• Badger Prairie County Park, just northeast of the city at County Highway PB and US Highway 18/151, is home to a three-acre pet exercise area, a field for remote-controlled airplanes, mountain bike and hiking trails, a shelter, and a playground area.  It srves as the center of the Ice Age Trail Junction Area and has access to the Military Ridge State Trail and a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.  >>map
  
  
• Prairie Moraine County Park, southeast of the city can be accessed by taking US Highway 18/151 to County Highway PB.  The 160-acre park is ideal for viewing the moraine and provides an excellent area for interpretation of Wisconsin's glacial history.  Dog owners and other visitors will enjoy the park's oak savanna.  For more information, call the Dane County Parks 24 Hour Info Line at 608-242-4576.  >>map
  
• Eagles Nest Ice Arena
  Eagles Nest Ice Arena is one of the few Olympic-sized ice skating rinks in the state and is home to the Southwest Eagles Youth Hockey Association and the Verona Wildcat High School hockey team. Both of these programs are recognized as Wisconsin's best in development and have had skaters go on to play for college teams, Junior Teams and even the NHL.The facility's manager is Peter Johnson, a past player for UW - Madison and brother to Mark, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal "Miracle" team. The facility also plays host to the Dane County Learn to Skate program, public skating, birthday parties, hockey leagues and tournaments, hockey and figure skating camps, weekly Senior Skate, and All Day Skates on non-school days. >>map
  
  

Fireman’s Park Beach
Kids and adults alike enjoy the sun, sand, fishing, diving board and playground equipment at the 15-acre Fireman's Park Beach. The blue, winding water slide has been a hit since its installation in 2002. Tots have their own mini slide. The beach, staffed with certified lifeguards, has picnic tables, a beach house and concessions. Season passes are available to both Verona residents and non-residents. The 6th annual Bash at the Beach, complete with games, free food, prizes, music and a gigantic inflatable will be August 3 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.   >>map

The Goodman Aquatic Center, which opened in 2002, is a 5,000 square foot outdoor pool. The zero-depth-entry pool is set amidst a lush, green background and has six 25-meter lanes and several water-play features.  Through an interagency agreement, the Goodman Aquatic Center (located on County Highway PD) is managed and staffed by Madison School and Community Recreation, which offers classes and open swim to the public at certain times during the week and on weekends during the summer. The pool is part of The Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Jewish Community Campus, a 154-acre multipurpose year-round recreational and rental facility. The campus is the summer home of Camp Shalom (the oldest day camp in Dane County), more than 3 miles of biking and hiking trails, a pond, a one-room schoolhouse, a barn and farmhouse built in the 1880s and more.  >>map

Hometown U.S.A. Community Park
Hometown U.S.A. Community Park at the corner of Lincoln Street and E. Verona Avenue is the city’s largest park with nearly 40 acres. The park houses a skateboard ramp, a baseball diamond, two softball diamonds, playground equipment, and a shelter. >>map

Hometown U.S.A. Days

Hometown U.S.A. Days is a grand celebration in Verona every year. Fairgoers can play games, listen to music, enjoy the carnival and relax with food and cold beer. The event also features a parade down Main Street, a dog jog, a craft fair, a pancake breakfast, a tractor, truck, and lawn mower pull and more. Local groups, including the Optimist Club of Verona, the Lions Club of Verona, the Rotary Club of Fitchburg-Verona, American Legion/Auxiliary, many youth groups, Verona Community Betterment, and other organizations help make the event happen each year.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Not many cities can boast about having national trail but Verona can. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is one of only eight national scenic trails in the United States. Primarily for foot journey, it showcases Wisconsin's world-renowned glacial features. The Verona Segment of the trail is a six and one-half mile section that stretches from a parking lot off County Highway PD (three-fourths of a mile east of County Highway M) to the Prairie Moraine Dane County Park parking lot on County Highway PB (three-fourths of a mile south of County Highway M). This segment of the route travels through farm fields, woods and prairies, along Badger Mill Creek, past glacial kettle ponds, and takes hikers through Badger Prairie County Park with acres of prairie flowers and grasses. The Ice Age Trail, totally contained in Wisconsin, is intended for such low-impact activities as walking, backpacking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.  It follows a serpentine course because the route approximates the last stopping point or terminal edge of the most recent continental glaciers, which ended their last major surge 14,000 to 16,000 years ago.

Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon

One of the best spots to get caught up in the excitement of the cycle portion of the Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon is in Verona, along with masses of other fans lining Main Street.  Every year, the community supports the athletes with a jovial celebration, known as "The Verona Loop." The Ironman Triathlon is one of the most grueling events in the world. Competitors swim 2.4 miles, bicycle 112 miles and complete a 26.2-mile marathon. They have 17 hours to complete the event, but they get plenty of encouragement as they pedal along Main Street in Verona.

Military Ridge State Trail
Verona is fortunate to have a portion of the 40-mile Military Ridge State Trail run right through its downtown. The packed limestone trail is open for hiking, cycling, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and motorized wheelchairs. On summer Sunday mornings, it is common to see people pedaling from Verona to the unincorporated community of Riley for a pancake breakfast. The trail, in Iowa and Dane Counties, connects Dodgeville and Fitchburg. Most of it follows the former Chicago and North Western Railway line. Bicyclists at least 16 years old must have a Wisconsin State Trail pass or a daily pass to use the trail. 

Reddan Soccer Park

Reddan Soccer Park, north of Badger Prairie County Park, is Wisconsin’s largest soccer-specific facility, operated by the Madison Area Youth Soccer Association. Its 15 field, 40-acre parcel plays host to league play, camps, coaches’ clinics, State Olympic Development programs, training by local colleges, State Cup, and Midwest Regional League play. Each year, it plays host to about a dozen tournaments, attracting about 1,200 teams and 20,000 players. >>map

University Ridge

The University of Wisconsin Golf Course, University Ridge, is a par-72, 18-hole course that received a 4-1/2 star rating in “Places to Play,” Golf Digest 2003. The 225-acre tract offers a spectacular view of the rolling terrain, with deep-set woods, hills, sprawling meadows, and a natural pond and prairie. University Ridge features a 15,000 square-foot practice green and adjoining chipping green with a sand bunker. There are also two 9,000 square foot practice tees. >>map

Verona Area Community Theater

VACT has a motto, "Our number one priority is to have fun!" And fun they have when local performers star in the group's three productions each year. For a current list of shows, go to www.vact.org. All shows are at the Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center. VACT has a new rehearsal space and set, prop and costume storage home at 405 Bruce Street thanks to hundreds of hours of volunteer time and local contributions topping $100,000. >>map

Verona Area Natatorium

The Verona Area Natatorium on Main Street strives to provide the Verona Area School District community with a wide range of equitable, safe, educational, and fun aquatic activities and programs. Those as young as 6 months old can take swim classes. Some of the natatorium’s other offerings include private party rentals, senior water exercise, open swim, adult lap swim and family swim. 

The most famous swimmer to take lessons at the natatorium, and perfect his strokes with Verona Aquatic Club and the Verona Area High School Team is Olympian Neil Walker, a native of Verona, who isa two-time Olympian, earning four medals, a gold and silver in Sydney 2000, and a gold and bronze in Athens 2004. >>map

Verona Area Performing Arts Series

The slogan for VAPAS is "Bringing National Entertainment to Hometown U.S.A." Since 1998 it has brought cultural and performing programs in music, dance and drama to the community with four shows annually, performed at the Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center. The non-profit organization helps people enjoy national artists at affordable prices. For a current list of shows, go to www.VAPAS.org.  >>map

Verona Farmer's Market

People attending the Verona Farmer's Market will find fresh homegrown fruits and vegetables, cooking demonstrations, flowers, plants, chicken, beef, ostrich and more. The market is held every Thursday from 3 p.m. to about 7 p.m. at the Verona Area High School parking lot. The 2005 market runs Thursday, June 9 to October 20. Those interested in selling at the market should call the Chamber office at 845-5777.