The logo was created by Vera Abing.

The basis of the logo consists of the circle park located at the intersection of Vilas and Campbell. We chose this layout because the circle park is a distinctive feature of the Vilas neighborhood. There is only one other circular street configuration in the city. The different components include a tree, which represents the Native American marker trees located in the park, the neighborhood , Dane county, and throughout the state. It also represents the large number of trees in the neighborhood and in Vilas Park. The other major component includes a bear, which depicts the actual effigy mound which existed on this site. Part of the bear effigy mound was destroyed during the neighborhood's construction. The bear also represents the bears and other animals found in the Henry Vilas Zoo, another distinct location in the city, adjacent to the neighborhood.

Finally, the font represents one of the architectural styles found in the neighborhood. The year 1892 was the first year an organized neighborhood group was formed.