October 11 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Sunset at San Damiano Park is one of THE BEST in Dane County. Join us and add a spectacular backdrop to your Sunday evening.

The 2nd Sunday of each month, May through October, join us for a peaceful evening on the shores of Lake Monona. Enjoy dinner from the food cart or bring your own. Partake in free lawn games with family and friends. Relax with live music as you take it all in.

Lawn games (bags, bocce, ladder toss, connect 4, croquet, and giant Jenga), along with a different food cart option and live music each month will surely enhance your monthly experience of the best sunset in Dane County. 

In October, join us for Rich Kessler, a classic rock, blues and country musician.

Jakarta Café will vend food. Beverages will be for sale thanks to Friends of San Damiano.

The post Sunset Games in October appeared first on Friends of San Damiano.

Monday, April 20th marked an important milestone, not only for San Damiano Park, but for Monona and our Dane County community. Unanimously, the City of Monona Common Council officially approved the Phase I Conceptual Development Plan, setting in motion the first tangible steps toward transforming this lakefront park into a vibrant, welcoming destination for daily use.   

From Underutilized to Destination 

For years, San Damiano Park has held incredible potential, beautifully located along Lake Monona, yet limited by barriers that make it difficult to fully enjoy. Phase I is designed to change that by focusing on immediate activation and visible progress: 

• Making the site easier to access  
• Creating reasons to visit every day
• Building energy, activity, and connection  

Phase I includes thoughtful improvements that invite people in. 

What Happens Next: Bringing the Space to Life 

The approved plan focuses on key improvements that will fundamentally reshape how the space is used: 

Access That Works for Everyone 
Addressing parking and site flow removes one of the biggest barriers to use, making it easier for families, visitors, and community members to show up and stay. 

A True Waterfront Experience 
New pier structures, safe lake entry points, and a welcoming patio will create something the community has long been missing: a place to gather, relax, and experience Lake Monona up close, especially at sunset. 

Adaptively Reusing the Frank Allis House 
This historic structure will be reimagined as a functional, inviting hub, offering restrooms and food and beverage options that support daily use and longer visits. 

Designed for Families & Connection 
With outdoor play features and multi-generational spaces, the site will become a place where families can spend time together and return again and again. 

A New Name, A New Identity 
As part of this transformation, the park will be renamed, signaling a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose for the space. 

Phase I Site Plan

Phase I Special Events

Phase I Daily Experience

This Is Just the Beginning 

The Phase I Plan is intentionally designed to do three things: 

1. Build momentum through visible progress

2. Increase community ownership and pride  

3. Create a foundation for long-term investment and growth  

When people experience a place easily and fully, they begin to believe in what it can become. That belief is what fuels everything that comes next. With Phase I approved, the real work begins to turn these plans into reality. 

In the months ahead, we’ll move into implementation, partnerships, and the next phase of fundraising to bring these ideas to life. This transformation will not happen alone. It will take a community of people who care about this space and what it represents. 

And, if last night is any indication, the Monona community is ready. This is the beginning of a place people will gather, return to, and take pride in—for generations. 

Stay Connected 

We’ll be sharing updates, opportunities to get involved, and ways to support the next phase in the months ahead. If you haven’t done so already, please join our mailing list to stay in the loop. And, never hesitate to reach out with questions and comments… We’d love to hear from you. 

Thanks for your support of the San Damiano Park and this incredible space. 

With gratitude, 

Cara Erickson 
Executive Director 
Friends of San Damiano 

cara@sandamianomonona.org

Media pieces sparked by this exciting news include:

Isthmus: ‘Dining on Lake Monona?’

Channel 3000: ‘Monona Common Council approves first phase of San Damiano Park redesign’

InBusiness: ‘Monona approves first phase of San Damiano Park for community use’

NBC15: Monona Common Council approves plan to transform San Damiano Park

The post A Major Step Forward: Phase I Conceptual Plan Unanimously Approved appeared first on Friends of San Damiano.