The renovated Lisa Link Peace Park will re-open Friday, Sept. 17, despite stirring controversy among Madison residents.
A water spout, performance stage, police station and grassy area with tables and chairs are some of the new features added to the park, which was closed for remodeling this past March.
The park will feature a ""peace pole"" with the inscription ""May peace prevail on earth"" written in multiple languages to keep with the original peace theme of the park.
A visitor center with public bathrooms will be located next to the park. An ATM will be located inside this building despite some controversy caused by the issue of panhandling.
Before the construction began, panhandlers often gathered at the park as it is one of the only two places on State Street where panhandling was allowed. However, with the addition of the ATM, panhandling will no longer be allowed in accordance with a city ordinance that prohibits panhandling within 50 feet from an ATM.
Even after the plans were approved, debate continued in July over the Lisa Link Peace Park Visitor Center Code of Conduct.
The Visitor Center Code of Conduct was approved at the Sept. 1 meeting with some modifications from the original proposal by the Board of Parks Commission in July. The Parks Commission took extra time to refine and narrow the rules, and Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he hopes UW students and downtown residents who live near Peace Park will start to use the park more frequently once renovations are complete.
""I have always been very bothered by the fact that Peace Park is used by so few downtown residents or others for that matter, and so my main mode of motivation and fighting to get Peace Park renovated all these years has been to try to encourage a much greater utilization of that space,"" Verveer said.
The Madison Common Council decided to move forward with the $1.1 million remodeling plans for the Peace Park back in November, 2009.
