Top Playgrounds in Madison, WI for Adults and Teens

Adults have a play problem.

The problem is that many playground structures are not meant for people over the age of 12. Equipment often has low head clearance, slides are meant for small hips, and have climbing elements 6’ or lower from the ground because of fall zone requirements. Equipment is also limited in its use- often within a few minutes a child has used the equipment to its intended purpose and has started climbing the slides and jumping off of things. Playground equipment is fixed, safe, enclosed and scaled for children. What should grown ups do if they want to use equipment for fun or for fitness? What should and older child or teen do if they are seeking challenge and choice in their movement practice?

An obvious solution would be a parkour park (a project I’m currently working on with small group of advocates). Parkour parks provide an environment specifically designed for connections vs fixed purpose. Bars, boxes, ledges and fixtures provide infinite options for combinations and possibilities. Surfaces are scaled at various heights, making it accessible for movers of all ages to use bars and beams.

Since we don’t yet have a parkour park in Madison- where can we play? What spaces are safe and at least tolerant of adults at play?

Grown ups deserve to play on playground equipment, too! Cherokee Heights Middle School Playground in Madison, WI.

Top 10 Playgrounds in the Madison Area for Adults and Teens to train Parkour and Play

Here are a few playgrounds that I have found that work well for adults and teens. These parks are more open-ended in nature, providing fun and interesting connections and challenges.

Cam Rock in Cambridge

Natural wood play structure with balancing elements, low beams for vaulting over, cargo net for climbing. Surrounded by hiking and mountain biking trails.

Striding across logs at Cam Rock Park in Cambridge, WI

McCarthy Park in Cottage Grove

Natural wood structure with soft ground covering. Climbing elements. Slides, vault-able elements.

Morrison Park

A weird anomaly of a park. Bring your creativity and your grip strength.

Thut Park

Also a super weird park. Sort of like bouldering? Climb up the structures, balance across the ropes, jump and vault!

Sennett Middle School

An obstacle course style playground scaled for bigger bodies! Balance, climb, monkey bar, slide to your heart’s content on a structure big enough for someone over 13!

Lincoln Elementary

An incredible collection of climbing structures including a warped wall!

Nakoma Park

Tucked back in the woods, this park has cool climbing structures including monkey bars and a cargo net. A nearby stone stairwell provides a fun challenge for jumps and rolls at height. Traverse stones along the creek bed for some natural balance practice.

UW Madison Campus

Steenbock Library, Van Vleck Hall, Bascom Hill. Campus is the absolute goldmine when it comes parkour spaces. Parallel ledges, juicy rails, scalable walls and stairwells present an urban parkour haven. Check out monthly for our parkour meet ups in Madison.

Cherokee Middle School

Sweeping climbing structures, balance elements, spinning structures. Big hill for rolling, crawling, sliding down. There is also a super cool stairwell area that has rails and blocks for jumping and rolling off of.

Ninja Park at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg

Relocated from it’s spot at Garver Green, This ninja equipment is scaled for bigger bodies and provides some really advance upper body challenges including a tall cargo net, cannonballs and a terrifying campus board.