As we move through the harvest season and the end of the year draws near, I find myself reflecting on just how much has happened at San Damiano Park. What began as foresight to save this special place along the shores of Lake Monona is now becoming something we can see, experience, and enjoy together.
In the spring, we celebrated the unanimous approval of our Phase I Conceptual Development Plan by Monona City Council and began the important work of writing the next chapter of San Damiano Park, as outlined in the Master Plan published in spring 2024. Improvements such as pier structures for water access, a small parking lot near Monona Drive, opportunities for play and engagement on the grounds, and the adaptive reuse of the Frank Allis House for the daily experience, which includes bathrooms and food and beverage, are all ways we plan to activate the site for our community.
This year, we took full responsibility for the care of the land and thousands of people joined us at San Damiano Park through community events we organized. Many more were introduced to the park thanks to the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival and other events hosted on the grounds. On the shore and in these 10 acres, we celebrated music and sunsets, gathered for games and land stewardship. We tended gardens that nourished our neighbors and continued caring for the natural landscape that makes this place so special. And, for the first time this year, we earned revenue thanks to private events.
These are meaningful milestones, but what matters most is the community behind them. To our donors, sponsors, volunteers, community partners, neighbors, and everyone who has visited San Damiano Park this year, thank you. Your generosity, enthusiasm, time, and belief in this place are what make our progress possible. Every gift, every helping hand, every event attended, and every new person who discovers the space brings us closer to realizing its potential.
As we look toward 2027, there is so much to be excited about, and much work still ahead. Our year-end giving season is an opportunity to invest in the next chapter of San Damiano Park, supporting the stewardship of the park today, while helping advance the improvements that will make it an even more welcoming, accessible, and vibrant destination for generations to come. If you haven’t yet supported our project, I hope you’ll consider joining us, as donors today are foundational to our success tomorrow.
Thank you for being part of this journey and believing in the vision. San Damiano Park is becoming something extraordinary, and we’re building it together.
With gratitude,
Cara Erickson
Executive Director
Friends of San Damiano