The Friends of Hoyt Park, Inc. (FHP)

...was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1995. The purpose of the FHP is to:

  • support planning with the Madison Parks Division for the continued use of Hoyt Park;
  • assist with the protection and maintenance of Hoyt Park's diverse natural areas, historic structures, and recreational land;
  • raise funds for the benefit of Hoyt Park;
  • link with other organizations and institutions for the benefit of Hoyt Park and for the enjoyment and safety of its users in achieving these purposes.

In 1994, Bill Tishler, a neighbor to Hoyt Park and professor of Landscape Architecture at UW-Madison, commented on the deteriorating conditions of the amazing stone work at Hoyt Park (reported by Madison Newspapers).

In 1995, the Parks Division allocated $75,000 -- $25,000 per year for three years to fund much needed improvements and maintenance of Hoyt Park. Over 120 neighbors attended an initial meeting to discuss improvements.

At this meeting, neighbors learned about the problems facing Hoyt Park, expressed their opinions, and recruited volunteers. A Citizen Advisory Committee worked with the Parks Division staff to create a three-year Hoyt Park Master Plan. Roughly, 180 volunteer hours resulted in a Master Plan that the Park Commission approved.

The Master Plan recommended, and the neighborhood organized, the Friends of Hoyt Park (FHP) group to work on park projects.

Since then, the Parks Division and FHP have accomplished much of what was in the original Master Plan. We revised the Plan in 2006 [Historic Hoyt Park: A Future Plan (pdf 249kb)] to acknowledge our accomplishments of the original Master Plan and update improvement and maintenance areas.

We would love to have you join us to enhance, protect, maintain, and enjoy Hoyt Park. Please send a membership form with your check to:

Friends of Hoyt Park, Inc.
P O Box 5542
Madison WI 53705

Check out what we have accomplished... and volunteer to help us do more...

Elected Board

Tim Astfalk, chair
timastfalk@yahoo.com

Richard Adelman, vice-chair radelman18@gmail.com

Cheri Swenson, secretary caswenso@wisc.edu

Tim Kessenich, treasurer kesset@tds.net

Elise Uphoff
iverson.elise@gmail.com

Vaughan James
rvjames@rvjdesigns.com

Neighborhood Representatives

Chris Stroebel (VanChaMaShe)
christopher.stroebel@stroeblaw.com

Anne Reis (Regent)
ahreis@mailcan.com

Andy Manis (Rocky Bluff)
andy@manisphoto.com

vacant (Sunset Hills)

Anne Badey Raffa (Sunset Village) dancinthrulife14@gmail.com

City of Madison

Parks Division
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Suite 104
Madison, WI 53703

Phone: (608) 266-4711
Fax: (608) 267-1162

Email: Parks

Office Hours
Monday - Friday 8am - 4pm

Mailing Address
City of Madison Parks Division
PO Box 2987
Madison, WI 53701

Personnel and phone numbers

Eric Knepp, Parks Superintendent, 266-4711

Charlie Romines, Assistant Superintendent, 267-8804

Laura Bauer, West Parks Supervisor, 288-6164

Alderperson of the 11th District

Arvina Martin
district11@cityofmadison.com

Alderperson of the 5th District

Shiva Bidar-Sielaff
district5@cityofmadison.com