Do you ever say something about yourself, maybe not even often but just for such a long time off and on that it becomes an accepted fact? Then when an opportunity arises to confirm that accepted fact, you are still a bit surprised? That happened to be just last week with the pocket park.
If you have not been downtown in the last week or so; heck, even since yesterday, you are likely to be surprised by how absolutely great the new park is looking. If you are not surprised, you are ahead of me. I do not know when I discovered what a visual learner is or decided that I am one, but I have taken it as an accepted fact about myself for as long as I can remember. I often say that I need to see something in person to really grasp it.
And yet, when I saw the pocket park in person last week, despite seeing it progress every day and being in the know about the plans, I was nothing if not surprised. The project is interesting. Because of its size, there have not been many opportunities for multiple things to be worked on at the same time. Excavating did not overlap with concrete work which has not overlapped with electrical which has not overlapped with landscaping.
And then, suddenly, everything overlaps because it is done. Or nearly done. As of today, the restrooms are officially open. Landscaping that started in earnest last week, picked up this week. My task for the past few days has been to figure out how to program the electronic kiosk. My hope is that when you come downtown to explore the space and check out the 20 or so vendors a part of the night market, the park will feel welcoming, polished, and that you will realize a piece of the downtown puzzle has been filled. There are not many pieces that need to be filled, but as I surprise myself by marveling at the pergola and the green grass underneath it and the stained concrete leading to the bathroom building, with its cream city brick and frosted windows, I see in front of me that this is one of them.
When the city asked Main Street about how we wanted to dedicate the space, a night market became the obvious answer. We almost hosted one last year, but the timing was not quite right. The park, brought forth by Main Street, funded without the use of any city of Monroe taxpayer dollars, which will be owned and maintained by the city — with a separate Main Street endowment for larger maintenance — is for the community.
The night market will feature local businesses. Busy Bee Floral will have flowers, plants, new gift items, and t-shirts. Community partners like Cheese Days will be set up, giving away a pair of 2026 pint glasses and 2 Monroe Optimist Cheese Curd tickets. There will be a food truck with a Crispy Catch menu featuring items like the Codfather, Fisherman’s Roll, and Coco Loco Shrimp. There will also be crafts, permanent jewelry, custom trucker hats, live music, the UW Marching Band, and, of course, a beer garden.
You may also notice that the tables and benches have not yet arrived. The corner bench and the landscaping behind it are not yet complete. Donor recognition plaques have not yet been added either. I know where they will be going, but when I am in the space, I do not stop to see the gaps. For a visual learner, the lesson has still been surprising and nothing but feel good. I hope you feel the same.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net. Complete details on Main Street Monroe and its efforts can be found at mainstreetmonroe.org.
