The Madison LakeWay
Madison LakeWay will encompass 1.7 miles of shoreline and 17 acres of land along Lake Monona. The reimagined waterfront will be a welcoming destination for all Madison residents and visitors. It will connect Downtown and South Madison to Lake Monona, increase lake access, improve Lake Monona’s water quality and aquatic habitat, and celebrate Lake Monona’s cultural history.
Capital Campaign!
Our campaign to raise funds for the first phase of the Madison LakeWay is in full swing!
We are providing tours of Phase One this spring!
Contact Jayme Powers for information on tours and opportunities to give:
Meet the Artists
Join us for an Artist Meet & Greet featuring the artists being considered to create the LakeWay’s first public art installation.
Learn about each artist’s creative approach, see examples of their work, and hear about the ideas and process behind public art.
Register to attend.
Wednesday, June 24
4:30 PM
Parks Building
330 E. Lakeside Street
Register to attend the Meet & Greet
Photo courtesy of City of Madison Engineering
Progress!
There is ongoing construction on John Nolen Drive!
Construction of the LakeWay will immediately follow after completion of this project in 2027!
Before and After!
Join us for a tour of the LakeWay!
You’re invited to learn more about this once-in-a-generation project! Join us for an upcoming small-group tour of phase one and see all that is possible.
Our next tour is Tuesday, June 9 at 2pm.
Or, if you’d like to join us for a tour from the water, register for a boat ride on Saturday, June 13 at either 9am or 10am.
Get Involved
Community Events
June 20, 2026
August 9, 2026
Stay tuned for more 2026 events! Be a part of Madison’s future. You can help support the master plan by participating!
The Painted Turtle
The painted turtle is symbolic of Madison LakeWay District, where land meets water. The painted turtle represents the LakeWay District’s joy, history, people, and animals.
Fossils show painted turtles have been around for at least 15 million years.
Turtles are revered across indigenous cultures in the Midwest. They are so significant to the Ho-Chunk that they built turtle mounds in present-day Madison.
See an in-depth look into the iconography of the Madison LakeWay.
Madison LakeWay Partners
The non-profit organization partnering with the City of Madison in reimagining the Lake Monona waterfront into The Madison LakeWay
