Madison to Build Park, Honor Historic Figure

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The city of Madison is taking steps to create a park to honor a resident who played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad that operated in the city during the early 1800s, according to the Madison Courier. Organizers of the park asked the Madison City Council for approximately $335,000 to build the park. 

George DeBaptiste helped slaves escape to the north during the 1830s and 1840s.

The paper says the money would come from a $2 million award from a Community Development Block Grant as part of the state’s Stellar program.

Last March, the city was designed as a Stellar Community. The state program provides resources for transformative quality of place, community and regional improvements.

The council also voted to restructure the city’s Tax Incremental Finance zone. The publication says the changes to the TIF district could generate an additional $275,000 in revenue which would be used to attract businesses and industry to the city.

Click here to read the full story from the Madison Courier.