Sustainability

Rooftop solar panels

Sustainability

We aim to make Madison a self-reliant, peaceful community that relies on renewable, local resources and is able to adapt to changing environmental, social and economic conditions over time. Our city will be a beautiful place where life thrives in harmony with the environment.

Projects & Initiatives

Central Park

The concept of a large urban park located along the East Isthmus rail corridor originated with local neighborhood groups interested in revitalizing an area of post-industrial brownfields. Discussions for a park on this site began in the early 1970s. The Urban Open Space Foundation (UOSF) championed this idea for several years, developing a plan for a grand 25-acre Central Park. Despite public enthusiasm following an extensive public process and some success at fundraising, progress eventually stalled on the project.

In 2007, the Common Council established the Central Park Design and Implementation Task Force to determine the need for and feasibility of such a park and to chart a path forward. Over a period of five years, the Task Force held forty open meetings, including six large and well-attended public meetings. The master plan was approved in 2010. Subsequently, with the opportunity for the City to purchase the Research Products property located at 204-210 S. Ingersoll Street, the master plan was amended in 2011 to expand the park and include the newly acquired lands.

Madison Sustainability Plan: Fostering Environmental, Economic and Social Resilience

Parks & Open Space Plan

The 2012-2017 Park and Open Space Plan was adopted by the City of Madison Common Council on May 15, 2012. The purpose of the Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) is to serve as a long range planning guide for decisions made by City Boards and Commissions, City agencies and staff. It is a tool used to guide decisions for a variety of Park and Open Space issues such as city policies, park acquisitions, facility development, as well as park funding. The POSP is also a necessary component to be eligible for Federal and State grants.

This plan is the culmination of an intensive planning and public input process which began in November of 2010 and has been guided by the Long Range Planning Subcommittee of the Park Commission, the advisory committee to this plan. This plan embarked on a public input process, unique to prior Park and Open Space Plans and included three public input meetings, public City committee meetings and solicitation of formal public input through public surveys which received over 1,500 responses. These planning and public input gathering efforts have provided an extensive inventory and analysis of the existing and future City of Madison park system.

Water Utility

Water Utility continues to implement its long-term plan to replace aging water mains and wells throughout the City, to ensure safe and acceptable water, and respond to expanded demands due to growth and development.