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Park Name for the Madison Senior Center Courtyard Addition
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On 3/21/23, the Common Council authorized the administrative reclassification of the Madison Senior Center courtyard, located at 333 W. Dayton Street, from a “public mall” to a city park (file# 76479 <https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6046738&GUID=1F2DEED3-2F95-49ED-A5F2-8FE7B65916DA&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=senior+center+courtyard&FullText=1>). Adding the half-acre parcel to the Parks Division system addresses parkland deficiencies in downtown Madison as identified in the 2018 Park and Open Space Plan and 2012 Downtown Plan. The Council and Board of Park Commissioners also authorized Parks to undertake a courtyard renovation project to bring the parcel up to park service standards (file# 76582 <https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6048282&GUID=9A71953B-E45F-4757-B8B8-2883A5896F03&Options=ID|Text|&Search=senior+center+courtyard>). The park’s renovation was completed in February 2024, and the new addition is currently available for public use as a mini-park.
The Parks Division intends to rename the courtyard to announce its new status as a public green space within the parks system. A group of area residents propose naming the park in honor of Thornton Wilder, a recognized American playwright and novelist. Wilder was born in Madison in 1897 and moved with his family to Hong Kong in 1906 due to his father’s appointment with the American consul. He did not reside in Madison again. Due to the relatively short time Thornton spent in Madison as a child, naming the park in his honor does not align with the current park naming policy (attached).
Parks is seeking guidance from the Long-Range Planning Committee regarding the adopted policy to consider naming the park in honor of Thornton Wilder.