Construction and water flushing updates; Public Information Meetings on the Edgewater, Downtown Plans, and Olbrich Gardens; Lots of events and announcements!

Hello neighbors,

Please be aware of construction updates on Midvale Blvd (starting June 8) and Virginia Terrace (starting in July). City staff will continuously update these project pages, so you may wish to bookmark them!

Water main flushing will begin Monday, May 18 in the area between Franklin Ave. and Spooner St. north of Regent Street.

Updates and Notices

• Spring Yard Waste Pickup is Very Nearly Over: Check the website before putting out yard waste for pickup.  
• Recycling Tip – Black Plastic Plant Pots Go Into the Trash: It's the season to start your garden, so you will start getting plants in those little crinkly black plastic pots from garden centers.
• Madison Bike Week is May 30-June 7: Get ready for the biggest biking celebration in town! The week is all about riding anywhere—to work, to school, to the library—or simply to feel the warm wind blowing through your hair. Check out fun opportunities to connect with fellow bikers and City of Madison staff throughout the week!

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Proposed Changes at The Edgewater: Virtual Meeting of May 18, 2026: The Edgewater, 1001 Wisconsin Avenue, proposes to make changes to their property in a phased plan over the next five to seven years. Phase 1 of the plan includes exterior shade structures and improvements to the sky bar roof deck as well as shade structures added to the first and seventh floor dining terraces, upgrades to restaurants and dining space, and adding a neighborhood grab-and-go market and coffee shop.
• Envision Downtown Madison Open House (Virtual), Monday, May 18: If you missed the Envision Downtown Madison Open House that was held on April 30, 2026, this virtual event is another chance to learn more about some of the Big Moves and the Shared Vision being proposed as part of the City of Madison's Downtown Area Plan and Downtown Madison, Inc.'s Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy.
• Olbrich Gardens Public Workshop (12:00pm – 1:00pm & 6:00pm – 7:00 pm), Wednesday, May 20: Have you heard the news? Olbrich Botanical Gardens is undergoing its first comprehensive master planning process in more than 20 years. In this public workshop we'll Celebrate the Plans as we present the final comprehensive plan framework. There are two different times to join on Wednesday.

Announcements and News Releases

• N Lake Street Closure Starting Monday, May 18: Starting at 7:00am on Monday, May 18th, R.G Huston will be performing sanitary replacement and pavement restoration work on N. Lake Street, between University Avenue and State Street. 
• Food Scraps Recycling Drop-off Returns to South Madison Farmers' Market on Tuesday, May 19, 2026: Free food scraps recycling drop-off returns to the South Madison Farmers' Market for the 2026 season! The first date food scraps will be accepted is Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
• Register Now for City Budget Engagement Sessions: Madison residents are encouraged to attend three Budget Engagement Sessions this June. 
• Draft Safe Routes to School Plan: The City of Madison is developing a Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan in conjunction with the Madison Metropolitan School District and the Wisconsin Bike Fed.
• MPD welcomes its first-ever therapy dog: The Madison Police Department is excited to introduce its newest family member - a Golden Retriever named Frost. He's the department's first-ever therapy dog.
• Madison Public Library's WE READ Summer Reading Program Begins June 1 with a Kick-Off Event in Reindahl Park: Pick up the new WE READ Map, get your WE READ bag, and connect to books, literacy tips, prizes and more this summer at your local library. 
• Parks Division Annual Report: As we all know, the value of parks and open spaces to our community is immeasurable. Research shows that spending just 20 minutes outdoors can significantly reduce stress and improve well-being. In Madison, 98% of residents live within less than a 10-minute walk of a park or open space, making access to nature part of daily life for nearly everyone in our community. Although many visitors to Madison's parks go uncounted, our annual reports offer a meaningful snapshot of the impact these spaces have on our community.
• Take the Recycling Survey: Our recycling survey is still live, and we would love to hear from you. It is very short, so please fill it out and share it amongst your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and so on. 
• Want to learn more about the drivers behind cost-of-living increases? Watch this webinar to learn about the widening “affordability gap" through the lenses of consumer spending, housing policy, and energy costs.

