Lake Monona Waterfront

Madison is offering a series of public events on the Lake Monona waterfront design challenge, including a “kick off” to engage with three nationally renowned finalists, a later check-in on progress, and then presentations on proposed master plans.

A special Madison committee has picked “a very strong field” of three finalists who have designed public spaces around the globe to move forward in a design competition to reshape the Lake Monona waterfront between Olin Park and Williamson Street.

The city’s special 13-member ad hoc committee chose Agency Landscape + Planning of Cambridge, Massachusetts; James Corner Field Operations of New York; and Sasaki of Denver from among 14 heavyweight firms that responded to a request for qualifications to shape a master plan to better connect Capitol Square and neighborhoods to the lake, improve water quality and aquatic habitat, celebrate Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural legacy and preserve the lake’s cultural history.

To the delight of city officials, an array of firms that have designed some of the most celebrated public spaces in the world have joined a competition to reimagine the popular but uninspired Lake Monona waterfront between Williamson Street and Olin Park.

Madison is moving to spend $3.9 million to transform a two-story building and property on Lake Monona next to Olin Park into a community amenity with Parks Division offices, recreational programming, meeting rooms and more public restrooms for park users.

In February 2019, seizing a rare opportunity, the city spent $5.5 million to buy the 3.65-acre shoreline property at 330 and 342 E. Lakeside St. from the Wisconsin Medical Society. The acquisition included nearly 450 feet of shoreline for public access to the lake and included the two-story, 43,000-square-foot office building and a parking lot.