Two of Madison's most beloved parks are Olin Park and Turville Point Conservation Park. The city refers to these parks as our "natural gems" because they bring a little bit of the untouched outdoors into the city.

Currently, the draft South Madison Plan's height map, which establishes height limits for all of South Madison, would allow a height limit of:

- 12 stories for buildings adjacent to these two parks along the John Nolen Drive corridor
- 12 stories where the "Olin Triangle" (home to The Wonder Bar) the land surrounded by John Nolen Drive, East Olin Avenue, and Wingra Creek) home to the Wonder Bar, borders John Nolen Drive and East Olin Avenue

- 8 stories where the Olin Triangle borders the Wingra Creek Parkway.

City Planning staff points out that the South Madison Plan height limits support the Alliant Energy Center's Destination District Vision & Strategy, which McGrath Property Group also referred to in support of its proposed multi-story tower. Opponents of this part of the height map object that these limits could have potentially negative impacts on Olin Park & Turville Point Conservation Park, such as:

- Altering the view from within the parks and from points all around Madison
- Increasing bird strikes along an important migratory route due to the added amount and height of building glass
- Compromising visitors' enjoyment of Olin Park and Turville Point Conservation Park and the Wingra Creek parkway and bike path.

The draft South Madison Plan update was presented to Madison's Common Council on November 2, 2021. Subsequently it will be reviewed by several city commissions and then return to the Council for a vote on January 4, 2022.
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO
 
1) Click https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/save-olin-and-turville-conservation-parks to sign the petition to Protect Olin Park and Turville Point Conservation Park and learn more about the height map.

2) Forward this message to friends and family in Madison.