🌻 Week of August 24, 2026

Dear Neighbors,

I hope everyone is enjoying the final weeks of summer. As August begins to wind down, our community continues to show what makes Madison such a special place, neighbors coming together, supporting one another, enjoying our parks, and creating memories together.

Last weekend was another great reminder of the importance of neighborhood connections. From block parties to community gatherings and local events, there are many opportunities to get outside, meet a neighbor, and enjoy the remaining days of summer before school and fall schedules take over.

🏡 Celebrating Our Neighborhoods: Toribrooke Lane & Ice Age Trail Block Parties

One of the best parts of summer in Madison is seeing neighbors come together.

I was grateful for the opportunity to join the Toribrooke Lane Block Party recently. Thank you to the residents who organized the event and to everyone who came out to enjoy an afternoon and evening together. These neighborhood gatherings are more than just a chance to have fun, they help us build relationships, get to know the people who live around us, and strengthen the sense of community in our neighborhoods.

I also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with residents at the Ice Age Trail neighborhood block party. Our District 7 community is fortunate to have beautiful parks, trails, and green spaces right in our neighborhoods. The Ice Age Trail area is a wonderful example of how our natural surroundings can also serve as places where neighbors connect.

Block parties may seem like small events, but they have a big impact. A conversation over food, children playing together, or simply meeting someone who lives a few houses away can help create the relationships that make a neighborhood stronger.

Thank you to all the residents who take the time to organize these gatherings. Your efforts make a difference.

Image credit: Badri Lankella

⚾ Bodega at Breese — A New Community Gathering Place

It was nice so many of you at the Breese last week.

Bodega at Breese provides another opportunity to enjoy local food, connect with neighbors, and support our local businesses. I was pleased to represent the Common Council at the opening and to see the excitement around this new community destination.

Events like Bodega at Breese are a reminder that community building happens in many different places at neighborhood parks and block parties, but also at local businesses, public spaces, restaurants, and community events.

I encourage District 7 residents to explore these new destinations, support local businesses, and continue finding ways to connect with one another.

🧹 Brush Collection Season Is Ending Soon

A reminder that the 2026 brush collection season is coming to an end soon.

Every Madison neighborhood has at least one remaining scheduled brush collection opportunity this year. Once your neighborhood's final collection date has passed, scheduled curbside brush pickup will not resume until 2027.

Please check the City's brush collection schedule for your address and make sure your brush is set out according to the City's guidelines.

If you miss your final collection date, the City's brush drop-off sites remain available year-round.

🍂 Fall Leaf & Yard Waste Schedule Is Available

It may still feel like summer, but fall is right around the corner.

The City's 2026 fall leaf and yard waste collection schedule is now available. Each neighborhood has three assigned set-out dates beginning in October.

I encourage residents to check their dates ahead of time so you know when to place leaves and yard waste at the curb. Planning ahead will help keep our neighborhoods clean and make the collection process easier for everyone.

🚚 August Student Move-Out

As the August student move-out period continues, I want to ask everyone to be patient and considerate as students move through our neighborhoods.

The City has information available about the student move-out timeframe, area map, and clean-out requirements.

Whether you are a long-time resident, a student moving into a new home, or a neighbor helping someone move, a little patience and communication can go a long way toward keeping our neighborhoods welcoming and clean.

🚧 Construction & Transportation Updates

Residents should also be aware of several ongoing transportation and construction activities around Madison.

Fish Hatchery Road: Lane closures are underway as construction begins on the Cannonball Path extension project. Please allow additional travel time and use caution around construction zones.

Virginia Terrace: Virginia Terrace between Regent Street and Rowley Avenue remains closed for underground utility work associated with the Virginia Terrace, Norwood Place, Rugby Row and Hillington Way construction project.

Please slow down, follow posted signs, and give construction crews plenty of space to work safely.

🏛️ Meetings & City Government

There are many opportunities this week to stay engaged with City government.

As always, the City's online Meeting Schedule is the best place to find the complete list of Common Council, board, commission, and committee meetings, including agendas, public-comment information, and opportunities to watch meetings online.

I encourage residents to participate when an issue before the City affects you or your neighborhood. Public participation is an important part of local government, and your perspective helps us make better-informed decisions.

If you are interested in serving on a City board, commission, or committee, I also encourage you to consider applying. Madison benefits when residents from different backgrounds and neighborhoods bring their experiences to the decision-making process.

• Urban Design Commission: The Urban Design Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 19, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include informational presentations on mixed-use buildings in District 14 and District 19.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Commission Meeting
  • Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 a.m.
  • Location: Maintenance Facility Training Room, 1610 Moorland Rd, Madison
  • Hybrid attendance options are available for the public.
  • Agenda materials and meeting details are available through the MMSD Commission meetings webpage:
    MMSD Commission Meeting Agenda & Information

🌳 Enjoy Madison's Parks & Trails

Even though summer is winding down, there is still plenty of time to enjoy Madison's parks and trails.

Take a walk through a neighborhood park, ride a bike, explore the Ice Age Trail, have a picnic with your family, or simply spend an evening outside with your neighbors.

Our parks and trails are some of Madison's greatest community assets, and they belong to all of us.

🤝 Staying Connected

The past few weeks have reminded me how important community is.

We have experienced difficult conversations and challenging moments in our city. Those challenges are not going away, and there will continue to be disagreements about how Madison should address them.

But community is built by continuing to talk to one another, listening even when we disagree, and remembering that we share the same neighborhoods and the same hopes for a safe, welcoming, and vibrant city.

The block parties, cultural celebrations, parks events, and local gatherings we have seen this summer demonstrate that there is still so much that brings us together.

☀️ Make the Most of the Remaining Summer

Before we know it, school will be fully underway, college students will be back, fall activities will fill our calendars, and the pace of life will become busy again.

So let's make the most of these remaining summer days.

Spend time with family.
Invite a neighbor over.
Attend a block party.
Visit a local business.
Take a walk on the trail.
Bring your children to the park.
Share a meal with friends.
Check in on someone who may need a little company.

There is a lot in life to be thankful for, especially the people and communities around us.

Thank you to everyone who continues to make District 7 a welcoming, connected, and caring place to live. I look forward to seeing many of you around the neighborhood in the coming weeks.

As always, please reach out to my office if there is something happening in your neighborhood that I should know about or if there is an issue where I can be of assistance.

In solidarity,

Badri Lankella
Alder – District 7
Madison Common Council