Located at 114 E First St., Monticello, Iowa, the Downtown Pocket Park provides 2100 square feet of community space for events, gatherings, picnic lunches and more. For more information on fees for use and reserving the space for an event, call the City of Monticello Park & Rec Dept. at 319 465-6640.
The city parking lot on Grand Street provides direct access to the Pocket Park and to downtown businesses. The parking lot opens into a stage area that provides the perfect backdrop for bands, outdoor movies, and other performances.
Visitors can access the Pocket Park via a ramp or stairs from the Grand Street parking lot, or through street front access on First Street.
The Downtown Pocket Park provides free wi-fi access (donated by Infrastructure Technology Solutions and Monticello Carpet and Interiors). Guests also enjoy benches, tables with awnings and seasonal plantings.
While visiting, view the student art wall. In collaboration with the traditional third grade curriculum and the study of the History of Monticello, each third grader in Monticello created an art tile depicting a scene from historical or present day Monticello. The Pocket Park committee would like to thank Maria White (Maria’s Art), Leanna Manternach (Sacred Heart Elementary), Missy Gadient, Tricia Lambert, Robyn Ponder, and Jackie Tighe (Carpenter Elementary) for their work on this artistic element.
The Pocket Park fundraising campaign thank you’s are endless. Private donors, businesses and grants contributed $90,000 of the total fundraising of $105,000. Donors are recognized in several areas throughout the Pocket Park. The Pocket Park committee of Mary Phelan, Doug Herman, Leslie Althoff, Mike Bowman, Erin Danneman, Josh Iben, and Sandy Moats thank all who have so graciously donated.
A tribute or memorial brick placed on the back wall of the Pocket Park is an excellent way to celebrate an individual or organization. The engraved bricks form can be found by clicking this link: https://www.macc-ia.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Pocket-park-bricks-150-10.2020-768×1200-1.jpg.
For more information, please contact Jan Hoag at the Monticello Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc. office at 319 465-5626 or email chamber@macc-ia.us.
The front fence sections were once installed in Monticello’s City Park (the fairgrounds). 
Several varieties of original City bricks were used; these were previously installed at the Monticello depot. 
The Pocket Park hosts several community events each year. 
Until car traffic increased, a water trough was located on First Street. The former water trough is now a planter at Riverside Gardens. Our fountain basin mimics the shape of the original trough. 
Original Monticello street pavers. 
Third Grade students from Carpenter and Sacred Heart Elementary Schools created art tiles after studying the history and geography of Monticello. 
Our replica train depot with service window. 
Keleher’s clock was a First Street mainstay before the fire; our Pocket Park depot features a new timepiece! 
Brick donor wall along the ramp entrance; bricks are still available for purchase.