What is the extent of the waterfront project?

The Lake Monona Waterfront planning area includes 1.7 miles of lakeshore and 17 acres of public land spanning from Law Park over the John Nolen Causeway to Olin Park.

What is a Master Plan?

A master plan is a long‐term planning document that informs the direction of future capital improvement projects. Master plans are conceptual diagrams (not construction plans) that are implemented in phases, with each phase involving further design development and public engagement before construction. With the scope of the Madison LakeWay planning area and the scale of the potential improvements, implementation will likely be measured in decades for the planning initiative.

What is the difference between a Master Plan and an Implementation Plan?

A park master plan is a conceptual design that shows a plan of possible uses by parkgoers. An implementation plan is a more detailed design that shows a plan of actual feasible uses along with detailed drawings and costs.

Why wasn’t all of Olin Park included in the planning scope?

Including all of Olin Park in the planning scope adds approximately 37 acres of parkland to the project. Given the timing of the John Nolen Drive reconstruction and the goal to have a Council‐adopted master plan by 2024, City of Madison Parks determined that increasing the planning acreage by this magnitude wasn't feasible.

Why is this happening now?

The vision for a signature park along the shore of Lake Monona has been in the works for a long time (history). The most recent iteration developed by the Madison Design Professionals sparked interest in the project. The City of Madison commissioned a preliminary report as the first phase of the planning initiative. Spurring the timeframe, in 2019, City Engineering determined John Nolen Drive requires reconstruction from North Shore Drive to Olin Avenue. The anticipated construction timeframe for the roadway project is 2026 to 2027. The master plan initiative is an opportunity for Madison to develop a holistic vision for the Lake Monona shore and ensure the reconstruction of John Nolen Drive doesn’t prohibit future waterfront goals. Creating a master plan for the area adjacent to John Nolen Drive provides a cohesive land and transportation planning approach for this valued public lakeshore.

Has the master plan been approved?

The master plan was approved by the City of Madison Common Council on April 16, 2024.

When will construction start and who is paying for it?

The master plan is an overall concept to guide future improvements to the lakeshore, there isn't immediate funding for construction. Implementing the plan's recommendations will likely be phased over decades as construction projects are brought forward when funding resources become available. The scale and scope of the potential improvements will require the City to pursue Federal, State, and local private funding support.

As an initial pilot project, the Parks Division's current Capital Improvement Plan includes a $2.5M request for causeway improvements in 2026. The request aligns with the John Nolen Drive reconstruction project managed by City Engineering.

Will the project scope be integrated with proposed changes to the Monona Terrace and when is that expansion scheduled?

Although two master plan submissions propose changes to the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, the facility is not within the planning scope. Consideration of any proposed improvements to the facility are the purview of the Common Council upon recommendation of the Monona Terrace Board. There are no immediate plans for expanding the Terrace or implementing design team recommendations.

Why is the Lake Monona Waterfront master plan process separate from the John Nolen Drive reconstruction?

The projects involve differing scales of planning. The master plan initiative will create a conceptual plan to guide future waterfront development in the coming decades. The focus of the John Nolen Drive project is the reconstruction of the roadway and bridges in 2026. The two efforts are coordinated and continue to inform each other, but with two distinct outcomes: one is conceptual, and the other is construction‐ready.

How are people of color being given a voice in the process?

The Parks Division is working with a consultant team focused on engaging with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color representatives in Madison. Their outreach work will continue through the public review and comment phase. The selection process for the Ad Hoc Committee focused on ensuring a wide variety of voices were involved in the project. The confirmed appointments bring broad community representation with diverse perspectives to the plan development process.  The Madison LakeWay Partners have participated in the annual Unity Picnic in South Madison and will continue future outreach to Madison’s minority communities.

Can the City fill the lake to make more parkland?

Lake Monona is a public waterway subject to State regulations and Public Trust Doctrine statutes. In 2016, with the FEMA map update, all of Lake Monona was zoned as flood storage. With this designation, any amount of lakebed filled requires a corresponding amount of removal (no net decrease in capacity). Any proposed lakebed fill will need to meet significant regulatory requirements.

Will the project be phased? 

The project will be phased.  The initial phase of the project will encompass John Nolen Drive from the south side of the causeway up to Broom Street. Subsequent phasing is dependent upon funding.

What is the overall cost of the project?

The preliminary cost estimate for the first phase of the project is between $12 and $16 million.

How will the project be funded?

The project will be funded from a combination of private philanthropic gifts and government sources including TIF funding.

What is a TIF?

TIF stands for tax increment financing. A TIF is a proven and frequently used city and county financing tool that captures the future value of appreciating property to pay for the current development costs of a significant civic initiative, like the waterfront project that benefits the community broadly. The TIF will set aside new taxes from both new and current businesses and residents in a designated district. This TIF district comprises the area adjacent to and surrounding the new park whose residents would benefit most from park and PAC development. A TIF for the park will not increase anyone’s taxes in the TIF district, city or county; rather, it is designed to collect the normal appreciation, if any, in commercial and residential real estate taxes within the TIF district and sets this incremental difference aside to be invested, distributed, or used to underwrite other financing, like a city bond, for the park.

How will the project/park be coordinated and managed?

The governance structure for the development and management of the park is being developed and it is anticipated that it will be through a partnership between the Madison LakeWay Partners, a not-for-profit organization, and the City of Madison.

How much of the $15M federal grant the city was awarded for the John Nolen Drive be used for the Phase One?

The additional federal grant money is allocated to transportation funding and will be dedicated to the development of the causeway roadway and bridgework.  The causeway project will be extended from the original endpoint at Northshore Drive to Broom Street.

How will the double lanes on the causeway be moved to allow more pedestrian access and recreation as shown in Sasaki’s proposal?

The City of Madison Parks Division, along with Sasaki, has worked closely with City of Madison Engineering to design the roadway so that it is located as closely to the bay side of the causeway as possible while maintaining two lanes each way.

How will the condo owners on Wilson Street be impacted, i.e. views?

The master plan will enhance the property values of the condominiums on Wilson Street, as well as the other condo buildings in the vicinity.  Condo owners will have direct access to the lake with amenities such as a cafe and an amphitheater.  Sasaki has been working with the City Parks and the Ad Hoc Committee to ensure that property owners’ concerns are addressed.

Will bicycles have safer access to the lake path?

The master plan is addressing safe access for pedestrians and bicyclists to the park via several means at numerous points.  An underpass between North Shore Drive and Broom Street is being incorporated in the first phase of the project.

How can I support the project?

You can contact a Madison LakeWay Partners Board Member or feel free to give directly here.