Friends of Hoyt Park, Inc.

Friends of Hoyt Park, Inc. The Friends of Hoyt Park (FHP) was established in 1995 to support the Madison Parks Division in the protection and maintenance of Hoyt Park.

Quiet, and slightly removed from the congested thoroughfare of Madison traffic, Hoyt Park located at 3902 Regent St. is an ideal location for either a substantial, social gathering or a peaceful stroll through forest and prairie habitat. Truly, there is something for everyone to value. The naturalist will enjoy the lush mix of young, and old growth vegetation that is laced by a network of paved an

d unpaved hiking trails. The sports enthusiast will find a full-sized basketball court, a softball field, and a grassy, clearing suitable for soccer, football, or Frisbee. In addition, the two highly, hospitable shelters will appease the socialites and the play equipment will occupy the children. While at the same time, the past comes alive thanks in large part to not only the many restored historic fireplaces (twelve precisely) scattered like ancient treasure throughout, but also the restored prairie, rock and tree formations which envelop the park. These are, perhaps, a few reasons why Madison natives make a point of returning to Hoyt Park, again and again. The origins of present-day Hoyt Park can be traced to 1890 when the City acquired property rights to twenty-four acres of stone quarry which in time grew to its current thirty-one acres through donation and purchase. By 1933, operations at the stone quarry had ceased and the land had officially become a city park when it was named Hoyt Park in honor of Frank W. Hoyt also known as "The Grand Old Man." Between 1894 and 1934, Mr. Hoyt acted as a leader in the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, a volunteer-based group which predated the Board of Park Commissioners assembled in 1937 and was integral in opening, and maintaining recreational places in the Madison area. Major efforts to develop Hoyt Park began during the Great Depression with funds provided by Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Many unemployed workers were hired by programs such as Works Progress Administration and Civil Works Administration to improve various aspects of Hoyt Park. Significant among these laborers were the Italian masons from the local Greenbush neighborhood who were responsible for constructing stone fireplaces and tables using materials from the Park's quarry. Though money for the building projects had been exhausted, the Italian masons continued to work without pay in order to complete what they had started. However, subsequent time, vandalism, and harsh winter cycles caused the Depression-era artifacts to deteriorate. In response to citizen concern for the dire situation, the Friends of Hoyt Park was founded in 1995. This volunteer group is committed to restoring and preserving cultural features of the park's past. In the years to follow, with financial contributions of both the City and the Friends of Hoyt Park, the twelve stone fireplaces were meticulously restored to their previous condition. The park was designated a City of Madison Landmark on October 2, 1995.

Visit your neighborhood library to pick up your free children's tickets to Olbrich Botanical Gardens Blooming Butterflie...
06/23/2026

Visit your neighborhood library to pick up your free children's tickets to Olbrich Botanical Gardens Blooming Butterflies.

The Friends of Hoyt Park have been working with Madison Parks to restore Hoyt's oak woodland and savanna areas. This inv...
06/22/2026

The Friends of Hoyt Park have been working with Madison Parks to restore Hoyt's oak woodland and savanna areas. This involves a lot of volunteer hours. Our June volunteer workday involved planting native plant plugs in a newly cleared area SW of the Overlook. The best part is that these native plants came from the seeds!! that we sowed at our January Wintersowing Workshop. Win-win!!

Bring the family to learn about the little lake in our own backyard. Thursdays evenings from 5-6pm.
06/20/2026

Bring the family to learn about the little lake in our own backyard. Thursdays evenings from 5-6pm.

Science Thursday is back at Wingra Boats! Bring the whole family and learn about Lake Wingra. Friends of Lake Wingra will be presenting on July 16.

We are seeing fireflies out in the park. Consider controlling your outdoor lighting to help these delightful creatures f...
06/18/2026

We are seeing fireflies out in the park. Consider controlling your outdoor lighting to help these delightful creatures find a mate.

We’re seeing fireflies at Cherokee Marsh. Help them thrive everywhere.

The Ready prairie at Hoyt Park has many stands of penstemon blooming right now. Take a walk in the park. Don’t forget t...
06/17/2026

The Ready prairie at Hoyt Park has many stands of penstemon blooming right now. Take a walk in the park. Don’t forget to join FoHP this THURSDAY for a guided walk to learn about the many varieties of fern growing in the park.

If you have been uptown lately you may have been wondering what this was all about. Now you know. Madison Parks certainl...
06/13/2026

If you have been uptown lately you may have been wondering what this was all about. Now you know. Madison Parks certainly gets around!

The summer festival season’s in full swing. Get out and enjoy.
06/11/2026

The summer festival season’s in full swing. Get out and enjoy.

Fest food is the best food.

Safety Saturday on the Capital square. 8-1 East Washington Ave.
06/11/2026

Safety Saturday on the Capital square. 8-1 East Washington Ave.

Stop by and say hi to our park rangers at Safety Saturday from 8:00am to 1:00pm on June 13 at the Capitol Square.

cityofmadison.com/fire/your-safety/families/safety-saturday

UW-Madison Arboretum and Susan Carpenter are holding an evening garden walk Next Wednesday June 17th. Join Susan in this...
06/10/2026

UW-Madison Arboretum and Susan Carpenter are holding an evening garden walk Next Wednesday June 17th. Join Susan in this event; free and open to the public.

Join us at the Arboretum on Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m. for a Woodland, Savanna, and Prairie Gardens Tour led by Susan Carpenter. This free tour provides an overview of the Wisconsin Native Plant Garden and is a wonderful way to grow your plant knowledge! Meet at the Visitor Center, no registration required.

Check out all our upcoming public events: arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/events/

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Madison, WI
53705

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