Attended by an estimated 5,000 people, the Parks & Trails Unite Festival was held June 2, 2018, in both Lake Farm County Park and McDaniel Park. It highlighted the new Lower Yahara River Trail and a mile-long boardwalk bridge that connects the two parks and provides an off-road trail connection between Madison and McFarland that didn’t previously exist. The trail will eventually extend all the way to Stoughton. Dane County parks and trails unite communities by promoting healthy lifestyles through low cost or free recreational and educational opportunities. Dane County has some of the best off road paths and access in the world. These trails help connect our communities and are an important component to our quality of life that attracts many people to move and live here.

A majority of the proceeds from this event benefited the Dane County Parks volunteer program and Friends of Dane County Parks Endowment. A portion of the proceeds donated by event sponsors benefited local nonprofit partners as well as support United Madison in their effort to support a unified, thriving community for everyone.