Fiscal Note
No appropriation required. Staff resources to support the Task Force will be accommodated within existing resources. Title
AMENDED - Creating a Central Park Design and Implementation Task Force.
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Background
For several years the City of Madison, Urban Open Space Foundation and many stakeholder groups have discussed and planned for the creation of a Central Park in the East Isthmus of Madison. The City of Madison has noted this park in both the City's comprehensive plan and the East Rail Plan. The Urban Open Space Foundation has developed detailed plans, acquired parcels of land, and raised over $1,000,000 in funds to construct the park. Stakeholder groups such as neighborhood associations, gardeners, skateboarders, and others have all been involved in helping to craft a plan for the park.
While much progress has been made, there are many hurdles that need to be overcome to bring this park to fruition. Issues regarding additional land purchases, moving the rail line, fundraising for needed capital funding, and developing a plan to phase construction of the park need to be developed. There are also questions regarding governance and fiscal responsibility for the park. All parties need to agree on how funds will be raised and how the park will be developed, managed, and maintained. These and many other issues need to be investigated and an implementation plan needs to be developed in order for the community to move forward on the creation of this park.
WHEREAS, the Mayor is proposing to put together a 12-member ad hoc task force that would work on answering a series of questions regarding the implementation and governance of the park; and
WHEREAS, the task force would be responsible for reviewing all work to date on the project and also consider all of the outstanding issues and determine whether the project should move forward; and
WHEREAS, if the task force conclude...
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