City of Monroe: Park Inventory

The City of Monroe periodically produces something called a Recreation Systems Plan. It is chock full of cool park information. The following park inventory was taken from the 2000-2004 City of Monroe Recreation Systems Plan:

MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT RECREATION RESOURCES

The City of Monroe owns 36 parks and three recreation facilities. In addition to city-­owned and managed facilities, the city programs activities at several school district-­owned properties.

In order to evaluate recreation resources, park land was divided into four categories that correspond to national standards but are more closely tied to use by the Monroe community: neighborhood parks that primarily draw from the adjacent residential areas and typically do not exceed five acres; community parks that serve as recreation resources to the community as a whole and will generally range from 5 to 20 acres; regional parks that draw from outside, as well as inside, the City of Monroe; and green/open space which is park land of varying acreage, much of which is currently undeveloped, that serves principally for passive recreation purposes.

Neighborhood Parks

Altrusa Park. A very small park located in the heart of downtown with benches and a small picnic area. This site provides access to the Riverwalk along the banks of the River Raisin. Altrusa is utilized mainly by downtown workers, residents and shoppers.
Facility Summary: 0.1 acre, park benches.

Arbor - Lorain. A small "vest-pocket" park site at the intersection of Arbor and Lorain Streets. The park provides a few pieces of playground equipment, including swings, a bench and a climber. Facility Summary: 0.12 acre, playground equipment, 1 bench.

Boyd Park. The Boyd Park playground includes a basketball half court and several pieces of new playground equipment. This is an historical site with descriptive plaque. Boyd School was demolished several years ago, but the playground remains.
Facility Summary: .544 acres, playground equipment, 1 basketball ha!fcourt.

Calgary Park. Calgary is a neighborhood park located on an oversized subdivision lot in the northwest part of the City. The site includes a small selection of playground equipment, a backstop and a picnic shelter. The park is intended primarily for use as a tot-lot. A drain along the north site boundary limits the use of the longest boundary line.
Facility Summary: 1.9 acres, playground equipment, picnic shelter, backstop.

Frenchman's Bend Park. A small neighborhood park with playground equipment and some open space in the Frenchman's Bend Subdivision located in the northwest part of the city. Facility Summary: .4 acres, playground equipment, open space.

Hoffman Park. The nearly 3 acres of Hoffman Park are found in a residential area west of Telegraph Road and north of Seventh Street. Poor access hinders the use of the park for the residential neighborhood west of the site. The neighborhood park provides playground equipment and a large open play area Substantial additional development could occur on the site. Facility Summary: 2.7 acres, playground equipment.

James and Hendricks Park. A mostly undeveloped site in the northwest part of town at Roessler and Hendricks Streets, the sites are adjacent at this intersection forming a large "L" shaped parcel of over 3 acres. The site contains a newer playground structure. Most of the site is used by neighborhood children as a large open play field for a variety of games. The Hendricks Street right-of-way partially divides the sites and could be vacated to create a larger space. Facility Summary: 3.3 acres, playground equipment and a large open play field.

Lavender Park. Lavender Park is a small neighborhood park and tot-lot. Several pieces of playground equipment are available. A tennis court, picnic shelter, a basketball half court and a storage box for playground games are also on the site. Lack of parking limits access to local residents only. Facility Summary: 1.2 acres, 1 tennis court, 1 picnic shelter, 1 basketball half court, 2 park benches.

Manor Park. Playground equipment, two roller sport courts, a ball field, an open play field and a picnic pavilion are included on the Manor Park site. A small paved parking lot is available off of an adjacent subdivision street. Facility Summary: 5.5 acres, 2 roller sport courts, 15-car parking lot, picnic shelter, playground equipment, 1 ball diamond and an open play field.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. Adjacent to the former Orchard School. This site is owned by the Monroe Public School District but is programmed and maintained as a neighborhood playground through a long-term use agreement with the school district. The site contains 2-basketball courts, playground equipment, a picnic shelter, an open field and cooking grills. Facility Summary: 3.4 acres, playground equipment, picnic shelter, cooking grills, 2 basketball ha!fcourts.

Mason Run Area. Plans are underway to dedicate a portion of open space (approximately I acre) on East Elm Avenue along the north bank of the River Raisin between Michigan A venue and Winchester Street. The park name is to be determined at a later date and would serve current residents of the area as well as a proposed housing development.
Facility Summary: 1.9 acres, currently undeveloped.

