The Diary - August 8

The Diary

August 8, 2026

A Trip to Madison

As I cut across Monona Bay on John Nolen Drive, the Wisconsin capitol glowed like a moon over the lake. Entering downtown, known as “the Isthmus”, I could sense I had arrived in a special place-- well-lit, landscaped, and even elegant.  A proper seat of government.  It was after 9 pm and people were still out on the streets.

I checked into my hotel. By 6 am the next morning, I was up and out the door, eager to explore. During my wanderings, I realized that two physical features gave the city much of its life.  I saw things that Peoria might copy and some things that even Madison could improve.

The fact that downtown is located on a narrow neck of land between two lakes—again that word isthmus—means that there is limited land for development and that parking lots are not the best use of the land.  As a result, there are few gaps between buildings.  The city feels urbane and the density, vaguely European.  You have sense of being in a far bigger city and this lends the city a special sense of place.

Downtown centers on Capitol Square. Four diagonal roads radiate from the square.  As they cut across the urban grid, they create interesting  intersections and irregular  blocks populated with small buildings ideal for independent shops. Apartment buildings cluster along the lakeshore as does the University of Wisconsin. Together, they provide a client base that frequents the stores and restaurants and drives the prosperity that marks the city’s core.

Not all is perfection.  As I strolled around the square, homeless men and women were sleeping on the sidewalk and on or under most of the benches.  For a city built on lakes, there was very limited access to the shoreline and few beaches. I  had a difficult time finding a place to swim and the water quality was questionable. The isthmus also requires heavy and fast traffic to be funneled through the narrow downtown to reach residential areas.  The residential areas are eye-wateringly expensive  (the median city house list price is  $425,000) and these neighborhoods lack the polish of the downtown core.

Peoria is not the capital of Illinois, nor does it host the state’s flagship university, so it is difficult to compare it to Madison.  But there are some things that characterize Madison that, if replicated here, would improve downtown:

1.       Incentivize downtown living beyond the Warehouse District.  Imagine the impact if the empty Riverview Plaza were converted into apartments. What other empty offices could become housing?

2.       Upgrade the streetscape. Courthouse plaza is a big improvement but downtown needs to be branded with hanging baskets and large-scale planters on corners. There should be a theme and intentional color palette for the plantings.

3.       Liven up the streets: Let’s put more tables and chairs in front of our businesses. More sidewalk cafes would enliven downtown but even retail establishments could activate the streetscape by placing a small chair and table in front of their shops.

4.       Make use of the river:  I know a revamp of the downtown riverfront is coming. I hope it moves the river from  a passive to an active asset where kayaking, paddleboarding and even – someday—swimming are possible.

5.       Bring back the fountains:  How can a city built on bourbon (i.e., water) have let so many fountains go dry?  Yes, they cost money and require maintenance, but they attract people, cool the city, and beautify like no other amenity.