Downtown Festival Lot

Downtown Monroe is the historic heart of our City, and community leaders are excited about the opportunity to enhance its attractions with the development of a new public gathering space -- a Downtown Festival Lot. Throughout 2025, the City developed four preliminary concept options and gathered public input to transform a one-half acre site in downtown as a multi-purpose public space for community and cultural events, including public parking. Aerial-bank property festival lot

In June the City opened an online community survey, held two Open Houses, and staffed a booth at the Monroe Farmers Market to engage passers-by.  Feedback from the community survey and direct comments from the Open Houses during discussions with staff at the Monroe Farmer’s Market were shared with the Economic Development Advisory Board, Planning Commission, and Parks Board last summer.  Input from both the public and the Boards/Commissions was shared with City Council in September. 

City Council expressed its preference for Option #3 - Festival lot and new retail/visitor center. See the concept illustrations below. 

Concept Options Leading to Council-Preferred Option 3

We initially developed four preliminary options that illustrated increasing levels of investment and development of the Festival Lot concept. These options provide general visions for the property and were not final designs. City Council chose Option 3 as its preferred option that will lead to continued design development and exploration of funding sources over the coming years. These options are summarized below. You can view illustrations by clicking on the Option buttons below. 

  • Option 1: Renovate existing building
  • Option 2: Event plaza & renovate existing building
  • Option 3: Festival lot & new retail/visitor center
  • Option 4: Large town square & new visitor center
  1. Option 1
  2. Option 2
  3. Option 3
  4. Option 4
  1. 1 Option1
  2. 2 Option1_3D

Project backgroundScreenshot 2025-01-27 155311

The idea of a Festival Lot has been envisioned by the Monroe Community since the 1970s as a place to host community gatherings, festivals, and cultural events. Over time the concept of a Festival Lot evolved to refer to a flexible public space that could serve multiple functions throughout the year including an outdoor gathering space, public parking, and public restrooms.  

The 2008 Downtown Master Plan highlighted the City’s goal of developing a Festival Lot near downtown as a “flexible space” that would help activate downtown and provide a space for special events.

In December 2023, the City of Monroe completed the purchase of two adjacent properties encompassing approximately one half-acre, located on the northwest corner of W. Main and N. Blakeley Street, to serve as a potential future site for the festival lot.   

Funding

The City allocated $75,000 in the 2025-2026 biennial budget for this project, including short-term efforts to activate the property, develop the site’s long-range vision, and pursue initial development improvements.  Next steps for the project will be continued design development, including opportunities for public review and comment.  More precise budget estimating will be possible as design development continues, leading to City Council review and consideration of project budgeting and timing for implementation. 

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