A sought-after suburb on the shores of Lake Monona
The sought-after community of Monona is located on the shores of Lake Monona, directly across from Downtown Madison. Though the area is well-connected, the residents have fought hard since the city’s incorporation to maintain their own government, traditions, activities and identity. “The Monona area is incredibly, unbelievably friendly,” says resident and Realtor Michael Schuster of The Madison Home Team for RE/MAX Preferred Real Estate. “They have parks everywhere, and everybody is outside frequently. It’s a big walking area, and everyone walks by and wants to know who you are and what your dog’s name is.” The area is, unsurprisingly, highly desirable. “This is a great place for families because people are looking for the school district,” says Ben Anton, a broker associate with the Lauer Realty Group, who also owns a home in the community. “You pay a little extra here for the schools and the parks and amenities.”
Lakeside recreation and more
Located on the eastern and southern shores of Lake Monona, the city enjoys more than four miles of lake shoreline and more than 330 acres of park space, from neighborhood and community parks to woodlands and wetlands. Schluter Beach has a small sandy beach where kids can dip their toes in the water and make sandcastles before getting an ice cream cone across the street at the family-owned Monona Bait & Ice Cream Shop. According to Schuster, sunsets at Wyldhaven Park are a popular attraction. Three boat launches make it easy to get out on the water. The crown jewel of the city park system is Winnequah Park, 45 acres of green space surrounding a winding pond. Within the larger park is the Monona Youth Dream Park, a play area that resembles a large castle with turrets, bridges, a moat at the entrance and a dragon sculpture rising from it. The park is on the same campus as the city’s community center, senior center and public pool. Nearby are the skate park and the public library, from which patrons can take in the park view through floor-to-ceiling windows in the reading area.
An active community with a steady stream of social events
According to Schuster, there are always activities going on in the area for Monona residents, from casual concerts to fairs to fun runs. Also during the summer is the Monona Community Festival, which takes place over a couple of days around the Fourth of July holiday each year. The event has grown from a community event to a regional one, with people coming out for food, fun and fireworks. Perhaps the most unusual event is the Wisconsin Wife Carry Championship, where contestants grab a partner — no spouse required, anyone over the age of 21 will do — and carry them through a 278-yard obstacle course. In addition to events held by the city, individual subdivisions often hold their own. “There's probably two to three block parties going on every week in the summer,” Schuster says. “They're small and quaint, and you can really get to know the people on your street.”
Local Monona Grove School District schools
Though most other neighborhoods surrounding Lake Monona attend schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District, which is graded B-plus by Niche, families with children in Monona are zoned for the Monona Grove School District, graded A-minus. Kids can start their education at Winnequah School, which sits adjacent to Winnequah Park. Graded B-plus, the school starts students as young as 4years old in their 4K kindergarten program. Middle-schoolers attend the Glacial Drumlin School, also graded B-plus, in neighboring Cottage Grove; the school has a robust music program with classes in band, choir, orchestra and general music. Monona Grove High School is graded A-minus and ranked the No. 5 best STEM school in the Madison area by Niche.
What to expect when house-hunting
Lake Monona has a wide variety of home styles and sizes. “Reason being, they all started out as cabins, and a lot of them got added onto and patched together, and some got bought and taken down and replaced with grand houses with three-car garages,” Schuster says. According to Anton, “If you boat along the shoreline, you can see some of the original simple lake homes adjacent to multi-million dollar homes.” Inland, homes are generally ramblers from the 1960s, modest in size and finishes. “People don’t do many updates to them, which is surprising because it’s an affluent neighborhood,” Schuster says, adding No Mow May was enacted to enhance plant life pollination. “People want to leave things natural. It’s about the people, not the look. It’s a different neighborhood culture.” Streets are canopied with 100-year-old oak trees; so many, in fact, that Schuster says the city spends a month cleaning up the leaves. Some homes have garages, either attached or detached. Homes range in price from around $300,000 for the smaller inland homes to $2.9 million for the largest lakefront ones.
Where to shop and dine
Monona may sit in the shadow of the state capitol, located across the lake, but it’s a destination all its own. The commercial district along the four-lane Monona Drive is always buzzing with business activity. There are many popular chains like Starbucks, Chipotle, Taco John’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. A local foodie favorite, Salvatore’s Tomato Pies uses locally made cheeses and Wisconsin-raised meat. Waypoint Public House, located on the Yahara River, is an airy, minimalist pub serving elevated American classics and a selection of craft beer. Diners love soaking up the sun on the waterfront patio. Metro Market is the place for stocking up on groceries and essentials.
Getting around the area
Local buses make stops along larger thoroughfares in the area, although their schedules are somewhat infrequent; most people in Monona get around by car. The neighborhood is convenient to Routes 51 and 18, which provide quick access around the greater Madison area. Downtown Madison is clear across Lake Monona — the Capital Building can be seen on the lake’s horizon — about 7 miles away, or as much as a 20-minute drive during high traffic times. A flood risk exists in the area of Winnequah Park, where a canal runs behind homes on Winnequah Road.
Written By
Jessica Haddad
Photography Contributed By
Christopher Giblin
