The Lakeshore Nature Preserve — a 300-acre area on the south shore of Lake Mendota — is on the brink of some exciting developments. Philanthropist and Badger Jerry Frautschi ’56 and his family are generously funding the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Frautschi Center. This sustainable education and visitor center will offer a sense of community through engagement, research, and recreation, including a BCycle station, bike and pedestrian paths, and a multipurpose community room. The structure will also feature upcycled building materials and green roofs to reduce runoff. Construction is expected to start in 2025 with hopes that the center will open in 2026.
“My family has lived in Madison since the 1800s, and we feel a great sense of responsibility to give back to the city and community that we love,” Frautschi says. “I am pleased that I am able to carry on my family’s tradition of philanthropy and community service and that visitors will have a welcoming gathering place with improved access to the trails that line the lakeshore.”