The State Street Design Project Oversight Committee reintroduced plans Thursday to reconstruct Gilman Street and Peace Park, continuing a plan that was first introduced in the late 1990s.
The State Street Design Project began as a communitywide forum on how to improve the look of State Street. The goal of the project is to redesign the street, focusing on elements like paving, bus terminals, lighting and street furniture.
Since the first stages of State Street’s redesign are now complete, there is a new focus on renovating Gilman Street and Peace Park.
“The plan was originally organized for just a portion of State Street, but now we are monitoring side streets as well,” said Transit and Parking Commission Rep. Ken Streit.
The reconstruction is scheduled to start on May 18 and is expected to be complete by Aug. 14, according to Board of Public Works Rep. Michael Rewey. The area of Gilman Street that will be renovated is the block located between State Street and University Avenue.
“The northern leg of Gilman Street between State Street and Henry Street will be done after Peace Park’s completion in order to avoid possible disruption of the park,” Rewey said.
Many storeowners on State Street want to take advantage of the newly reconstructed road and have expressed a desire to take advantage of their outdoor storefront with cafes and an extended vending space. For some, this requires moving street furniture, such as benches and bike racks.
“Businesses are looking to expand their sales outside, but furniture is in the way, so they have requested [benches and bike racks] be moved, and we have been working with them to make this happen,” said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
Rewey added the city can slide benches over or turn bike racks sideways to better accommodate business owners.
Additionally, some furniture can be moved to areas where it will be less obtrusive to storeowners, such as in front of a bank or grocery store where few transactions take place outside, Rewey said.
The committee also discussed plans to redesign Peace Park. Rewey said the plans for the park have not changed much since their original conception in 2003.
One minor modification being considered is changing the location of the welcome center and restrooms to a position across from their current scheduled placement on the west side of the park. This new location would allow for better sun exposure for the solar panels planned to be installed on the center’s roof.
Groundbreaking for the Peace Park construction is scheduled for mid-October, and the committee anticipates the center and restrooms will be open by May 2010.
Mary Carbine, executive director of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District, said her group wishes to be a partner in the operation of the welcome center.
“We hope the park will become a center of positive activity instead of a magnet for criminal behavior, as it currently is now,” Carbine said.
