Public participation key to Campus Master Plan effort

A draft of the university’s campus master plan, strengthened by broad community involvement, was unveiled today after several months of study and numerous public meetings.

“We made a strong effort to engage citizens, on and off campus, in the planning process and the result will be a thoughtful long-term guide for our campus’ future,” says Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for facilities.

The plan – which aims to make the campus more livable, workable and sustainable by examining existing and proposed buildings, outdoor spaces, transportation systems and utilities – will not be finalized until sometime in September.

To date, there have been more than 175 meetings with hundreds of members of the public and interested groups as the draft evolved. That total includes meetings to elicit the thoughts of faculty, staff and students serving on master plan committees. Additional meetings are scheduled before the draft is completed.

A Web site describing the process was created and more than 30,000 copies of master plan documents have been downloaded for review.

“Neighbors, local government officials and the campus community were heavily involved in providing feedback, and their ideas are central to our success in developing a 20-year plan for campus renewal and improvement,” says Fish.

The process was designed to ensure that there is wide community acceptance of a plan that will improve the landscape, research and learning environment on campus in future years.

The draft plan envisions major upgrades such as the redevelopment of the east campus area as an arts and humanities district connected by an East Campus Mall; creation of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of University Avenue; moving the McClimon Track and Soccer Complex to accommodate a cluster of new medical research and academic buildings; development of a West Campus Union and many other projects.

“The master plan provides a framework for future development that will serve our teaching, research and service mission,” says Gary Brown, director of planning and landscape architecture. “We want to create great new learning spaces while establishing more signature outdoor spaces that will enhance our spectacular setting.”

The plan also aims to improve transportation systems and create outdoor spaces that lend a sense of place to the campus. Planners envision, for example, redeveloping Linden Drive between Charter Street and Babcock Drive to reduce vehicular traffic but still allow access and commit space to establish a pedestrian character in the area.

Officials are also looking at ways to improve bus service on campus, provide more bicycle facilities and develop street crossing improvements for safety, especially along University Avenue and Johnson Street.