Week of June 8, 2026

District Niners, 

• The academic school year for K-12 students is over.  For those completing their compulsory education, graduation ceremonies/commencement (to begin) exercises await nearly 1,900 graduates in the Madison area.  For those who continue to be in the k-12 pipeline, too many will become feral for the next twelve weeks or so.  Consider keeping your child(ren) engaged with activities at the libraries, community centers and parks and limit their time on the cell phone.  Remember:  a “mind" is a terrible thing to waste.
• On another note, the Madsion Fire Department celebrated the 63rd class graduating from the fire academy.  Twenty-three newly minted firefighters/EMT's are prepared for dispatched calls on all shifts. It was a very lovely graduation ceremony with MFD brass and family members.
• City Budget Engagement | Public Facilities & Services, Thursday, June 11:  Learn more about the City of Madison budget process and get your questions answered during budget engagement sessions planned across Madison. This session will be held at Vel Phillips Memorial High School on June 11th from 6:00 -8:00 PM and will focus on Public Facilities & Services.

Updates and Notices

• Dive Into Summer: Your Goodman Pool Checklist: Goodman Pool opens on Thursday, June 11!  This year, everyone 3+ years old visiting the Pool must complete a Pool Waiver before entering. Scholarships are available for season passes. See Goodman Pool Checklist for more information. 

Boards, Commissions & 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, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include honoring resolutions for Juneteenth and Pride Month, as well as approving roadway geometry for Regent Street. 
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Thursday, June 11, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Agenda items include an update on the data center moratorium. 
  • 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.

Announcements & News Releases

• Madison Students Ride Free This Summer with Youth Bus Pass Program: Every young person living in Madison, entering 6th graders through graduating high school students, is eligible for a free pass.
• MPD summer traffic safety initiative underway: MADISON, Wis. — In an effort to reduce speeding and dangerous driving, the Madison Police Department is once again launching a summer traffic safety initiative. The proactive safety program will run now until Sept. 1, 2026.
• Meet the Finalists for the Madison LakeWay SkyLine Public Art Project: The City of Madison and the Madison LakeWay Partners are inviting four finalists to propose designs for public art for the Madison LakeWay SkyLine.
• Partnerships key in making arrest in 2023 homicide case where suspect fled country : A Madison man accused of killing his wife and fleeing the country in 2023 is now in custody at the Dane County Jail. Jose de Jesus Duenas-Quinonez, 40, was booked into the Dane County Jail on first-degree intentional homicide charges on Tuesday.
• Council President Sabrina Madison Honors Next Generation of Black Excellence: In honor of Juneteenth, Common Council President Sabrina Madison is highlighting youth leaders during the Common Council's annual Juneteenth recognition. It's a great opportunity to celebrate five young leaders and two adult leaders from Madison.
• Path Update: John Nolen Drive Reconstruction: The North Shore Drive path will be closed between Bedford Street and John Nolen Drive during this closure (details below).  Path users will be re-routed to the newly built path on the northwest side of John Nolen Drive. 

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

• Monday Mornings at The Glen, Monday, June 8, 2026 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Enjoy The Glen for a stroll, nature, workout or leashed dog walk from sunrise to 8:00 am. Tee times resume at hole #1 at 8:00am. Visitors should be alert for golf balls and golfers while exiting the course.
• Goodman Pool Staff Assistance Popup, Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Changes are coming to Goodman Pool for the 2026 season. Beginning this season, everyone entering through the pool gate will be required to complete a Pool Waiver. Skip the line later and visit us at a Staff Assistance Popup event! To help with the new Visitor Checklist process, Parks staff are hosting popup assistance events at Parks Lakeside Offices and at the Goodman Pool. 
• Concerts on the Rooftop: Sixteen Candles ('80s Tribute), Thursday, June 11:  Dance the night away or just relax with family and friends, Concerts on the Rooftop provide a fun and free experience for all! Experience the nostalgia and energy of the greatest decade of music – the 1980s!! Entertaining audiences since 2003, Sixteen Candles travels the country to bring ‘80s music to life in full force for a memorable and exciting concert experience that you won't soon forget.
• Junction Ridge Farmers' Market, Friday, June 12 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Find fresh, local products at the JRNA Farmers' Market.
• Brat Fry Friday, Friday, June 12: Come join us for lunch at the links!  The grill will be fired up from 11am-3pm for a delicious afternoon treat.
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, June 12: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo! 
• Free Homebuyer Education Class (in person), Saturday, June 13: 
  Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop takes place in-person at a Madison area location to be determined on Saturday, June 13, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm! 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, June 13: Explore Owen Conservation Park on gentle trails through historic oak openings on a hillside with an Ice Age kettle and along restored prairies with beautiful vistas on this high point overlooking the west side of Madison.
• Movie in the Park | To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar, Saturday, June 13: Join Downtown Madison's Business Improvement District (BID) and Madison Parks for a free movie in Peace Park! 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, June 14: Explore Turville Trails ~ Join Master Naturalist and avid birder Melissa Kesling for a free fun family friendly outing to discover beautiful winding nature trails leading to the central prairie past and old pine groves to views of Lake Monona and Turville Bay. 
• Movie at The Glen | Lilo & Stitch, Sunday, June 14: Everyone is welcome to a free night of fun on the links!  Bring your blanket and chairs to join us greenside at the golf course for a great movie.  Note: due to licensing regulations, we are unable to show the original featured movie Moana 2.

Parks Alive Dates!

Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you! Events start at 5:00 p.m.

• Parks Alive at Meadowood Park, Wednesday, June 10
• Parks Alive at Penn Park, Thursday, June 11

Interested in volunteering for Parks Alive? Volunteers Welcome! Learn more and register online!

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

Your well-being,

Summer and summer solstice (or the longest day in the year) officially begins on June 21, 2026.    Do take some time to take care of yourself this summer, protect your skin from the sun by wearing the right sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses.  Stay cool, stay hydrated and if you are hiking and playing in wooded areas, please use the right bug spray for those pesky pests looking for a suitable host (you), your child(ren) as well as your pets.

Until next time,

Joann