On March 3, 2020, the owners of the property gave the City of Monona four months to determine whether it could gather sufficient resources to purchase the property. The deadline was extended by two months due to COVID-19. On September 8, 2020 the city council voted unanimously to purchase the property for $8.6 million and control the future of the property. The City of Monona closed on the San Damiano property on June 1, 2021.
The City purchased San Damiano for $8.6 million. The City of Monona received grants from Dane County ($2 million) and the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Fund ($249,000) to offset a portion of the purchase price. The total new debt taken on by the City of Monona for the acquisition of the property was approximately $6.35 million.
The San Damiano purchase increased the City’s annual debt service payments (interest and principal). As the City has shared in its annual tax letters to residents, the cost to service the San Damiano debt is $76 per year for the average (median value) Monona homeowner.
Friends of San Damiano began reimbursing the City of Monona in 2023 for San Damiano maintenance and operating expenses and will continue to do so annually moving forward. The Friends also raised the funds and paid for the entire San Damiano master planning process ($142,600). In addition, Friends of San Damiano volunteers have provided hundreds of hours of work and in-kind services in support of park maintenance, cleanup, and repair and maintenance of the Frank Allis house.
As of October 23, 2024 and since its inception in July 2020, the Friends of San Damiano has raised $702,000.
In addition to this amount, Friends served as the fiscal agent for the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpting Festival Committee and assisted with raising and stewarding $175,000 in support of the week-long festival.
As of October 23, 2024, the Friends have spent the following:
In addition, the Friends served as the fiscal agent for the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpting Festival Committee and assisted with dispersing $142,900 in support of the week-long festival.
The Friends are now working on a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City to codify a public/private partnership for the future that was recommended in the San Damiano Master Plan, unanimously approved by both the San Damiano Steering Committee and the Monona City Council in March 2024. Through this partnership, if approved by the Monona City Council, the Friends will continue to fundraise to meet the needs of all of the property's operating, maintenance, and programming expenses and will launch a capital campaign to deliver the improvements outlined in the master plan, seeking private and public funding sources that do not have an additional tax impact on Monona residents.
The Friends of San Damiano believe that preserving San Damiano as a public space with lake access for the entire community is a priority for Monona and Dane County. We are committed to our partnership with the City to realize this vision in a way that is financially sustainable.
The Friends and the City are evaluating the feasibility of restoring the Frank Allis house and its ability to meet the future goals outlined in the San Damiano Master Plan for a four-season facility that provides park amenities, serves as a community gathering place, and enables revenue generation.
Yes. A priority listed in the Master Plan is to sustain and support property improvements and ongoing operating costs by leveraging philanthropy and revenue-generating opportunities. The new MOU being created between the City and the Friends assumes that future revenue streams such as rental fees, food and beverage sales, and fees for services will be explored and pursued to ensure sustainable park operations.
San Damiano has become a treasured place for many. If you have contributed, volunteered, enjoyed the property, or participated in the evolution of San Damiano’s future, we sincerely thank you. We look forward to collaborating with you in the future.
If you haven't yet had the chance to get involved but share our love for the serenity and beauty of San Damiano, are inspired by the programs and partnerships we've developed—like the recent Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival—and are excited to see the property continue to evolve, we invite you to join us. Together, we can bring this vision to life!
Please get involved! Contact us at friendsofsandamiano@gmail.com.
On March 3, 2020, the owners of the property gave the City of Monona four months to determine whether it could gather sufficient resources to purchase the property. The deadline was extended by two months due to COVID-19. On September 8, 2020 the city council voted unanimously to purchase the property to control the future of the property. The City of Monona closed on the San Damiano property on June 1, 2021.
The City purchased San Damiano for $8.6 million and later received grants from Dane County ($2 million) and the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Fund ($249,000) to offset a portion of the purchase price. The total new debt taken on by the City of Monona for the acquisition of the property was approximately $6.35 million.
The December 2020 appraisal of the San Damiano property is available on the City of Monona's website.
On March 16, 2020, the Monona City Council voted to retain David Allen and Development for Conservation, LLC, a sole proprietorship, to test the feasibility of raising $12,000,000 privately to protect San Damiano as a public asset. Particularly, the study focused on individuals willing to make private financial commitments.
