Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution adopts the 2025-2030 Park and Open Space Plan as a Supplement to the City of Madison Comprehensive Plan. There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the plan. Implementing recommendations within the plan will require requests in future capital and operating budgets, subject to Common Council approval at that time.
Title
Adopting the 2025-2030 Park and Open Space Plan as a Supplement to the City of Madison Comprehensive Plan. (Citywide)
Body
WHEREAS the Madison Parks Division’s 2018-2023 Park and Open Space plan was adopted by Common Council on September 5, 2023; and,
WHEREAS, having an adopted Park and Open Space Plan updated at least every five years is a requirement of grant programs at the Local, State, and Federal levels; and,
WHEREAS Parks Division requested and was granted a “Grant Eligibility Extension for Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan” from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 2024 and 2025 to ensure compliance with DNR Chapter NR 50 and NR 51 and maintain grant eligibility; and,
WHEREAS, Parks Division staff and Parks Long Range Planning Subcommittee began the process of updating the 2018-2023 Park and Open Space in July 2023; and,
WHEREAS, the process to prepare the new plan included review of available quantitative and qualitative data; extensive public engagement, including public meetings, community-wide survey conducted in partnership with the UW-Madison Survey Center, park athletic user focused survey and focus group discussions; and review of existing park and open space inventory; and,
WHEREAS, the 2025-2030 POSP provides a roadmap for addressing the many challenges faced by the park system and provides recommendations to guide land use, policy and investment decisions over time to ensure that the vision for Madison’s park and open spaces is achieved; and,
WHEREAS, the recommended strategies and actions build on those from the 2018-2023 POSP and incorporate feedback, trends, and data gathered throughout this planning process, aligning the recommended strategies with 7 elements of a great city as identified in the Comprehensive Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the 2025-2030 Park and Open Space Plan includes twelve (12) recommended strategies, as follows:
• Increase connectivity between parks to enhance access
• Reduce parkland deficiencies and respond to increasing residential density
• Create welcoming and inclusive park spaces and programming
• Foster meaningful connections with groups and organizations that advance the vision of the Parks Division
• Improve public access to lakes and waterways
• Protect and celebrate the community’s cultural richness
• Protect and enhance natural resources
• Improve the park system’s capacity to adapt to environmental challenges
• Develop new parks and amenities in a fiscally sustainable manner
• Secure sufficient resources to sustain service levels across the growing and changing park system
• Pursue regional solutions to regional issues
• Promote the physical and social health of the diverse community; and,
WHEREAS, the Long Range Planning Subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend approval of the 2025-2030 Park and,Open Space Plan, including draft recommendations to the Board of Park Commissioners on July 16, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the 2025-2030 Park and Open Space Plan be adopted and included as a supplement to the City of Madison Comprehensive Plan on August 13, 2025,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Madison Common Council hereby adopts the 2025-2030 Park and Open Space Plan as a supplement to the City’s Comprehensive Plan to be used as a guide in making land use, development and investment decisions related to Madison's park and open spaces; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Parks Division shall monitor the implementation status of recommendations included in the plan and shall work to update the plan within 5 years.