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Tenney Park, located at 1601 Sherman Ave. in Madison, provides a well-developed launch facility for accessing Lake Mendota. The site features modern, paved boat landing areas suitable for kayaks, canoes, and motorized vessels, plus fish cleaning stations. This is a particularly valuable access point given its connection to the Tenney Lock and Dam, which allows boat passage between Lakes Mendota and Monona through a dredged channel—making it a gateway for exploring both water bodies.
**Important permit requirement:** A Lake Access Permit is required year-round to park at this site. When the launch parking lot reaches capacity, you must use an alternative access site; parking on grass is prohibited. Regular parking stalls accommodate vehicles without trailers only. With approximately 10,000 boats passing through the lock and dam annually, this is a popular and well-maintained facility worth planning ahead for during peak paddling season.