Board approves temporary closures for Courage on Canvas; narrows Riverfest footprint and extends cleanup through Sunday

The Madison City Board of Public Works and Safety approved a temporary partial street closure for Little Golden Fox's Courage on Canvas art show on Saturday, Sept. 5, and discussed modifications to the Riverfest event footprint to reduce impact on neighborhood access.

Kara, the event organizer, told the board the art show would run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 5 and requested a partial closing of North Pine Street between the alley (Fountain Alley) and Main Street for setup and vendor space; she said one food truck and vendor support would be present and that neighbors and the nearby church would be notified in advance. The board approved the listed partial closure (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) by voice vote.

On Riverfest, Steve outlined a restructured, family‑focused footprint with barbecue competitions and vendor areas; the event expects at least 35 professional barbecue teams and dozens of amateur teams and estimated attendance of about 3,500. Board members raised repeated concerns about access to Crystal Beach, pool circulation, and resident parking if large blocks of North–South streets are closed. The board asked event staff to refine the layout to preserve pool access, improve resident signage and parking controls, and minimize blocked access.

Members moved and approved an amendment to the Riverfest resolution (2026‑30b) to extend closures and on‑site cleanup through Sunday, July 23 at 6 p.m. The board directed staff to codify the final footprint and circulate the resolution for signatures.

The votes on these items were taken by voice and recorded as approved; staff will finalize permits and circulation plans with organizers and provide signage and resident‑access solutions before the events.