Burrows Park - Pavement reconstruction 2024

The one-way traffic pattern is proposed due to a desire to have a more efficient parking lot, which is accomplished through angled stalls that use less space. This drove the decision to have the one way traffic pattern. The one way traffic pattern allows us to have narrower driveways.

Madison Parks staff has had internal discussions with the City of Madison’s Traffic Engineering Division. They did not produce a formal study, as this would incur additional expense and time that would be excessive for this scope of a project and size of the adjoining streets. In their review, they noted that we would need to review the permissions/easements established with Maple Bluff, which we have done with our City Attorney’s Office. They reviewed the area to ensure that the turning movements were acceptable, which they determined are. They suggested restricting an additional parking stall to allow access to the grass for larger trailers. 

Why can't the south park roadway be replaced near the effigy mound?

We received guidance from our Preservation Planner who is considered our in-house expert on Wisconsin State Historical Society rules and regulations. They stated that the work is proposed to be done in a way that will help move the ground-disturbing work away from the archaeological site and further minimize the site presence in relation to the effigy mound. They also noted that we will need Landmarks Commission approval, which can be done administratively. We will need to secure a Request to Disturb from the Office of the State Archaeologist.

The Madison Parks Division makes every effort to preserve healthy trees where possible in our development projects. We will work closely with our arborists to create zones around the drip lines of the trees to limit the amount of heavy equipment that impacts the root zones, though as you note some impact will likely occur based on the proximity of the asphalt to the trees. There is a risk that disturbing this area will impact the trees, but we feel that removing the asphalt will be a net benefit to the park.

What is the cost estimate for this project?

We do not create engineering cost estimates until we have a clear scope of the project.  Scope will be determined after the public engagement is complete.

I heard the City is facing a large operational budget crisis in 2025.  Why are projects like this being proposed?  Can't money be moved around from capital projects to address the shortfall? Won't this increase my taxes?

Capital projects do add to the tax burden on our residents, we are not able to simply move funds between our operating and capital budgets. Reducing the number of capital projects that we implement will ultimately reduce the debt service we have, and that in turn would reduce the total tax amount for property tax payers. While lower debt service reduces the impact on taxpayers, it does not provide more room under the levy limit to fund operations costs as the state has differentiated the calculations between the tax levy for operations versus the tax levy for debt service. Under the state levy limit law, debt service is a separate calculation in the overall formula.  The property tax levy for operations is increased by a “net new construction” factor, and debt service for the upcoming year is added to that amount.