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

• Madison Metropolitan School District Building for the Future – Sessions May 19, 20, and 21: Provide your feedback as MMSD works to revise attendance boundaries for our school district. Regardless of whether you can attend any of the sessions, please share your perspectives via this survey!
• Regent Neighborhood Association Member Meeting, May 19, 7pm: The Regent Neighborhood Association member meeting will be held at the InnTowner from 7-8:30pm, featuring Susan Carpenter, Native Plant Garden Curator and Gardener, UW-Madison.
• Sunset Village Neighborhood Association Meeting, May 20, 6:45pm: The Sunset Village Neighborhood Association will meet at the Mid-town Police Station community room, 4020 Mineral Point Rod. A Zoom link will be shared to the google group in advance of the meeting.
• MPD West District Town Hall, May 20, 6:30pm, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5701 Raymond Rd. Join Madison Police Chief John Patterson and West District officers for this town hall discussion. Additional town halls will be held June 1 at Bayview Foundation, 103 La Mariposa Ln, and June 3 at Northport Apartments, 1740 Northport Drive.
• FOOT Dairyland Cowboys & Cowgirls, Wednesday, May 20: Change of tune!  Looks like we'll have a little more time to enjoy the wonderful dance floor in historic Normal Hall (the building we've incorrectly been calling the Olin Park Pavilion). Madison's Parks Division has delayed its renovations projects for a while, so we now can have a spring FOOT-Loose Dance Series.
• Country Grove Park Ribbon Cutting, Thursday, May 21: Neighbors and friends are invited to join City leaders for a ribbon cutting celebrating the new reservable shelter and futsal court in Country Grove Park. 
• Friends of Hoyt Park Nature Walk, Thursday, May 21, 6:30pm. Join Ranger Andy for a walk among the spring flowers in the park! Meet at the main entrance on Regent St.
• Madison Public Schools Foundation Legacy Circle Celebration, May 21, 5:30pm, West High School: After a decade of service to the Foundation, Melinda Heinritz is retiring as President. Please join this celebration of Melinda and help champion our schools.
• Junction Ridge Farmers' Market (This event occurs on multiple dates) Friday, May 22, 2026: Buy fresh, local products at the JRNA Farmers' Market.
• Vaccine Clinic at Kennedy Elementary School, Saturday, May 23: In partnership with Kennedy Elementary School, Public Health is offering a variety of free vaccines on May 23, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. All vaccines are free for eligible individuals. Children six months and older who lack insurance, are under 19, and are either Alaskan Native or American Indian, as well as those with BadgerCare or most other types of insurance, can receive vaccinations at no cost.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, May 23: Signs of Spring ~ Join Naturalist Mary Binkley for a free fun fascinating family friendly guided walk on beautiful walking trails at Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Edna Taylor Conservation Park. 
• Representative Pocan will be holding a town hall on May 28th at 6pm at the Labor Temple on Park Street. Please bring your questions for our congressional representative!
• Summer Nights at Westmoreland begins May 30: Join your neighbors for a night of music and dining under the stars. Bring a chair!
• Madison Trust for Historic Preservation Walking Tours (multiple dates): Tours run May-September and cover several areas of the city. Learn about Madison's history on one of these fascinating walks!
• Save the date: Public Information Meeting on Data Center Moratorium, June 3, 5:30-7pm. This meeting is being held to provide an update on the authority and tools the City has to regulate data centers, the research being done by City staff, the potential impacts of data centers the City is considering in its analysis, and a timeline for a draft policy proposal. City officials will take questions and seek input from the public after an informational presentation. 
• Save the date: The Frank Lloyd Wright Unitarian Meeting House is turning 75 this year. There will be a series of events June 5-7 at this historic structure. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn more about the history and challenges of this architectural masterpiece.
• Save the date: Free medical clinic in Verona, August 1-2. Free dental, vision, and medical services will be offered. Currently seeking volunteers to help ensure the day runs smoothly.

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include the approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Madison and Dane County regarding the operations of the men's homeless shelter located at 1904 Bartillon Drive. Additionally, the agenda will cover the Office of the Independent Police Monitor Annual Report for 2025, the Police Civilian Oversight Board Annual Report for 2025-2026, and the Chief of Police's 1st Quarter Report and 2025 Annual Report.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Enjoy the weather!

-Regina Vidaver