Elvehjem Park All-Wheel Spot
Updates, History, and FAQ

  • By: ENA and Madison Skatepark Fund

    🧱 Today we’re launching the Elvehjem Park All-Wheel Spot fundraising brick campaign. Purchase an engraved brick to leave your mark on the park permanently.

    Brick campaign runs April 11 through June 30. 4×8" brick: $85 (first 50 donors) / $90 after. 8×8" cornerstone brick: $250. Order at donationbricks.com/lvmwheels

    Funds raised will cover remaining material needs and new bike-friendly features being added to the design. The Madison Skatepark Fund, an all-volunteer crew, is overseeing construction under City of Madison Parks approval. Timelines have shifted at points due to weather and the realities of volunteer-driven work, but momentum is strong.

    In addition to the all-wheel spot itself, the ENA was awarded a $2,500 placemaking grant to add a picnic table and bike rack area near the spot. We're aiming to have those in place before the official opening.

    Target opening: Fall 2026. General fund donations also accepted at sarisfoundation.rallyup.com/lvm.

  • By: MSF Spokesdude Patrick Hasburgh

    Work on the All-Wheel Spot is still in progress. Fundraising efforts continue, and the project team is preparing to resume construction this spring as soon as weather conditions allow.

    We’re exploring the possibility of opening parts of the park this spring, but this is still uncertain and will require discussions with the City. We’ll provide updates as soon as we know more.

    Thank you for your patience and support! We’re hopeful for an early start to work this year and appreciate the community’s enthusiasm.

  • By: MSF Spokesdude Patrick Hasburgh

    We have been working at LVM! I think we were able to sneak in 5 pours this fall including our final and largest pour of the season on November 16th. Here are some pictures of the crew working.

    The area will remain closed until spring and we will talk to the City to see if we can open portions of what's there. The plan is to be back there building next summer as conditions allow. 

  • By: MSF Spokesdude Patrick Hasburgh

    Sorry for the lack of updates - it has been sitting for a while now. Of course you know rain hindered progress through July. Then we sort of had a perfect storm of some of our key members off on vacation for most of August. Another of our key builders joined a crew re-building The Turf Skatepark in Milwaukee where he has been working very hard to stay on schedule. The good news is folks have been working at LVM the last 3 weekends so some progress is finally being made. I'm also pretty sure most of our folks are done with vacations and the cooler weather should make for more pleasant working conditions. I know many members of the building crew are excited to get back at it.

  • By: MSF Spokesdude Patrick Hasburgh

    The wet spring/summer has prevented us from being able to do much down at the site but the City recently dropped off some fill and the plan is to get in there as soon as possible. This next week looks drier so hopefully soon!

  • By: MSF Spokesdude Patrick Hasburgh

    With it being "winter", we still aren't building right now, and I've been focused on fundraising for phase two of the project... which we plan on finishing this year and for $15-$20k.

    As far as design planning goes, we don't have anything on paper but we'll be adding on to what we built last summer and hopefully will be finished by this fall! It's going to be a very cool space!

    We have to wait for the ground to dry out before we can get any meaningful work accomplished back there but we're hopeful we can start work soon!

  • By: MSF Spokesdude Patrick Hasburgh

    We had a great fall of building down at LVM! See pictures from our last workday for current status. We may get another pour in if the weather permits, but the plan for the winter is to focus on fundraising and planning for next year when we hope to finish our work over there. The space will remain closed until the City approves the space for use. "Finish" is sort of a loose term when it comes to DIY projects because there will likely be small additions or changes we may make as time goes on but for the most part, we hope to have things buttoned up over there next year.

  • By: MSF Spokesdude Patrick Hasburgh

    We had our first pour at the LVM All-Wheel DIY on Friday and everything went very smooth! We had a concrete truck come in and about 20 volunteers (including several currently working on the new McFarland skatepark) that did a wonderful job. We spoke with several neighbors who were curious about what was going on and heard nothing but positive encouragement for the project! The area is closed off until the concrete dries (see photo).

    Now that things are rolling I'm sure we'll be down there many more times until the snow flies!

    Let me know if you have any questions or concerns! -Patrick

  • We recently received an email from Madison Skate Fund (MSF) Spokesperson Patrick Hasburgh informing us that the Elvehjem Park All-Wheel Spot is a GO for 2023!

    After delays in 2022 sidelined the project, MSF got approval from Parks to build a revised design (render pictured).

    They also received donations of large metal benches from East High School (as a part of their reconstruction) that will be incorporated into the build.

    As far as a build timeline, MSF is ambitiously targeting end-of-summer this year but weather will be the ultimate determinant.

    🚨 Volunteers needed for the build! If interested, Email: madisonskateparkfund@gmail.com
    💰 Donations can be made HERE (or here if tax deductible is desired)

Update 6/30: $2,715 raised across 22 bricks.
Help us get to $10,000 by July 7!

History

In June 2021, the Board of Park Commissioners unanimously approved an MOU to build an All-Wheel Spot on the site of Elvehjem Park's deteriorating tennis courts, which the City had declined to repair again due to poor ground conditions.

The project is privately funded, volunteer-built, and designed to bring new active space to the neighborhood for skaters, bikers, and riders of all ages.

  • 🧱 Purchase an engraved brick at donationbricks.com/lvmwheels (campaign runs through May 31, 2026). To volunteer on build days, or with any other questions, email madisonskateparkfund@gmail.com

  • Construction is funded through donations and grants raised by the Madison Skatepark Fund and community partners. No cost to the City or taxpayers. The final brick campaign fundraiser runs through May 31, 2026 and is matched dollar-for-dollar by Bike Parks for Kids Foundation, up to $10,000.

  • The trees provide shade, which is actually a plus. Debris will require occasional maintenance. The project will have an assigned park steward from the neighborhood to help keep the space clean.

  • The Madison Skatepark Fund is pouring rebar-reinforced concrete on top of the weak blacktop. This will create a durable, crack-resistant surface for many years to come.

  • The closest home is roughly 300 feet away, down a hill and through trees. Based on City of Portland noise studies, skateparks are roughly as loud as a playground. Specific trick sounds range from 54 to 71 decibels at close range.

FAQ