After nine years of planning, a team of architects may fulfill their dream of building a visitor center on the site of Lisa Link Peace Park, located on State Street.
A group of speakers presented their plans to the city Planning Commission Monday, which have yet to be approved by the Common Council.
The opposition present at the meeting felt the visitor center would not be financially beneficial and said the homeless are being driven out of the site with nowhere else to go.
Susan Smith, a representative of Downtown Madison, Inc. was in support of the plan.
""[The visitor center] is for everyone ... It's not about kicking people out,"" she said.
The visitor center will consist of a game table, small workstations and a public bathroom among other amenities. The renovation will also include a performance space, increased lighting and a fountain.
The space will also offer labor programs for the homeless to learn techniques to be applied in future occupations.
Supporters argued that money would be best spent on building a space that provides efficient job programs that will hopefully decrease homelessness in Madison.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, has previously stated that the renovation will provide much-needed green space in the downtown Madison area.
According to a representative of the Madison Center Improvement District, the revenue brought in from visitors to the center will be very important to the downtown Madison community.
Construction on the Peace Park renovations is projected to begin in January and be completed by July 2010, if it is approved by the Common Council.
