About Friends of Nolen Waterfront
Friends of Nolen Waterfront is a nonprofit organization created to help transform the Lake Monona Waterfront project into a reality. Your gift ensures that we are able to create a sustainable future for this space and our community.
Visionary, Inclusive, Environmentally Healthy
Friends of Nolen Waterfront imagines the waterfront as a welcoming destination for all Madison residents and visitors. A waterfront destination that connects Downtown Madison to Lake Monona enhances community connections, increases physical and visual access to the lake, improves Lake Monona’s water quality and aquatic habitat, celebrates Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural legacy in Madison, and recognizes Lake Monona’s cultural history from the Ho-Chunk people to the present day.
Milestones
2024: Master Plan is approved by the Madison Common Council on April 16.
2023: Sasaki is selected by the Ad Hoc Committee and confirmed by the Madison Common Council.
January 27, 2023: Design Challenge Master Plan Presentations
The three teams presented their master plans of the Lake Monona Waterfront. You can see their solutions here
November 7, 2022: Design Challenge Check In
The three teams presented initial thoughts and concepts online in developing a master plan vision of the Lake Monona Waterfront. If you are interested, you can watch the entire presentation by clicking on this link to the City of Madison site: Design Challenge Check In
October 3, 2022: Design Challenge Kick-Off
The three design teams livestreamed to the event and introduced themselves and their teams’ unique perspective on master plan development.
2022: Lake Monona Design Challenge is approved and an Ad-Hoc Committee is formed. Friends of Nolen Waterfront supports the challenge by providing 50% of the funding.
2019: Parks Division Preliminary Report for the Lake Monona Waterfront corridor.
2018: City approved funding for development of signature park master plan.
2016–2018: Ad Hoc committee of community members and Madison-area design professionals meet to support the Lake Monona Waterfront. Formation of Friends of Nolen Waterfront, Inc. as an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
2008–2015: An all-volunteer group of community members and Madison-area design professionals gather to envision potential transformational projects to enhance downtown Madison’s unique isthmus geography, including the Lake Monona waterfront.
