Lisa Link Peace Park, a popular gathering place for Madison residents, will be getting a facelift come November.
Mike Sturm of Ken Saiki Design, the leading architectural firm on the project, gave an update on renovation plans to a State Street Merchants committee Wednesday. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the renovation is long overdue.
""It has been a constant frustration for years that the park is so underutilized,"" Verveer said. ""The number one goal of the renovation is to provide for a much more attractive setting that encourages folks to use the park in a much greater number.""
According to John Hutchinson, president of the committee and supporter of the proposal, the project has been in the works for eight to ten years and will include a visitors center.
""The goal of the visitors center is to have a more welcoming environment for visitors so they can figure out where to go [in Madison],"" Hutchinson said.
The city plans to staff the center with ambassadors to make information as available as possible to visitors. The renovation is due to finish in July 2010 and will include a performance space, ATM, fountain and bathrooms in addition to the visitors center.
""We want to maximize use ... [and] make it a really flexible space,"" Sturm said.
According to Sturm, the project is slightly over budget, and currently projected to cost just over $400,000. The company hopes to combat that issue by providing a sufficient amount of time for contractors to submit bids on the project.
""We'll begin prep work this fall while the bid process is going on,"" Sturm said. ""That way we can give more time for contractors to submit good bids.""
Committee members additionally expressed concern about lighting of the area, but Sturm assured them that Ken Saiki Design, through working with the Madison Police Department, will ensure the area is well lit.
Sturm added, ""We want it be an active, preferred performance space.""
Final approval on the project will take place next week.
