City Meetings and Updates Week of July 21
posted- City Meetings
- Transportation Commission 7/23
- Housing Policy Committee 7/24
- FREE Parks Alive Event at Galaxy Park 7/21: Sports and Games
- Reminder: Madison LakeWay Virtual Public Meeting 7/21
- Southeast Area Plan Art Workshop at Pinney Library 7/22
- Heads Up: North Star Fest at Pocket Park 8/2
- Events & Announcements
City Meetings
Transportation Commission
The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 23, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a presentation on the South Stoughton Road Corridor Study by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. According to WisDOT’s presentation, the next steps include refining the details of their alternatives, hosting another public meeting around the end of 2025 or early 2026 to review those, and then identifying their preferred alternatives in 2026. The Transportation Commission agenda also includes a presentation about the early plans for a developing Curb Management Plan which will help the City consider how our use of curb, street, and sidewalk space compares to the City’s policy goals around transportation, canopy trees, and accessibility. These plans are detailed and complicated, and according to this presentation, Madison’s will take around two years to develop.
Housing Policy Committee
The Housing Policy Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, July 24, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a staff presentation on Madison’s housing market data for the 2025 Housing Snapshot Report.
If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.
FREE Parks Alive Event at Galaxy Park Monday: Sports and Games
Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. The theme for the July 21st Parks Alive event at Galaxy Park is Sports and Games. Come check out the brand-new basketball full court that the City built at Galaxy Park earlier this year!
- When: July 21, 5-7pm
- Where: Galaxy Park, 132 Milky Way
Please find additional upcoming City of Madison Parks events listed on the City parks event calendar. To volunteer for Parks Alive and other opportunities in Madison, visit the City of Madison's Volunteer website.
Reminder: Madison LakeWay Virtual Public Meeting Monday
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Madison Parks
The Common Council voted 17-3 on Tuesday to exempt only the first phase of the LakeWay project from a referendum requirement for lakeside parks. Phase 1 focuses on the John Nolen causeway and thus impacts very little parkland, is the least expensive, and is becoming increasingly time-sensitive to coordinate with the John Nolen Drive reconstruction work which will begin over the next year. I voted in favor of the phase 1 exemption. The later, more transformational, and far less certain phases of the LakeWay project remain subject to the referendum requirement.
As a reminder, interested residents are invited to attend a virtual public meeting on the first phase of the Madison LakeWay. The virtual meeting will be Monday, July 21 at 6:30 PM and will include a review of the ongoing design development for the upcoming Madison LakeWay improvements. The project area is a 0.6-mile stretch of Lake Monona’s shoreline adjacent to John Nolen Drive. Community members are invited to review the progress and share input on proposed lakeshore features.
- When: Monday, July 21 at 6:30pm
- Where: virtual via Zoom, please register using this meeting registration link
Madison Parks is working in close coordination with other City agencies, including City Engineering, to align the LakeWay improvements with the planned reconstruction of John Nolen Drive.
Southeast Area Plan Art Workshop at Pinney Library Tuesday
Explore art possibilities within the Southeast Area Plan!
Calling all artists, art lovers, or residents interested in potential art opportunities within the Southeast Area Plan. This workshop will explore ideas for future art possibilities in the area guided by Madison’s Arts staff.
- When: July 22, 6-7pm
- Where: Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Road
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City Planning
Looking ahead at next steps for the Southeast Area Plan, I believe we’re on track to see Planning staff’s draft plan recommendations this fall. These recommendations will be reviewed for additional input by the public and by City committees who are involved with different sections of the area plans. Parks and Planning staff are working out how to bring Parks staff into the process to work on parkland-related feedback and plan recommendations. Stay tuned!
Heads Up: North Star Fest at Pocket Park Saturday, August 2nd
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North Star Neighborhood Association
The 5th annual North Star Fest is coming up on Saturday, August 2 in the North Star Neighborhood! Join any time between 11:00-8:00pm for a great live music lineup (5 bands), food carts, and family fun and activities throughout! Food and beverage available for purchase at food carts and our beer tent all day. (Carry in food and beverages are allowed!). Tell your friends - all are welcome at North Star Fest! Questions? Email events@northstarmadison.org.
- When: Saturday, August 2nd from 11am-8pm
- Where: Pocket Park, 701 Galileo Drive
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North Star Neighborhood Association
North Star Fest is a free annual event hosted by the North Star Neighborhood Association.
Events & Announcements
- Amigos en Azul helps dozens of families at car seat clinic: MADISON, Wis. – Officers involved in Amigos en Azul assisted more than 30 families at this week’s car seat clinic.Officers checked to make sure car seats were installed properly and provided one to families free of charge if needed. In all, 45 car… [posted July 18, 2025]
- 20 is Plenty Officially Launches in Madison: The City of Madison is excited to share the updated progress for Phase 2 of the 20 is Plenty program, which began in the winter of 2024 under the Vision Zero Initiative. This second phase will expand the speed reduction initiative citywide, with neighborhood sign installations expected to be completed by August 2025. [posted July 18, 2025]
- City of Madison, UW-Madison Update Neighborhood Indicators Project Data: New data on housing, health and more in the City of Madison are now available as part of the latest update to the Neighborhood Indicators Project (NIP). [posted July 18, 2025]
- Applications open for Imagination Center at Reindahl Park public art: The City of Madison, the Madison Arts Commission, and The Bubbler at Madison Public Library are seeking a qualified public artist to create original artwork for the outdoor patio area of the new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park. [posted July 17, 2025]
- Madison Common Council Approves Housing Proposals: Immediate Release July 15, 2025, Tonight, the Madison Common Council unanimously approved three proposals designed to make it easier to build a range of homes, increase flexibility for homeownership, and make it easier to permit small and… [posted July 15, 2025]
- Overdose Spike Alert: Risk of Drug Overdose Increased in Dane County (link is external): On July 15, Public Health Madison & Dane County issued a public health alert due to an increase, or spike, in drug overdoses in our community. [posted July 15, 2025]
- Protect Trees from Weed Killer: The City of Madison Streets and Urban Forestry Division would like to remind residents that incorrect application of weed killers (herbicides) near trees can damage, or even mortally wound them. There are ways to keep our lawns looking their best… [posted July 14, 2025]
- Homebuyer Education Course Part 1 of 3, Tuesday, July 22: This HUD-Certified Homebuyer Education Course assists aspiring homeowners with making informed decisions and to potentially qualify for specialized loan programs. Topics covered include: entire homebuying process including pre-approval; money management and credit; and down payment assistance programs.
- Brat Fry Friday at Yahara Hills Golf Course, Friday, July 25: Come join us for lunch at the links! The grill will be fired up from 10am-3pm for a delicious afternoon treat.
- Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, July 26: Join a naturalist for an easy, family-friendly walk from Aldo Leopold Nature Center into beautiful Edna Taylor Conservation Park and enjoy a bit of nature education along the way. Walks through the Edna Taylor Conservation Park are held on the 4th Saturday, 10-11:30am each month.
- Disability Pride, Saturday, July 26: This annual event, hosted by www.DisabilityPrideMadison.org(link is external), celebrates the diversity and talents of Madison's disabled community. Join us for food, fun, entertainment, activities, and more.
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. Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.
