MONROE — Organizers of a small park in the downtown area got their first approval in the planning process from Monroe Common Council members April 1. 

Parks Supervisor Josh Trame was one of the initial planners. He said he met with Jordan Nordby, executive director of Main Street Monroe, and Donna Glynn to discuss the possibility of turning a small plot of empty land in the downtown area into a green space commonly known as a pocket park. These spaces are typically placed on small or irregular vacant lots and are accessible to the general public.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, pocket parks are generally laid out in a space no more than 0.25 acres and are often surrounded by urban buildings. Generally, they can meet different needs and functions for the area at large, like serving as a small event space, providing relaxation or lunch break spaces or even creating a small play area for children. For Glynn, this means providing a facility that has not been available on the Square.

“Nothing has changed in 100 years,” Glynn said, before reading aloud from a newspaper article from the turn of the 20th century.

Namely, she was referring to public bathrooms for shoppers on the Square. The pocket park could have restrooms included, providing a much-needed respite for visitors from out of town, she said. 

Nordby said public bathrooms are commonly referred to in conversations as “a huge concern” by visitors. The park could accommodate that use, he said. Nordby added that there are a handful of possible locations to be used as a pocket park, but the group has not yet decided on any specific area.

A pocket park is in line with a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan created in 2005 and amended in 2010 with goals for the city, including the growth of parks. Small parks cannot serve groups of people like an average-sized city park would, but are meant to address the specific interests of nearby residents.

At the beginning of April, Trame said the group was ready to “get the city involved” by requesting permission to apply for grant funding. 

The application would be for a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grant. Nordby said the Department of Natural Resources funding would allow the city to purchase a property without having an expense for two years. The grant would require a 50% match by the city. He added that total cost for the project is still unknown, but land could be from $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the parcel.

The push for funding would also require effective fundraising campaigns, Nordby said. Trame added that the concept plans are fairly vague and initial ideas still need to be developed, but they plan to move forward. Two phases of the plan include acquiring the land and identifying how it will be used. Currently, they are looking to secure funding before moving forward. Obtaining grant funding would be a useful step, Trame noted. 

Nordby added that future grants may be attainable through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Fundraising would also help set up a contingency fund for maintenance and other expenses. Nordby said they expect the project may take 3 to 5 years to complete. The grant application is due May 1.