[2] 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.

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.