campaign is a simple belief: our parks should be welcoming and accessible to all. The accessible beach pathway project puts that belief into action,ensuring that every person in our community can fully experience Madison’s beaches, regardless of ability.
“This is what the Parks for All campaign is all about—working together to make our parks welcoming and enjoyable for all. We couldn’t be more excited to bring this project to our beautiful beaches, and we are deeply grateful to our donors who help make projects like these possible,” said Stephanie
Franklin, Madison Parks Foundation President & Executive Director.
About the Project
The accessible beach pathway project creates a seamless route from beach facilities to the water at three high-traffic Madison beaches, transforming the beach experience for children, adults, and community members of all ages affected by mobility challenges. By combining permanent paved pathways with seasonal beach matting, the project offers a durable, user-friendly hybrid solution that builds on lessons learned from previous temporary matting installations.
Construction is complete, and all three accessible beach pathways are now open for use. Permanent Paved Pathways: Beach Shelter to High Water Mark
Working in partnership with the Madison Parks Division, Madison Parks Foundation funded the installation of cement pathways at all three beach locations. These pathways extend from the redesigned, accessible beach shelters down to the water’s edge, providing:
- Accessible route from parking lot, shelter and restrooms to the water’s edge
- Smooth, stable surfaces that accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and other mobility devices
- Use of concrete pathways eliminates the need for annual installation and removal
- Improved accessibility for beach visits in all seasons
- Improved safety compared to temporary matting on uneven sand
- Improved navigation for people with physical disabilities, visual impairments, and other mobility
challenges
Seasonal Beach Matting: All the Way to the Water
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, specialized beach matting is installed from the high-water mark to the water’s edge at each location, providing continuous accessible surfaces all the way to the shoreline.
A Shared Vision for Accessible Parks
“Madison’s parks belong to everyone, and we strive to make sure every resident can access
and enjoy them. These beach pathways are a meaningful step forward in fulfilling that promise.
We’re grateful to the Madison Parks Foundation and its donors for their partnership in making
this vision a reality—and for investing in infrastructure that will serve our community for years to
come,”said Eric Knepp, Madison Parks Superintendent.
Part of a Larger Commitment: Parks for All
The accessible beach pathway project is one of many initiatives made possible through Madison Parks
Foundation’s Parks for All campaign. This $10 million Trust initiative is designed to sustain and grow
accessibility, programming, and stewardship across all 297 parks in Madison’s award-winning park system— for generations to come.
Recent Parks for All milestones include the universally accessible Frautschi Family Accessible Playground at Warner Park, the Jeff Erlanger Accessible Playground & Sprayground at Rennebohm Park, the Access to Swimming Scholarships program at Goodman Pool, and new accessibility improvements at beaches and parks throughout the city. The accessible beach pathway project continues this momentum, turning the promise of inclusion into permanent, on-the-ground change.
About Madison Parks Foundation
Madison Parks Foundation serves as the official non-profit partner to the City of Madison Parks Division, supporting one of the largest park systems in the country. MPF directs 90 cents of every donated dollar directly to programs and parks—connecting people, parks, and community through philanthropy, programming, and stewardship. Learn more at madisonparksfoundation.org.
