After nearly two years of meeting to discuss how to improve Lisa Link Peace Park, the park’s advisory committee approved a preliminary design for a new park Monday night.

The approved design includes game tables, an amphitheater, a pop-up fountain and a welcoming center with restrooms.

The committee also discussed extending the park’s green space all the way to Gilman Street, possibly eliminating six or seven parking stalls on Gilman.

Associated Students of Madison representative Phil Ejercito said he was opposed to a fence around the park because it would not be aesthetically pleasing or effective at keeping trespassers out of the park after its 10 p.m. closing time, and the committee later agreed not to recommend a perimeter fence.

The committee, which is comprised of various downtown groups and two downtown alders, also evaluated the success of summer programs held at Peace Park.

Committee members agreed that the movies in the park program was one of the most successful, drawing crowds of up to 125 viewers who suggested the parks should host four movies during the summer instead of three.

Downtown Madison Inc. president and committee member Susan Schmitz said local businesses have also been receptive to the events and have been willing to get involved when asked for support.

“I’ve gotten feedback from police officers that are there on a regular basis that say they really like the events because it changes the face of the park quite a bit,” Schmitz said.

One of the committee’s primary concerns was how to manage the park after the renovations are finished to ensure the success of programs held in the park and the park’s upkeep.

“We need an advocacy group for the park that can monitor its behavior and its status; we can’t simply relegate to the parks commission or a subcommittee of the parks commission,” said Ken Saiki, who also planned the preliminary park design.

The Madison Parks Department has earmarked $50,000 for planning Peace Park’s construction in its 2004 budget, which would likely be approved in November.

Together with proposed design features and recommendations on park management, the design will be submitted to the City Council as part of a more complete report on how to develop the park.

Because the Peace Park project is an extension of the State Street redesign, City Council President and committee member Mike Verveer, District 4, said the final plans for Peace Park should be approved by the City Council. Typically, plans for city parks are approved by the Parks Commission after the City Council approves the initial budget.

“That is the normal process for any park, but from my perspective, this is not just any park. It may be safer to go to the City Council to make sure everyone is okay with it, and it shouldn’t slow down the process one iota,” Verveer said.