Madison Lake State Park

Madison Lake State Park encompasses a total area of 76 acres of land found within the vast Darby plains of Ohio and about 106 acres of lake water that was created by the impoundment of Darby Creek. The main entrance to the park can be found at 4860 East Park Drive, London, OH, 43140. To arrive at this address, just travel 22 miles west of Columbus which is Ohio’s state capital and right at the heart of the state.

The park came about when in 1946 a small piece of land was given to the state of Ohio for the main purpose of building a lake. The Division of Conservation, (the predecessor of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation), supervised the construction of a dam across Deer Creek. The lake was filled with water in 1947 and both the park and Madison Lake were opened to the public under the management of the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation in 1950.

The topography within and around the park is mainly prairie land with woody plants and Eurasian weeds. The area surrounding the park is also vastly used for agriculture. Wildlife that favors the habitat at the park includes the groundhog, the 13-lined ground squirrel, red fox, ring-necked pheasant, and numerous songbirds. Most of the activities at the park are centered around the lake and mostly include fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating (electric motors only), and sailing. Amenities at the park include game courts, picnic shelters and picnic areas, docks, swimming beach, boat ramp, and hiking trails.

Madison Lake State Park is also open to pets at no extra cost. If you decide to bring your dog to the park, you need to be aware of Ohio’s State park rules especially those that pertain to dogs Some of the rules that you should be aware of include the following. You should ensure that your dog is always on a leash that is no more than six feet long. Also, you should avoid letting your dog wander into park buildings and you should make sure that you clean up after your dog immediately.