Lake Monona Waterfront | Friends of Nolen Waterfront | Madison, WI

Friends of Nolen Waterfront
Connecting - Enhancing - Improving
Lake Monona's Waterfront

Visionary, Inclusive, Environmentally Healthy

The Friends of Nolen Waterfront (FNW) is a 501c3 organization. FNW is the private organization partnering with the City of Madison and leveraging philanthropic dollars from the community as we reimagine the waterfront along John Nolen Drive.


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.

Join us as we move toward a beautiful, activity-rich signature park that embodies the character and values of the city, incorporating innovative and iconic features that are regional attractions and provide an indelible experience unique to Madison.

Read more about Friends of Nolen Waterfront

Current Work

Friends of Nolen Waterfront is currently supporting the City of Madison and many other partners to create a Master Plan for the Lake Monona Waterfront project. We are currently in the midst of the Design Challenge where one final design team will be chosen to build the Master Plan.



The Design Challenge

The Lake Monona Waterfront Design Challenge is a once-in-a generation opportunity to shape the future of Madison's urban waterfront. This is a competition to create a visionary, inclusive, and environmentally focused master plan for Madison's foremost public lakefront comprising 1.7 miles of shoreline and 17 total acres. Friends of Nolen Waterfront is proud to partner with the City of Madison by providing funding for the Challenge.

We are currently in the Design Challenge Public Review Phase of the project. This phase began on January 26 and will commence on March 23, 2023. Check out all the design team Master Plan submissions here . This video captures some of the highlights of interviews with the three finalists as they began their challenge.



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Design Challenge Check In

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

Click below for recaps of their presentations:

Friends of Nolen Waterfront Presentation

November 1, 2022: Friends of Nolen Waterfront/Frank Lloyd Wright Lecture Series
The Friends of Nolen Waterfront sponsored this panel discussion on the history of the area and how the vision of a signature waterfront park has become a possibility.

Upcoming Events

Design Challenge Master Plan Review
January 26, 2023-March 23, 2023
View the design boards in person! The presentation boards are available for review at Madison Parks' new central office at 330 E Lakeside Street . The boards can be seen during Parks office hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

We need your input on the Master Plan submissions from the three finalists! Please join us in re-imagining possibilities for the Lake Monona Waterfront!
Take the ONLINE SURVEY!