Alumni Park sits between Lake Mendota and Langdon Street in Madison, Wisconsin. Serenely overlooking the water, the park celebrates the University of Wisconsin–Madison and its graduates with everything from sculptures to walkways a massive fountain. The park tells the stories of the university and its alumni, but that it does so in a space that would otherwise be little more than a parking lot is what makes it such a notable monument.
Celebrating the University of Wisconsin–Madison and its graduates
In 2009, Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) president Paula Bonner determined that the WAA needed to create a green space at one of the most popular entryways to campus. The creation of the park involved the work of a content-and-design committee, incorporating alumni, the city, the state, and representatives of campus and the Office of the Chancellor. Construction began on what was until then just empty space in 2015 and was finalized in 2017 when the 1.3-acre green space officially opened.
There are over 10 different sights located across the park, all of which have distinct identities and features that celebrate the community. Alumni Way is marked by five 18-foot long panels, each representing one of the pillars of the Wisconsin ideal. The Badger Pride Wall features Madison artist Nate Koehler’s whimsical renditions of UW icons, while the Lantern is a seven-foot-high steel cone lit from within to illuminate imagery chronicling ten decades of university culture.
However, the most notable feature of the park is arguably “Well Red”, the Bucky Sculpture. Well Red is a nearly eight-foot-high bronze and glass sculpture of the university’s beloved mascot, Bucky Badger. In terms of other especially notable features, a 30,000-pound granite fountain is contained in the Welcome Plaza of the park, which is free and open to the public 365 days a year.
Alumni Park is designed to tell the story of what it means to attend and graduate from the University of Wisconsin. It’s an art gallery, museum and a storehouse for the memories of the University all wrapped into one. This collection of monuments and moments has allowed the park to have a significant impact on the culture and economy of the area.
Spaces, Alumni and Donations
Nearly 4,000 donors helped to create Alumni Park. The Area of Distinction celebrates alumni achievements with plaques, quotes and bronze sculptures, many of whom helped to make the park a reality. There are some 207 alumni names listed in Alumni Park and One Alumni Place, along with over 50 park exhibits. The features range from sculptures to statues to panels and inscriptions.
Donors to the park are celebrated in a variety of ways, and there are numerous featured alumni throughout the park. Those donations aren’t just about the origins of the park though, as making a gift to the park is an especially easy process. These donations provide an important revenue source for the park, as well as a critical reflection of the community.
Events that range from yoga to boat rides to celebrations take place at Alumni Park throughout the year. The space also features a Classroom with amphitheater seating for gatherings, classes, public programs, and performances. The Classroom space showcases the continual impact of the park on the community and culture.
One Alumni Place offers event space as well as a collection of books and artifacts that highlight the alumni experience. The facility also offers reception and visitor services, giving alumni a spot where they can learn about what’s going on around campus, and meet their fellow grads. The rooftop deck is an outdoor gathering space with spectacular views of the park and the lake that hosts a variety of events.
All of these features come together to form a legacy for Alumni Park that celebrates the past of the school while enabling a powerful impact on the present and future.
Legacy Personified 
Like other parks that have transformed the space or serve as a collection of monuments, Alumni Park provides an incredible of what it means to see a legacy personified. Before it wa Alumni Park, the space where the park now resides was a parking lot. The vision to create a public entrance on the northeast corner of campus is one that stretches back to the origin of the school, and the completion of Alumni Park illustrates what kind of a positive impact is possible when this sort of vision is properly realized.