There were nine conclusions reached in the report, three of them were central to the city’s decision to purchase the property.
The San Damiano Project Steering Committee was established by the Monona City Council on August 16, 2021, to support the City and Friends of San Damiano in managing the work related to the City’s purchase of the San Damiano property. Its purpose was to provide guidance on key issues, advise on important matters as they arose, be informed about fundraising activities, and lead the public Visioning and Master Plan process in collaboration with a professional services consultant.
Vision: To create a sustainable and serene, natural lakeside destination offering recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
Priorities and Goals:
The San Damiano Master Plan was developed through a comprehensive 18-month process, beginning in July 2022 and concluding in December 2023. Throughout this process, over 6,000 unique individuals were engaged through 3 public information sessions, 15 steering committee meetings, 6 focus groups, 3 public surveys, individual stakeholder meetings, property tours, and community events. Stages of the master planning process included:
Phase One: Foundation
The initial phase focused on gathering information about the site, including its history, existing conditions, and potential improvements. Through extensive public outreach, key opportunities emerged, such as securing public and private funding, improving accessibility, fostering partnerships, and preserving the property’s environmental value.
Phase Two: Concepting
Schematic concepts were developed based on public input. The process involved presenting various design options and gathering feedback through diverse channels, including public surveys, focus groups, and meetings. This allowed the community to shape decisions about the park's layout and features, from event spaces to recreational opportunities. Read results of the public input survey.
Phase Three: Master Plan
The final phase synthesized public feedback, best practices, and regulatory requirements into a comprehensive Master Plan. Two options were presented to the public: renovating the existing house or constructing a new facility. The decision was closely contested resulting in the inclusion of both options in the final plan.
The San Damiano Master Plan was approved by the City of Monona and the San Damiano Steering Committee in March 2024. The Plan outlines the community’s vision for transforming the property into a welcoming public space focusing on sustainable design, passive recreation, and preserving the natural landscape. Key elements include:
We invite you to read the complete San Damiano Master Plan on the City of Monona's website.
We don’t know yet. While the Frank Allis manor on San Damiano was designated a Monona landmark in 1979, it had not seen care in recent years. In 2007, it was determined by the Wisconsin Historical Society that it is not eligible for state or national landmark status because its interior and exterior had been extensively altered since its construction in 1894. A full assessment of the condition of the house was commissioned by the city and can be read by clicking the bold link above. The Friends and the City are evaluating the feasibility of restoring the Frank Allis house and its ability to meet the future goals outlined in the San Damiano Master Plan for a four-season facility that provides park amenities, serves as a community gathering place, and enables revenue generation.
We invite you to take a virtual tour of the house using this 3D tour.
Yes. The City of Monona commissioned an archaeological survey and it was completed in December of 2022. San Damiano's presence on the Wisconsin State Archaeological Inventory is due to Ho-Chunk ancestral mounds that may be or have once been on the property and the potential of burial remains, all of which are protected by State statute. The archaeological survey results indicated:
Read the Archaeological Investigation Results.
The mission of Friends of San Damiano is to help transform San Damiano Monona into a public space - for recreation, education, and peaceful reflection.
Friends of San Damiano is dedicated to securing financial resources for the San Damiano property. The Friends funded the community engagement and master planning process, contributing $142,600 to the City of Monona, as well as covering operating and maintenance costs for the property. Currently, the Friends are laying the groundwork for the long-term future of San Damiano by preparing to launch a capital campaign aligned with the Master Plan.
With the support of community partnerships, hundreds of dedicated volunteers, and funding from the community, the Friends offer a variety of educational, recreational, and community programs. These include Biergartens, Snow Snake Games, birding tours, house tours, festivals, and more. Through these efforts, the Friends are committed to ensuring that San Damiano remains a vibrant and engaging space for the Dane County community.
Yes. There are similar City of Monona groups like the Friends of San Damiano, including the Friends of the Monona Public Library, Friends of the Senior Center, Monona Public Library Foundation, Friends of WVMO, etc.