Plum Creek Park. Plum Creek runs diagonally through the park: site. Residents from the nearby residential area can use the picnic shelter, playground equipment and basketball court. Lack of parking limits access to only neighborhood residents. An historic monument with reference to the 2nd Battle of the River Raisin is located on the site. Facility Summary: 2.4 acres, 1 basketball ha!fcourt, picnic shelter, playground equipment, historic marker.

Winston Park. A small neighborhood park located at the end of Winston Court in the southwest comer of the City. Playground equipment, a picnic shelter and park benches are' the primary park elements. A portion of the playground equipment that was recently removed due to excessive wear should be replaced.
Facility Summary: 0.4 acre, playground equipment, 1 picnic shelter, 2 park benches. ;'z

Community Parks

Cantrick School. A middle school site with a pool that is programmed during the summer months by the City Recreation Department through a long:-term lease with the school district. The variety of activities available and access to paved parking make Cantrick a valuable community facility, providing the only outdoor public swimming pool in the city, where hundreds of children learn to swim each summer. Facility Summary: 9.5 acre school site, 3 ball diamonds, 2 tennis courts, 2 basketball ha!fcourts, paved school parking lot, 1 soccerlfootball field, 1 outdoor swimming pool.

Elm Avenue Bike Path. A paved path, that begins in downtown Monroe near the Custer Statue at W. Elm Avenue and N. Monroe Street. The path continues west along the south side of Elm, crossing over to the north side of Elm at Cranbrook Park and continuing on to Munson Park. The path is approximately 8 feet wide and two miles in length. The view of the River Raisin along the way has great appeal for the walkers, joggers, bikers and in line skaters who use the path year round. Other parks located along the Elm Avenue Bike Path include St. Mary's, Roessler Field, Mill Race Park, Veterans, and St. Antoine's. Benches in several locations provide resting-places along the path. Some sections of the riverbank are host to patches of wild flowers and grasses.
Facility Summary: 10,560 linear feet (a two mile pathway that is 8feet wide), view of the River Raisin.

Father Cairns Park. Located south of West Eighth Street between Union and Roessler Streets, the park includes 1 lighted ball field with spectator seating, 1 full court basketball court, 1 roller sport court, a picnic pavilion playground equipment and a storage shed. Parking is inadequate for the facility. Several mature trees on the site should be preserved. Facility Summary: 1.8 acres, 1 ball diamond, 1 roller sport court, and picnic pavilion.

Heck Park. Heck Park is the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, conceived and built through the efforts of the local chapter of Vietnam Veterans. Located just west of the 1-75 exit, the park is visited annually by hundreds of tourists and local citizens. The City of Monroe and the County of Monroe jointly own the property. A row of pine trees shields the site from a railroad track on the west side of the site. One of the two ball diamonds is lighted. A large picnic shelter and playground equipment are available near the north diamond, although the playground equipment is outdated and in need of replacement There is also a large open play area near the playground. There are public restrooms and an equipment shed located near the front diamond The City and the County have recently cooperated on improvements to the entrance road, parking area and the park drainage system. Additional city/county improvement projects are proposed for the future. Paved parking is available for 60 cars. A gravel base lot allows for another 60 cars. Nine flagpoles surrounded by a flowerbed at the park entrance display the United States, State of Michigan, and City of Monroe flags along with flags from several major local corporations.
Facility Summary: 20.3 acres, memorial walkway and monument, 2 ball diamonds, 1 picnic shelter, playground equipment, large open play area, restrooms,jlagpoles andjlowerbed.

Hellenberg Field. The site is located adjacent to the River Raisin and includes a boat launch and shore fishing. One ball field is available. Other site amenities include a paved parking lot, playground equipment, restrooms and a large open field area There is also a pedestrian bridge connecting to a natural area on Sterling Island. Sterling Island is in need of a shore erosion control plan to preserve the natural area on the island.
Facility Summary: 9.2 acres, river access with fishing and boat launch, 1 ballfield, picnic shelter, restrooms, and paved parking lot.

