NEWS
‘Millennium park’ may come to city
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Also by Mallory Block:
- 'Millennium park' may come to city (March 15, 2007)
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- Mayor picks design team (March 19, 2007)
- Cieslewicz sets aside millions in budget for State Street (September 23, 2003)
- City launches Overture investigation (September 23, 2005)
- Park remodel moves up (September 25, 2007)
- Madison examines opening new public parks (February 17, 2005)
by Mallory Block
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced his plan this week to make an addition to Madison's unique scenery by creating a signature park for Wisconsin's capital city.
The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters sponsored a forum at the Monona Terrace where Cieslewicz proposed the creation of a new park in Madison, similar to Chicago's Millennium Park.
"We could never do anything as big or expensive as Millennium Park, but we would be looking for more of a community focus," said George Twigg, spokesperson for the mayor.
With an outdoor amphitheater, majestic gardens and interactive fountain, Millennium Park is one of Chicago's most famous landmarks, located on 24.5-acre plot of land in the city's famed "Loop."
A Madison city committee has been researching the prospect of a new city park for some time, determining cost and funding issues, Twigg said.
Currently, the committee is looking for the project to take place at Central Park, on the city's east side. James Madison Park is also being considered for the project, but the smaller size and lack of parking are concerns.
The primary purpose of this new green space would be to serve the area residents, but the park could ultimately become a unique tourist attraction for the area.
"It would be one more asset that makes Madison worth visiting and enhances the quality of life," Twigg said.
Millennium Park's opening was four years delayed and cost the city double the proposed budget — the cost jumped from a projected $225 million to more than $500 million, according to the park's website. Construction was delayed so much that Chicago residents began referring the project as "Next Millennium" Park.
Semmi Pasha, spokesperson for mayoral candidate Ray Allen, said train tracks on part of Madison's Central Park property pose an expensive problem for this proposal. These tracks, Twigg confirmed, must eventually be removed in order to build the new park, increasing cost and time.
In order to work through the expense, Mayor Cieslewicz plans on developing the project in stages.
"Build the park now before we deal with moving the tracks because it will be a fairly expensive proposition," Twigg said. "Other parts can be worked on. Go ahead and develop those pieces sooner than later and then look at the tracks down the road."
Allen, who is running against Cieslewicz in the April 3 election, also believes the idea of more green space in Madison is a beneficial one and has an understanding of the cost involved.
"We want to see Central Park built with private dollars, and as mayor, Ray will be a facilitator to help raise those private dollars," Pasha said.
The expense has potential benefits — Millennium Park hosts music, dance and fitness events for Chicagoans. The park and its unique artwork, pavilion and garden attract tourists from around the world.
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