On April 4 at 10:00 a.m. the Ad Hoc Yahara River Parkway (YRP) Committee invited residents of the Tenney-Lapham and Marquette Neighborhoods to gather in the O'Keefe Middle School cafeteria for a presentation and discussion of their ideas for the Yahara River Parkway. The committee had on display numerous plans and graphics with accompanying narratives that illustrated and described their ideas for the improvement of the parkway. Approximately 150 people were in attendance to share their feelings on the proposals and how they felt the Parkway could or should be improved.

The Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Ed Jepsen, presented an executive summary of their recommendations that addressed nine points:

1. East Johnson and East Washington Bike/Pedestrian Underpasses. To accomplish safe bike/pedestrian use of the Parkway, the YRP Committee recommends underpasses at both East Washington and East Johnson Streets. The committee also recommends improving at-grade crossings to provide safe crossings at low traffic volume times.

2. West Riverside Bike/Pedestrian Path. The YRP Committee recommends a continuous bike/pedestrian path on the west side of the Yahara River from Lake Mendota to Lake Monona. This path would provide numerous access points to the Yahara River Parkway and its scenic and recreational assets. The bike/pedestrian path should provide safe and well-marked connections to existing bike routes.

3. East Riverside Footpath. The YRP Committee recommends a low-impact, unpaved footpath from Lake Monona to Tenney Park along the east side of the river. This footpath would offer pedestrians using the eastside of the river an opportunity to enjoy the river without conflicts with faster-paced riverside users using the westside bike/pedestrian path.

4. Burr Jones Area Redevelopment. The YRP Committee recommends a comprehensive redevelopment of the Burr Jones Field area, the land between East Johnson Street, East Washington Avenue, the Yahara River, the City Garage, and the Fiore Center. The Committee feels that this area is limited aesthetically and recreationally by inadequate and unsafe access, screening from adjacent commercial/industrial properties and its present use. Recommendations for the upgrading of this area include acquiring adjacent properties along East Johnson Street, improving access, and developing a water-based, multi-purpose facility along the river to integrate Burr Jones Field with the Riverway.

5. Educational Signage. The YRP Committee recommends working with the schools to create an educational outdoor laboratory in the vicinity of Marquette/O'Keefe Middle School that would explain the ecosystem of the river. Another recommendation is to increase the utilization of the river corridor as a geological, historical and ecological learning experience. The YRP Committee encourages a public-private partnership to synthesize an educational program that promotes the environmental and historical significance of the Yahara River Parkway and targets audiences that include the area school populations.

6. Parkway Focal Points. The YRP Committee identified several sites that present significant opportunities for enhancing the Yahara River Parkway with amenities such as artwork, benches, educational signage and landscaping. The sites identified are: Williamson Street/Yahara River Parkway Intersection, Tenney Park, Filene Park, Marquette Elementary/O'Keefe Middle School Education Area and Yahara Place Park.

7. Park Stewardship, Landscape and Historic Preservation Planning. The YRP Committee recommends developing plans for the restoration of Ossion Cole Simonds' vision for the landscape of the Yahara River Parkway and Tenney Park. That vision emphasizes plant species native to the Upper Midwest. Responsibility for the enhancement and improvement of the parkway can be shared with the adjacent neighborhoods and the City Parks Division.

8. Thornton Avenue. The recommendation for this area is to convert Thornton Avenue, where possible, to bike path, green space and Parkway amenities. Options for allowing property owner access would be to create turnarounds at appropriate points on Thornton Avenue, changing parts of the Avenue from two-way to one-way and/or eliminating roadway segments.

9. Private Development Guidelines. The YRP Committee states that, in addition to studying ways to improve the Yahara River Parkway, its mission includes ways to increase open areas in a park-deficient area and enhance the Parkway's visual and social integration with the surrounding neighborhoods. The YRP Committee recommends that the City Parks Division and other appropriate agencies investigate the acquisition of adjacent private land parcels as they become available. The YRP Committee also recommends that the City of Madison encourage residential, mixed commercial/residential and open space development. They state that modest, affordable housing is an asset to the Yahara area and any redevelopment be consistent with the area's existing residential character.

Following the Committee's presentation of the preceding points, the meeting was opened to comment from attendees. Comments included support for the continuous pathway, questions regarding the concern for the maintenance and oversight of the pathway, treating the parkway as a 'whole resource', closing Thornton Avenue will increase the residential traffic, provide community garden space and limit the density of residential development.

At the end of the meeting, Ed Jepsen informed the group of the Urban Open Space Foundation's April 18 meeting entitled "Our Yahara: Restoring A Treasured Landscape", to be held at Lapham Elementary School. He also reminded those in attendance that the committee is actively soliciting comment from neighborhood members. Questions can be addressed to: Archie Nicoletti, 266-4635; Ald. Barbara Vedder, 249-8426; Ed Jepsen, 255-2845; and David Wallner, 256-2958

-David Mandehr


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