Linear Park System. A series of properties and historic sites located on or in close proximity to the banks of the River Raisin, which flows through the city from west to east. These properties serve as major focal points for local recreation participation and also attract a significant level of visitors from outside the local area. Improving linkages between components of the existing system and developing ways to complete the extension of the system are very important to maintaining the integrity and appeal of the overall park system. There is potential to connect the system to the path system within Sterling State Park by acquiring property andlor easements for a trail between the city and the state park property. Facility Summary: 237 acres including Munson Park, Elm Avenue Bike Path, St. Antoine's, Cranbrook, Veterans, Mill Race, Roessler, St. Mary's, Gateway, Loranger Square, Altrusa Park, Sawyer House, Soldiers and Sailors, Rauch, Hellenberg Field/Sterling Island and Sterling State Park.

Navarre Field. The Monroe Public School District owns this property. A large football/soccer stadium dominates this complex. Two roller sport courts, playground
equipment and a lighted baseball diamond are also available. The site is adjacent to a residential neighborhood. The ball diamond, playground equipment and the roller sport courts are programmed and maintained by the city through a long-term use agreement with the school district. The football/soccer facility is used by the school district and is annually -­leased to a semi-professional football team for practices and games. Facility Summary: 10.7 acres, 1 football/soccer stadium, 1 baseball diamond, 2 roller sport courts, and playground equipment.

Riviere Aux Raisins Park. Plans for this park are still in the development stages. The City-owned 1.9 acre site at the northwest comer of North Dixie and East Elm Avenue will serve as a monument to the 1813 River Raisin Massacre. The Memorial Cairn will be relocated from a nearby location on the north bank of the River Raisin. Landscaping~ parking, signage~ and benches are included in the plan. Currently there is a flagpole and historic marker on the site. Facility Summary: 1.9 acres flagpole and historic marker.

Roessler Field at Riverside School. Roessler Field is owned by the Monroe Public School District, but is programmed by the City of Monroe through a long-term use agreement with the school district. The site provides a playground area with equipment, 4 ball diamonds with spectator seating, one of which is lighted and an equipment storage shed. The outfields of two of the ball diamonds also serve as practice football/soccer fields in the fall. The ball­diamonds are maintained by the city, while the school takes care of the playground area.. Shore fishing is available on the riverbank along the south edge of the park.
Facility Summary: 20.1 acres, playground equipment, and 4 ball diamonds, shore fishing, football/soccer field, gravel parking lot adjacent to the ball diamonds, limited paved parJdng at Riverside School./

Sawyer Homestead. This property located on East Front Street across the street from-· Soldiers and Sailors Park is on the National, State and Local Registers of Historical Places. The Sawyer Homestead stands on what was once a 500 acre farm belonging to Francois Navarre, the first white settler in Monroe. The current structure was built in 1872-73 as the residence of Isaac Sawyer. The home served as the headquarters for General Winchester before the 1813 Battle of the River Raisin. The property was deeded to the City of Monroe in 1938 by descendents of Isaac Sawyer. The property is managed by the Monroe Women's Center~ which frequently hosts cultural events and reenactments of historical events. The facility provides a splendid example of the architecture of the 18008. It contains catering facilities and is available to rent for special occasions. Flowerbeds are maintained around the perimeter of the home. There is a small gazebo outside the west entrance. The site has paved parking for 26 vehicles.
Facility Summary: 1.1 acres, historic site, architectural and cultural significance, 3-story home converted to use as a catering facility, cultural center and historic reenactment site.

Soldier/Sailor's Park. Located on the banks of the River Raisin~ the park is well equipped with tennis courts~ a basketball court, a picnic pavilion, horseshoe pits~ and shuffleboard courts. Shore fishing opportunities are also available. The park has some historic significance as one of the two former sites of the Custer Monument, now located in the
downtown area adjacent to St. Mary's Park. A flagpole dedicated to soldiers missing in action or prisoners of war is located near the center of the park.
Facility Summary: 1.2 acres, shore fishing, picnic shelter, 4 tennis courts, playground equipment, 1 basketball half-court, 2 horseshoe pits, 2 shuffleboard courts, historic marker. park benches.

St. Mary's Park. St. Mary's Park is an attractive facility on the north side of the River Raisin, south of Elm Street. The park is situated in an area of significant interest with many large historic buildings. Lighted tennis courts, basketball courts and bocce ball courts provide active recreation opportunities. The site also includes park benches, playground equipment, many large mature shade trees, a band shell and a picnic pavilion. Downtown Monroe is connected to the site by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Footbridge over the river. A large paved parking lot invites visitors to begin a tour of historic Monroe from this point. This is also the location of the historic Custer Monument. A water fountain in the middle of the river adds to the aesthetic appeal of the park.
Facility Summary: 3.0 acres, Custer Monument, picnic shelter, band shell, paved parking lot, 2 lighted tennis courts, 2 basketball half-courts, playground equipment, bocce courts.

