Arboretum Neighborhood Association

1/26/2025 Meeting

Present: Leslie, Alison, Jaala, Sharon, Tyler

Review of 2025 Neighborhood Association Grant opportunity:

Following discussion, the decision was made to pursue a grant application for mural painting of the Lake Forest Water Co op pump house where Martin street curves in front of the UW Arboretum parking lot as well as mural painting of the facade of Neff Cycle at 1490 Martin St. across from Fraust Park.  Proposal will be to paint the pump house first with anticipated painting dates to fall over two weekends in early fall with anticipated completion by the end of September 2025.  Neff Cycle will be painted as a following Spring/Summer 2026 project.  Application is due 2/18/25 and notifications as to if we are awarded any grant money will be received in May 2025.

Duties:

-Tyler will draft the written proposal according to the City application guidelines (attached) making points regarding the project creating community building, beautifying the area, developing connection with private entities (Neff Cycle and Wingra Boats), allowing neighbors to take leadership roles, and being open to all ages, races, ethnicities, and income levels.

-Alison will make the required contact with the City neighborhood association/Planning staff and alderperson Tag Evers officially declaring our intention to apply and proposal idea (as a required step in the application process)

-Jaala will prepare a proposed budget for the grant application to include: paint, brushes, containers, tarps, any other necessary equipment, refreshments for work party

-Jaala will obtain a written statement from the Lake Forest Water Co op Board granting permission to paint the pump house

-Jaala will send Tyler some sample pictures of murals that we reviewed to include in the proposal

-We should also include simple photos of the two project sites and rough dimensions

-Tyler will connect with Neff Cycle and Wingra Boats to obtain a written statement granting permission to paint the building

Discussion was had regarding how to ultimately select a mural design.  Decision made to announce project to the neighborhood once we have been notified of proposal acceptance and grant receipt in May 2025.  Neighborhood will be invited to submit design ideas throughout the summer months.  The ANA Board will review submissions and select a “Top 5” which will then be sent out to the neighborhood to be voted on.  Painting dates will be determined as we near the end of summer.

Review of neighborhood feedback surveys

Reviewed Jaala’s creation of Whatsapp group to be used for neighborhood buy/sell/trade and nature sightings sharing only.  Alison will announce it to the neighborhood.
Discussed other socializing/community building requests.  Alison will summarize the “theme” of many neighbors wanting this and invite neighbors to reach out should they want to take the lead in organizing any regular groups like a book club, walking club, history club, bird watching etc
Reviewed request for more service projects/work parties in the neighborhood.  Decision made to pursue another Earth Day neighborhood clean up as done 2 years ago.  Alison will reach out to the Parks staff to arrange for the loaning of (free) equipment.  We will eagerly await the hiring of a new volunteer coordinator at the UW Arb and plan to make connection for future Arb work parties.
Discussed feedback asking for development of oral history recordings and possible historical walking tours of the older “first” homes in the neighborhood.  Alison will share this idea with the neighborhood inviting neighbors to take the lead on such an idea and even foreshadow this being a possible future grant proposal idea the ANA could apply for.