Orton Park
Orton Park is a public park located at 1100 Spaight Street in Madison, Wisconsin.[2]
| Orton Park | |
|---|---|
 Plaque and sign at the park. | |
| Location | 1100 Spaight St., Madison, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 43°04′51″N 89°21′47″W |
| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Opened | 1887 |
| Etymology | Harlow S. Orton |
Orton Park | |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000091[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1978 |
History
The land was designated as a public cemetery in 1846, the same year Madison was chartered as a village. Madison quickly outgrew the cemetery, and by the 1850s the Common Council was already looking for a larger site. In 1877, the graves located at the site were moved to Forest Hill Cemetery.[3]
The site officially opened as a park in 1887, making it the first public park in Madison. Other proposals for the site included a beer garden and a hospital. It was named after Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Harlow S. Orton. The park has hosted neighborhood events since its creation; these originally included concerts and ice cream socials, and have more recently included a farmer's market and neighborhood festival.[3]
The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1978.[1] It is located within the Orton Park Historic District, which is also listed on the National Register.
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
- "Orton Park". City of Madison. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- Mollenhoff, Leigh H. (March 1, 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Orton Park". National Archives Catalog. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved May 29, 2023.