Willy Street and the Marquette neighborhood: history, parks and places to start

A short history

The American Planning Association, which named Williamson-Marquette one of its Top 10 Great Neighborhoods in 2013, describes it as founded in the late 1850s on the isthmus and as one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. Because it grew up before the automobile era, shops, entertainment and jobs sit within walking distance of homes.

The City of Madison's historic district pages fill in the details:

• Third Lake Ridge: designated by the Common Council in 1979 as the city's second local historic district, at the request of the Marquette Neighborhood Association. The city calls it the oldest section of the Marquette neighborhood, with a mix of industrial, commercial and residential buildings, mostly vernacular Victorian houses. It runs from Blair Street to the Yahara River, and from Williamson Street to Lake Monona.
• Marquette Bungalows: a two-block district of 47 one-story bungalows and one Victorian house, developed in 1924 by Karrels Realty and Building Development Company and designated in 1993.

The APA notes that the 1950s brought street widening, tree removal and the loss of manufacturing and rail jobs, followed by a long decline. Residents formed the Marquette Neighborhood Association in 1968, and according to the city, it wrote Madison's first neighborhood-initiated plan in 1970. The city says that planning saved historic homes, kept Marquette Elementary as a neighborhood school and laid the groundwork for the park now called McPike Park.

Atwood: Atwood Avenue and Schenk's Corners, just to the northeast across the Yahara River, are a separate neighborhood with their own character. See our neighborhoods guide for a short introduction.

Festivals

Two of the east side's best-known events are run by the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, which you can also find in our community centers listings.

• Willy Street Fair: Williamson Street closes for a weekend of music on several stages. The fair is produced by and benefits CWD and the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center. The organizers' site lists September 18 and 19, 2027, which they bill as the fair's 50th year, with Saturday hours of noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday hours of 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• La Fête de Marquette: a free, family-friendly summer festival at McPike Park, with its roots in the spirit of Bastille Day. Wil-Mar describes live music from several traditions, plus food, vendors and activities for all ages. The organizer's page didn't list dates, so check it before you plan. Our directory also has a La Fête de Marquette listing.

For dates across the year, see our festivals guide.

Parks and the lakefront

The APA lists Lake Monona, Orton Park, the Yahara River corridor, B.B. Clarke Beach and Morrison Park as within or near the neighborhood. A few details from the City of Madison's park pages:

• Orton Park: the site of the village cemetery from 1848. Burials were moved to Forest Hill Cemetery in 1877, and in 1883 the land was declared Madison's first official city park. It opened in 1887, became a city landmark in 1975 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• McPike Park: about 9 acres at 202 S. Ingersoll St., known as Central Park until it was renamed in April 2018 for Milton McPike, a longtime East High School principal. It has the free Goodman Skatepark, which opened in 2015, and hosts festivals and a weekly farmers' market from spring through fall.
• B.B. Clarke Beach Park: a small, 1.73-acre beach on Lake Monona at 835 Spaight St. It has swim ropes but no lifeguards, a canoe and kayak launch, fishing access and a playground.
• Morrison Park and Law Park are also in our directory, and Willy Street Park is a volunteer-run community park on Williamson Street itself.

The APA says the Yahara River Parkway, first proposed by planner John Nolen, was completed in 2008. For paths, see our biking guide and parks guide.

Getting there

Williamson Street is close to the Capitol Square, so many people walk or bike in from downtown.

• Metro Transit: the city's route descriptions list Route 38 as serving Williamson Street, but it runs weekdays only and not on holidays or when the UW isn't in session. Routes change, so use Metro's route planner and current schedules before you go.
• Parking: this is an older, dense neighborhood with limited street space, and Williamson Street closes for the Willy Street Fair. Our downtown parking guide covers the city's parking rules, and our getting around guide covers buses and bikes.

Places to start on Williamson Street

These are businesses in our directory with a Williamson Street address. Descriptions come from their directory listings. Hours and menus change, so check with each one.

• Willy Street Co-op East: customer-owned cooperative grocery store, the co-op's east side store.
• Batch Bakehouse: a Willy Street bakery since 2009 making butter croissants, scones, pies, baguettes, ciabatta and Friday challah.
• Mother Fool's Coffeehouse: a coffeehouse since 1994 with no dairy at all, vegan baked goods, monthly art shows and the Mad City Story Slam.
• Buraka: Ethiopian and East African food since 1992, known for its doro wot, with a backyard patio.
• Sardine: a French bistro in the Machinery Row building on Lake Monona, with oysters, moules frites, steak frites and weekend brunch.
• Grampa's Pizzeria: a pizzeria built on a family recipe, with thin-crust pies like the Brassacre (Brussels sprouts and bacon).
• Café CODA: Madison's jazz club, with shows, jam sessions, dance nights and a free Saturday improv clinic for kids.
• Hatch Art House: an artist-run gallery with resident potters, group shows and receptions, part of Gallery Night.
• Machinery Row Bicycles: bike shop selling road, mountain and e-bikes, with repair and rentals.