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Madeline Leopold honored with Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility and Public Discourse Award
Summary
The Common Council presented the 18th annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility and Public Discourse Award to Madeline Leopold for her service on the Parks Commission and work advancing public access and park stewardship.
The Madison Common Council presented the 18th Annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility and Public Discourse Award to Madeline Leopold on Jan. 28 for her long service to the city’s parks and civic life.
Alder Evers read the resolution noting Leopold served on the City of Madison Board of Park Commissioners from 2010 to 2021 and was commission president from April 2018 to May 2020. The resolution credited Leopold with work to protect park ecosystems, to prioritize public access, to develop standards for sound amplification, to consider community garden space, and to lead long‑range park planning efforts.
Leopold accepted the award and thanked colleagues and park staff. "Serving on the Park Commission opened my eyes to the many, many challenges that park staff face on a regular basis," she said. "If a registrant comes away from a meeting feeling heard, feeling listened to, feeling respected, there's a bit of trust that is created in that process."
Members of the council and attendees praised Leopold for her facilitation and attention to equitable access to parks. The council recorded an enthusiastic unanimous aye vote to adopt the honoring resolution (Legistar 86764). The Erlanger family appeared at the ceremony and members of the parks division joined Leopold for photos.
The award recognizes civic civility and constructive public discourse in honor of Jeffrey Clay Erlanger; nomination and selection details are managed by the award committee and the Common Council.
