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PRESS RELEASE
New Agreement Paves the Way for San Damiano’s Future
MONONA, Wisc. (March 18, 2025) – The City of Monona and Friends of San Damiano (FoSD) have solidified their relationship with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a major step forward for San Damiano’s future. This agreement establishes a public-private relationship, enabling vital fundraising, leadership expansion, and phased implementation of the San Damiano Master Plan. Under the MOU, the City retains ownership of the property, while FoSD takes the lead on operations, programming, and fundraising to bring the community-driven vision to life.
“The approval of this agreement is a major step forward,” said Wes Mosman Block, President of Friends of San Damiano. “San Damiano holds extraordinary public value as one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels on the Four Lakes. We have a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to steward this property, and this MOU gives us the framework to implement the San Damiano master plan developed by the community.”
As part of this transition, Friends of San Damiano will hire its first executive director to lead fundraising and oversee the property’s future development. This new leadership position is supported in part by a $50,000 Community Impact Capacity-Building grant from the Madison Community Foundation. “We are seeking a dynamic, collaborative leader to help bring the community’s vision for San Damiano to life,” said Mosman Block. “This is a rare opportunity to work alongside a passionate board and create a lasting impact on Monona and Dane County.”
The San Damiano Master Plan envisions a multi-phase transformation of the property, with estimated improvements totaling $11-14 million. The plan relies on a public-private funding model and focuses on making the space more accessible, sustainable, and community-centered while preserving its natural beauty. A key decision remaining from the Master Plan is the future of a four-season community facility. FoSD will conduct a feasibility study to determine whether to renovate the Frank Allis House or build a new facility. The study’s findings will guide a final recommendation to the Monona City Council in December 2025.
With the MOU approved by the City Council, outgoing Monona Mayor Mary O’Connor reflected on the significance of this step for the city’s future: “The purchase of San Damiano is one of my proudest achievements as Mayor. Through the master planning process, we listened to thousands of voices to shape a vision for this space. This new agreement ensures that vision moves forward while reducing the financial burden on the City’s operating budget.”
Contact:
Julie Byrnes
Interim Managing Director
Friends of San Damiano
608-347-7794
Neil Stechschulte
City Administrator
City of Monona, Wisconsin
608-222-2525
