MONROE — City officials and leaders broke ground for Monroe’s new downtown “Pocket Park” last Tuesday, Oct. 22 another step in the project’s life cycle as a major addition to the square.
The idea is to have more green space downtown, an outdoor space for the public to gather, and a much-needed place for visitors to use the restroom.
The idea grew from a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant written by Jordan Nordby, Main Street Monroe’s executive director, and Josh Trame, city of Monroe’s parks and Forestry supervisor, to secure the property. An anonymous donor covered the remaining cost to purchase the lot on the northeast corner from WI Bank & Trust.
The bank then donated its profits to the project, about $30,000, and it will include green space for programmed activities and fully ADA-compliant public restrooms that will be open all year during business hours.
The partnership between the bank and Main Street Monroe was a good fit for several reasons, according to Ron Markham, market president for WI Bank & Trust. The Bank currently houses Main Street Monroe offices and the Pocket Park site is where the bank used to operate prior to constructing its new and current building in 1974.
“They really needed a space, and we like to do things for the community,” Markham said, adding that the project has been “a long process” but well worth it.
The design was crafted with an eye on fitting into the square’s historic motif and will include a landscaped garden, a pergola for shade, bike racks, an area for programming, benches, and tables for people to take lunch and coffee from downtown restaurants.
City officials helped the project along significantly with so-called “gap funding” saving the cost of a big loan.
The total cost of the park and restrooms is $950,000; Main Street already has raised approximately $850,000. The organization also is developing an endowment fund that will be dedicated to programming, park enhancements, and future Main Street projects.
John Baumann, a founding board member in 2005, started the groundbreaking ceremony off by discussing when he first heard of the Main Street program from then-mayor Bill Ross, who was also in attendance.
The general contractor for the project is Harmony Construction. Subcontractors include E&N Hughes, Rock Solid Concrete, PDC, and Whitney Tree Service, which are all local and were in attendance.
Nordby thanked everyone for letting Main Street Monroe test and confirm just how generous of a community is. He also noted that it is a physical example of what Main Street Monroe aims to do.
— Gary Mays
