Madison LakeWay Partners
Formerly The Friends of Nolen Waterfront, LakeWay Partners is a private 501(c)(3) organization partnering with the City of Madison to leverage philanthropic dollars in order to reimagine the Lake Monona waterfront along John Nolen Drive.
The Partners imagine the waterfront as a welcoming destination for all Madison residents and visitors. A waterfront destination that connects Downtown Madison to Lake Monona, enhances community connections, increases physical and visual access to the lake, improves Lake Monona’s water quality and aquatic habitat, celebrates Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural legacy in Madison, and recognizes Lake Monona’s cultural history.
Milestones
2024: Master Plan is approved by the Madison Common Council on April 16. Friends of Nolen Waterfront becomes Madison LakeWay Partners. Jayme Powers is hired as Madison LakeWay Partners’ first CEO.
2023: The three teams selected to participate in the design challenge present their master plans of the Lake Monona Waterfront. You can see their solutions here. Sasaki is the winning team - unanimously selected by the Ad Hoc Committee and confirmed by the Madison Common Council.
2022: Lake Monona Design Challenge is approved and an ad hoc committee is formed. Friends of Nolen Waterfront supports the challenge by providing 50% of the funding. Three teams are selected to participate in the design challenge.
2019: Parks Division Preliminary Report for the Lake Monona Waterfront corridor.
2018: City approves funding for development of master plan.
2016–2018: An ad hoc committee of community members and Madison-area design professionals meets to support the Lake Monona Waterfront. Friends of Nolen Waterfront, Inc. is officially formed as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
A long time coming, the history of this project is extensive.
Madison is a city of lakes; it's who we are, it's why we're here, and it's our future. By investing in our Lake Monona Waterfront and all of its parks, our community is creating an inclusive and environmentally focused vision to transform how our entire community access our lakes. [This project] is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure Madison's future is our waterfront, a place where our community can gather, connect, and celebrate together.
Jason Ilstrup
President, Downtown Madison, Inc. President
Madison LakeWay Partners Executive Committee At-Large Member