With a $14.3 million gift, Jerry Frautschi will help build a world-class visitor and education center at an iconic UW–Madison landmark. Jeff Miller

The Lakeshore Nature Preserve has long held a special place in the hearts of Madison philanthropist Jerry Frautschi ’56 and his family. Now, with a $14.3 million gift, Frautschi will help build a world-class visitor and education center at this iconic UW–Madison landmark.

“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.”

The Lakeshore Nature Preserve Frautschi Center is planned for the area outside the stone wall at the Picnic Point entrance. This location does not disrupt habitat within the preserve and is designed to increase natural habitat and stormwater filtration.

“We are fortunate to have such beautiful natural spaces on campus for recreation, research, and education,” says UW–Madison chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin. “And we are exceptionally fortunate for Jerry and his family’s generosity and their commitment to creating this welcoming, accessible, and sustainable space for our students, employees, and visitors.”

The Frautschi family connection to the preserve began 36 years ago when Jerry and his brother, John, purchased what was known as Second Point along Lake Mendota’s shoreline. The property was in danger of being developed at the time, and the family was committed to preserving natural spaces. The brothers paid $1.5 million for the land and then gifted the property to their father for Christmas in 1988. The Frautschis renamed the land Frautschi Point and donated it to the University of Wisconsin.

Construction on the facility is slated to start in 2025, and the center is scheduled to open in 2026.

The Lakeshore Path beckons marathon runners, nature-loving hikers, and contemplative strollers. Bryce Richter

Just steps from a bustling urban campus lies a tranquil, tree-lined trail, where birds sing in a chorus above and waves gently roll into the shore below. Such is the magic of UW–Madison’s Lakeshore Path.

The path traces the shoreline of Lake Mendota for nearly four and a half miles. Officially, it’s composed of two trail segments: the Howard Temin Path and the Lake Mendota Path. The former extends from North Park Street near the Memorial Union westward to Oxford Road. It intersects with the Lake Mendota Path at the main entrance of the ever-popular Picnic Point. This next segment guides travelers to the tip of the panoramic peninsula and then along the lakeshore to Wally Bauman Woods near the Eagle Heights community. These paths tie together the several distinct areas of the 300-acre Lakeshore Nature Preserve, including the less-traveled Frautschi Point at the northernmost coordinate of campus. (Those with a keen eye may even find evidence of old cottages in this portion of the Lakeshore Path.)

Completing the nearly milelong jaunt from the entrance of Picnic Point to the tip provides a unique perspective on campus, the capitol building, and much of Madison. Such views are so seductive that the San Francisco Examiner branded Picnic Point the “kissing-est spot in North America” in 1992. Visitors can also reserve one of the six fire circles scattered throughout this trail. And signs of the area’s earliest inhabitants remain, with several Native American burial mounds near the path. (Staying on the marked trails pays respect to these sacred sites.)

It’s no wonder that thousands flock to the Lakeshore Path each year. It remains one of the few natural areas in Madison that welcome dogs (on leash). Bicyclists are permitted on the Howard Temin Path segment as a shortcut to campus, and customizable routes fulfill the desires of marathon runners, nature-loving hikers, and contemplative strollers alike.

“I’ve walked this path periodically over 40 years and still appreciate the multitude of views it presents of Lake Mendota,” writes a reviewer on the Tripadvisor website. “Whether engaging in conversation with friends or seeking inner solitude, the Lakeshore Path soothes, nourishes, and consistently delivers.”