Currently, Lake Monona’s waterfront is difficult to access because of its proximity to a busy roadway, John Nolen Drive, and due to significant grade change between the city and the water’s edge. Sasaki’s plan for a 17-acre linear park envisions new park space, amenities, and safe passageway for pedestrians and bikes, all while ecologically restoring the lake’s edge for generations to come.
The City of Madison selected Sasaki in an intensive design competition last May because of the plan’s commitment to sustainability, history, and integrating public feedback. Since then, Sasaki conducted extensive community engagement, submitted a master plan report to the city, and solicited feedback on the report from several commissions and committees, including the Transportation Commission, Madison Arts Commission, Urban Design Commission, Plan Commission, and Board of Park Commissioners. Throughout the project, Sasaki actively participated and led community engagements in six large public events, and processed over 8,000 public survey comments.
With Common Council approval, a plan refined by input from thousands of Madisonians has become the official blueprint for the waterfront’s future. “Madison is a beautiful city with a storied history and strong civic tradition,” said Anna Cawrse, Principal at Sasaki. “Our original design drew deeply on the history, and the final plan drew from countless voices who showed up to neighborhood and committee meetings over the past year. This design is by and for the people of Madison.”
Besides serving as a link between neighborhoods, the Causeway will be a destination in its own right, with multiple pockets of benches, vistas, and interactive educational kiosks. The proposed underpass at Lake Lounge also provides safer access to the lake-side trail system for pedestrians and bikers.
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Visitors will be able to explore the restored forest from above via the Canopy Walk, an accessible boardwalk that soars through the tree canopy, or learn about the park’s successional forest at a new interactive nature center. At the overlook above the water’s edge, visitors will also be treated to views of downtown Madison.