Have you checked out the
Yahara Parkway recently? An access
site was added this spring along Riverside Street near Willy Street. This was a collaborative design effort;
Bruce Woods did the structural design and layout work with Brenda Williams and
Cheryl Redman doing most of the landscape design. The stone work required a contractor, but many energetic and
talented Friends of the Yahara River volunteers did all the plantings (rather
professionally I might add). It is
a wonderful site! Put in a canoe or just dangle your feet in the water...either
way enjoy the beautiful views up and down the river.
Once again, generous
Urban Open Space Foundation funding paid for the stone work and plant
purchases....Thanks! Upcoming
activities in June and July for the Friends includes marsh plantings in Tenney
Park and near Mickey's; clean-up, weeding and mulching near the Rutledge
Bridge/Main Street Bridges; a walk through of the Parkway and miscellaneous
work at other plantings. For
details contact Margaret at 257-5718 or check out/send us an email at
friendsofyaharariverparkway@egroups.com.
More good news! Katie Nekola, a resource coordinator,
at O'Keefe Middle School secured a $10,000 grant to conduct educational
activities and possibly some wetland and river's edge restoration along the
Yahara River next year. This has
exciting possibilities for getting the kids involved and increasing their
knowledge and appreciation of the river.
The Tenney Lapham
Neighborhood Association received a grant of $2,400 to restore the plantings
along Sherman Avenue and Marston Avenue. A plaque describing the early history
of Tenney Park (a park designed with the common worker and family in mind) and
the Madison Parks and Pleasure Drive Association is part of the restoration and
should be unveiled later this year.
Things for You to
Consider? The Yahara River Parkway Implementation Committee (YRIC) is a
subcommittee of the Parks Department that has been ably assisted by Si
Widstrand. The YRIC is working
with various city departments to implement the major goals outlined in the
Yahara River Parkway master plan. At the May 30 meeting, the YRIC had an
interesting agenda and two important resolutions were passed.
First, a resolution
requesting city Engineering construct the E. Johnson Street bike-ped underpass
as scheduled in 2003 was passed.
Getting the underpasses at the E.Johnson and E. Washington bridges
constructed is critical if we are ever going to realize the Parkway bike-ped
paths described in the master plan.
One of the greatest frustrations involved with the Parkway project has
been the slippage in the timetables for getting these underpasses
constructed. In fairness, these activities
are influenced by the state DOT decisions. It never hurts to call DOT or city Engineering to support
these projects if you are so inclined.
Second, the last
boathouse on the river is used by the UW Rowing program. The boathouse is located
on the east side of the river just south of the E. Johnson Street Bridge. This is undoubtedly the most
unattractive location along the river.
The YRIC resolution requests the Park Commission look into the use
arrangements and Parks staff prepare a site plan and/or restoration activities
for this site. Current information
indicates the UW rowing has used the building free of charge since the
1930-1940's. The YRIC had two
major concerns: 1) this situation is interesting because the use does not provide
public access (like the pontoon boat rides in Tenney Park) yet receives rent
free boat storage on public property along our waters and 2) there is concern
that little to no planning or restoration will be done at this site as long as
the shed remains. The Tenney
Lapham Neighborhood Association has requested this structure be removed this
calendar year. This situation is
complicated by the renovations at the historic Brittingham boathouse and the
~$6 million UW campus crew house renovations set for the next year or two.
Stay tuned.
-
Ed Jepsen