'Adding more lights to campus is never a bad thing': UW considers Lakeshore Path change

MADISON, Wis.-- The Lakeshore Path along Lake Mendota may receive some safety touch-ups as UW-Madison conducts surveys to see how the public responds to future lighting on the path.

UW-Madison has started to consider a solution to make the Lakeshore Path more accessible and safe. Campus leaders are thinking about adding lights along the path and paving some of the walkways. This idea is in the very beginning stages, where UW is listening to the public through meetings and an online survey. The university contracted Damon Farber Landscape Architects, who are still analyzing the data from the surveys to see how feasible it would be to add infrastructure to the path.

Though many people know the Lakeshore Path well, UW-Madison students that live in the lakeshore residence halls have a fresh perspective. One UW student, and previous lakeshore resident, said she would never walk on the path at night.

“I’ve been warned by a lot of upperclassmen not to come over here at nighttime,” said student Nadia Gitua. “The first time that I came down here I was like, this is super nice, it would be a nice place to walk at night. And then someone specifically told me, ‘absolutely, not’.”

Many have been warned not to walk the path at night for safety reasons, but according to the UW-Madison Police Department the reality is much safer than the rumors. Within the last four years there have been 10 incidents reported on the path, most being graffiti and possession of marijuana. Even with these statistics, UW advisor Sarina Sternad says a little light never hurts.

“I often think that adding more lights to campus is never a bad thing for the safety of all of our students and just everyone involved,” Sternad said.  “But definitely for like a lot of our female students on campus, just because we know that, like assault is a huge issue on every college campus and it definitely is an issue at UW too.”

“I can't go on my walks and stuff later in the day. It's already dark,” said Gitua. “So I feel like lighting it would make it available many more other times.”

UW-Madison has started the conversation of lighting up lakeshore, but they are still collecting and analyzing data.

The lighting lakeshore survey is still open to the public. If you have any suggestions or thoughts you can find the survey here .

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