Week of August 11, 2025

Dear Neighbors,

As summer reaches its final stretch, Madison is buzzing with community events, important city meetings, and opportunities to get outside and connect with neighbors. Here are this week’s highlights:

Updates and Notices

Ride the Drive – Cancelled
Unfortunately, Ride the Drive 2025, originally scheduled for Sunday, August 10, has been cancelled. The Madison Parks Division has announced that the event will not take place this year. Please check the City Parks Events page for details and future updates.

Metro Transit Service Changes – Starting Sunday, August 17
Metro will roll out several route, schedule, and stop adjustments this Sunday, including expanded all-day service to Verona. Learn more here.

National Night Out Recap
This past week, Madison Police connected with thousands of residents across the city for National Night Out, strengthening community ties and promoting safety.

Stronger Tree Protection Ordinances
New and strengthened measures to protect Madison’s trees were introduced at the Common Council’s August 5 meeting.

Downtown Student Move-Out
From August 4–22, Streets Division crews are providing extra collection services to support downtown move-out days.

Meetings This Week

(This is not a complete list. Full details are available on the Meeting Schedule page.)

Meeting with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway – Monday, August 11, 4:00 p.m.

Plan Commission – Monday, August 11, 5:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Agenda items include enhancements to street tree protection provisions and development-related requests in Districts 2 and 12.
Meeting Details | Agenda | Register for Public Comment | Watch Online

Destination Madison Meeting – Wednesday, August 13, 4:00 p.m.

Board of Park Commissioners – Wednesday, August 13, 6:30 p.m. (Virtual)
The board will review and approve the Madison Parks Division’s 2025–2030 Park & Open Space Plan.
Meeting Details | Agenda | Register for Public Comment | Watch Online

Public Information Meeting

Pontiac, Boston, Nokomis, and Rosewood Reconstruction – Thursday, August 14, 6:00 p.m. (Virtual)
Residents adjacent to these streets are encouraged to attend. Please fill out the project questionnaire by 11 a.m. on August 18.

Events

• Monday Mornings at The Glen – Monday, August 11, Sunrise–8 a.m.
• Parks Alive: Elver Park – Monday, August 11, 5:00 p.m.
• Parks Alive: Aldo Leopold Park – Tuesday, August 12, 5:00 p.m.
• Conservation Park Tour – Moraine Woods – Wednesday, August 13
• Parks Alive: Warner Park – Wednesday, August 13, 5:00 p.m.
• Parks Alive: Owl Creek Park – Thursday, August 14, 5:00 p.m.
• Brat Fry Friday – Friday, August 15, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at The Glen
• Dane Dances – Rebulu Group / LoveMonkeys – Friday, August 15, Monona Terrace Rooftop
• Mobile Vaccination Clinic – Mendota Elementary – Saturday, August 16
• Bird & Nature Adventures – Starkweather Creek – Saturday, August 16
• Adapted Open Swim – Goodman Pool – Saturday, August 16
• Movie in the Park: Twisters – Saturday, August 16, Peace Park
• Bird & Nature Adventures – Warner Park – Sunday, August 17
• Movie at The Glen – Kung Fu Panda 4 – Sunday, August 17

I want to hear from you! Whether it's about bike lane safety, transportation, housing, or community programs, your input shapes how we serve District 7. Reach out any time or stop by an event!

With gratitude,
Badri Lankella
Alder, District 7

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of August 11, 2025

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.

• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, August 11, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include enhancing the City’s street tree protection provisions, as well as development-related requests in Districts 2 and 12.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 13, at 6:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include approving the Madison Parks Division’s 2025-2030 Park & Open Space Plan.
  • 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.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Pontiac, Boston, Nokomis, and Rosewood Reconstruction, Thursday, August 14: A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 14, 2025, via Zoom. Registration is required prior. If you are a resident of a property adjacent to Pontiac Trail, Boston Court, Nokomis Court, or Rosewood Circle please fill out a questionnaire by 11 a.m. Aug. 18, 2025.