Veteran's Park. A paved bicycle/pedestrian path connects Veteran's Park to Cranbrook Park. There is also a paved walking path along the riverbanks. Veteran's is located due west of Telegraph Road on the north side of the River Raisin. Mill Race Park is on the opposite side of the river. A footbridge could provide a useful connection to Mill Race. Veteran's Park includes paved parking for about 75 cars, playground equipment, restrooms and picnic shelters and several cooking grills. The site also includes monuments in memory of World War I, III and Korean War Veterans. Shore fishing is also available.
Facility Summary: World War III! and Korean War Veteran's Monuments, 3 picnic shelters, playground equipment, paved parking lots, paved bicycle/pedestrian path, fishing, restrooms, cooking grills.

Regional Parks

Munson Park. Located on the extreme west side of the City, Munson Park includes 179 acres adjacent to Monroe Custer Airport. Less than half of the acreage is developed with a large amount of acreage remaining available for development. Munson is the only true regional park available in the city. It includes both active and passive areas although the emphasis is on active pursuits. Four lighted baseball/softball diamonds with spectator seating, 8 soccer fields, 4 tennis courts, playground equipment, a storage shelter, a jogging/exercise trail and 2 sand volleyball courts are found on the developed part of the park. Winter recreation activity areas include an outdoor ice skating on a pond locate9- near a sledding hill. Paved parking lots provide parking for about 200 vehicles. Picnic shelters near the playground equipment offer respite from the active areas. The ball diamonds are serviced by a two-story concession building with a food concession and restrooms on the lower level and a scorekeeping 10ft on the upper level. The City offers community garden plots where local residents may grow fresh vegetables and fruits on part of the undeveloped part of the site. The site also contains the Park maintenance garage, which houses recreation supplies, equipment and maintenance vehicles, as well as a workshop area. The site is primarily accessible by auto since it is on the western edge of the City. However, nearby residents can access the facilities on foot or bicycle.

Plans for development of Munson Park were prepared several years ago. The plans expressed the intentions to construct a golf course, an indoor community recreation and aquatic center, and other additional facilities on the site. However, these plans have been modified and a new proposal calls for the addition of a large soccer complex as well as plans for more youth/family oriented sports fields and facilities to be developed on the site. Currently, many of the youth events have to be held simultaneously at numerous locations across the city, making it difficult for parents to transport their children and attend concurrent events. Consolidating facilities at Munson Park would substantially improve facility maintenance efficiency and reduce travel time costs of the park maintenance crew. Facility Summary: 178.9 acres, restrooms, 4 fenced softball/baseball diamonds, 2 sand volleyball courts, 8 soccer fields, natural ice rink, 2 picnic pavilions, jogging/exercise trail, 4 tennis courts, open field play area, and community gardens.

River Raisin Battlefield Visitor's Center. Located on the city's east side across Elm
Avenue from the north bank of the River Raisin. The site is along the route of the proposed extension of the city's Linear Park System that will eventually connect to Sterling State Park. The visitor's center is a former residential home owned by the county of Monroe, consisting of 1800 square feet, located on a ~ acre lot and adjacent to an additional 3.25 acres of open space owned by the Monroe county Historical Society. The center interprets and memorializes the 1813 Battle of the River Raisin; the largest armed conflict in Michigan's History. The county of Monroe is currently working on, plans to implement nearly $200,000 of improvements to enhance recreational and educational and tourism opportunities. Facilities Summary: 3.75 acres, 1800 square foot historic interpretive center, land is currently on the National Register of Historic Places.

Green/Open Space

Cranbrook Park. This is one of 2 parks that separate North Custer Road from the River Raisin. The series of linear road and riverside parks, linked together by a paved bicycle/pedestrian path offer convenient access to the natural beauty of the river. Flowering ornamental trees are planted throughout the length of the park. Shore fishing is also available. An historical marker is located on the site with reference to the first blacksmith shop to serve the settlement along the River Raisin.
Facility Summary: 1.3 acres, paved bicycle/pedestrian path, shore fishing, historic marker.

Gateway Park. A small historical site with a floral display in downtown Monroe, G~teway Park serves as a pleasant place to sit on a park bench and an attractive entrance to Downtown. An historic marker is located on the site with reference to the Old Southern Railroad. Facility Summary: .4 acres, 1 park bench, floral display, and historic marker.

Labor Park. A small green space in the middle of a commercial area and a residential neighborhood. There is an historic marker on the site with reference to Col. John Allen. Facility Summary: 0.12 acre, park bench, picnic table, and historic marker.

Loranger Square. A square adjacent to the City Hall/County of Monroe governmental complex, providing a pleasant open space to eat lunch or stop for a rest. The county courthouse, an historic site is located on the south east comer of the square. Loranger Square is historically significant as one of the two former sites of the Custer monument The site also contains a monument honoring local men and women who served in the Gulf War. The Lotus Fountain and an elaborate floral bed add to the appeal of the site. Facility Summary: 0.92 acres, park benches and picnic tables, historic site and monument, Lotus Fountain, floral display.

Marquette Park. Marquette Park is an undeveloped 2.37 acres site.

Memorial Park. Sometimes referred to as Kentucky Memorial Park, this park is a pleasant shady space on the northwest comer of Monroe and Seventh Streets. It is an old cemetery and an historical site dedicated to a group of soldier's from a Kentucky regiment Park benches provide a place for visitors and residents to sit under the large red oak trees. An elaborate floral bed is planted on the east side of the park along Monroe Street.
Facility Summary: 0.66 acres, 2 park benches.

Mill Race Park. A park of substantial size, Mill Race suffers from poor access. Telegraph Road fronts the east side of the site though there is no access to the roadway. Fox Drive, a narrow residential cul-de-sac on the south side of the park, is the only public access onto the site. The River Raisin runs along the north boundary of the park offering fishing opportunity. A fish ladder is located in the river adjacent to the park site. Access could be improved with a footbridge to the linear park system on the north side of the river.
Facility Summary: 14.2 acres fishing access.

Oak Forest Park. An undeveloped natural area with a substantial stand of mature shade trees and natural areas. It is probably best left in a natural state, though the development of nature study trails could enhance the use of the site by the public.
Facility Summary: 7.0 acres, undeveloped natural area.

Rauch Park. A linear green space that serves as an entryway into the city off of the 1-75 corridor, providing a buffer between residential and industrial development on the city's east side. The park is divided by Winchester Parkway and fronts the River Raisin. An historical marker is located on the site with reference to the Port of Monroe. As a gateway into the city, this location is ideal for additional floral beds and ornamental trees.
Facility Summary: 2.1 acres, open space.

River Raisin Memorial. A small green space with an historical marker noting the River Raisin Massacre. The historical marker is in need of repair. Plans are underway to repair and relocate the marker to the proposed Riviere Aux Raisins Park. Riviere Aux Raisins Park is a proposed 1.9-acre park near the comer of East Elm Avenue and North Dixie Highway. Facility Summary: Historical marker.

St. Antoine's Park. This park is a small green space with an historical marker depicting the former site of historic St. Antoine's Church. Facility Summary: Historical monument, 2 benches.

Facilities

Arthur Lesow Community Center (ALCC). A two-story neighborhood community center located at the comer of Eastchester and East Second provides recreation activities that are open to the public, although the majority of participants come from nearby neighborhoods. Facilities 'include an art room, boxing gym, weight/fitness room, game room, kitchen, gymnasium, meeting room, locker and shower facilities, administrative offices, storage areas and an elevator for access to the upper level. Paved parking for 48 cars is available adjacent to the building. The ALCC was built in 1968 with a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city of Monroe owns the building. The facility and programs are operated by a private non-profit organization governed by a board of directors with five (5) full time staff and approximately 10-15 seasonal and part-­time staff. The City of Monroe, the County of Monroe, the United Way, grants, donations and user fees provide funding. The ALCC is a valuable recreation resource, but it is much too small to service the needs of the entire community.
Facility Summary: Gymnasium, multi purpose rooms, weight fitness room, kitchen, locker/shower facilities, administrative offices, elevator, paved parking.

Monroe Multi-Sports Complex. The 70,000 square foot complex contains two ice rinks and spectator seating. One of the rinks can be melted down to create a large floor for a variety of events, including indoor soccer and trade shows. The complex also contains a pro shop, conference rooms, administrative offices, storage areas, locker/shower facilities and food concessions. Skate rental and skate sharpening are available at the pro shop. