The draft Yahara River Parkway Conceptual Master Plan is available for public review and comment.....finally! You can obtain a copy of this scintillating and much awaited report from the city Planning Department, alder Barb Vedder, a neighbor representative on the Task Force (Ed Jepsen or Allison Mader) or the TLNA president Richard Linster. This mother of all reports is the culmination of way too many meetings, public input....uh huh, plenty of opinions and some facts here and there.

This page turner of a report was given two thumbs up for content and style. The graphics are outstanding in their field and are being considered for Academy Award status in the F/X creative fiction category. I state my reputation ...that if you pick up this report, you won't put it down until you're done!

Your input is critical....really! If you believe in this project and the benefits the paths, potential private redevelopments and enhanced greenspace will have for our Isthmus neighborhoods.... run, don't walk to the nearest purveyor of this document. Read it, take a walk down by the river and get your comments back to the Task Force members, Alder Barb and/or the Mayor's office.

A public meeting will be held on April 4 at Marquette School to take your comments on the proposed Yahara Parkway plan. The meeting will be held from 10 am until 2 pm followed by pontoon rides and river walks, weather permitting. The plan proposes bike and pedestrian paths along the river, underpasses at the E. Washington and E. Johnson Street bridges, landscape restoration on the parklands and much more. The sponsors of the meeting are the Yahara Parkway Ad Hoc Committee, City of Madison Planning Department, and the Parks Department. For more information, please call Ed Jepsen (255-2845), Archie Nicolette (267-8741), or Si Widstrand (266-4711).

Thank you for your cooperation!

-Ed Jepsen