Announcements and News Releases

• Metro Transit August Service Updates: Starting Sunday, August 17, Metro will implement a number of route, schedule, and stop adjustments, including providing all-day service to Verona, WI. [posted August 8, 2025]
• National Night Out celebrations strengthen ties between Madison police, community: MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Police Department interacted with thousands of community members during this week's National Night Out celebration. National Night Out is held in communities across the country as a way to promote police engagement with…[posted August 8, 2025]
• Traffic Impacts for Madison Mini Marathon: Multiple streets will be affected on Saturday, August 9th from 7:00am-12:00pm (noon) for the annual Madison Mini Marathon event. [posted August 7, 2025]
• Ride the Drive Rolls In This Sunday: Get ready to stroll, roll, pedal or glide at Ride the Drive 2025! Join the Madison tradition on Sunday, August 10, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, for a free community event celebrating healthy, active living. [posted August 5, 2025]
• Street Closures for Ride the Drive: Multiple streets will be closed on Sunday, August 10 from 9:00am - 3:00pm for the annual Ride the Drive event hosted by the Madison Parks Division. Vehicles must be removed from closed streets by 8:00am. [posted August 5, 2025]
• Leaf Them Alone: Madison Strengthening Tree Protection Ordinances : New and stronger tree protection measures will be introduced at the Common Council's August 5 meeting. [posted August 4, 2025]
• August Student Move Out Days Are Here: Starting today (August 4, 2025) and : lasting until Friday, August 22, 2025, the Streets Division will be performing extra collection duties in the downtown moving days area. Daily Cart Pickups During the Move Out From August 4 to August 22, we…[posted August 42, 2025]

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, August 11, 2025 (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.
• Conservation Park Tour at Moraine Woods Conservation Park, Wednesday, August 13: We'll explore the half-mile trail(opens in a new window) and more in Moraine Woods, giving a peek into the work, management and plans for the area.
• Brat Fry Friday, Friday, August 15 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Come join us for lunch at the links!  The grill will be fired up from 10am-3pm for a delicious afternoon treat.
• Dane Dances: Rebulu Group / LoveMonkeys, Friday, August 15: Dane Dances is a free, family-friendly event held every Friday evening in August on the beautiful Monona Terrace rooftop. The much-anticipated summer music series promotes inclusivity for all ages and is a great way to get down and dance with your friends, family, or coworkers.
• Mobile Vaccination Clinic - Mendota Elementary School, Saturday, August 16: 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 | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, August 16: Eken Parkland. Join Tara Daly and Friends of Starkweather Creek at the Eken Park Festival to learn about Starkweather Creek and the parks and natural areas right in the heart of east side Madison.
• Adapted Open Swim, Saturday, August 16: Join MSCR for Adapted Open Swim, a free and inclusive event at the Goodman Pool! These swim sessions are designed for individuals of all abilities, their caregivers and families to enjoy the water all together in a supportive space.
• Movie in the Park | Twisters, Saturday, August 16: Join Downtown Madison's Business Improvement District (BID) and Madison Parks for a free movie in Peace Park!
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, August 17: Nature Journaling ~ Join Master Naturalist Steve Mansorge for a free guided walk and journaling activity or take a walk on your own any day in May to enjoy the natural areas at Warner Park. Pretend you are an explorer making a journal to send back home!  
• Movie at The Glen | Kung Fu Panda 4, Sunday, August 17: Enjoy a fun-filled evening at Movies at The Glen. Starting at 5 PM, catch an exciting martial arts demonstration by Blackbelt America and let the kids jump into the fun with a bounce house on site. Then at 6 PM, settle in for an action-packed outdoor screening of Kung Fu Panda 4(link is external), full of laughs, adventure, and kung fu spirit. Free, family-friendly, and full of energy—don’t miss this lively night at The Glen!

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 Elver Park, Monday, August 11
• Parks Alive at Aldo Leopold Park, Tuesday, August 12
• Parks Alive at Warner Park, Wednesday, August 13
• Parks Alive at Owl Creek Park, Thursday, August 14

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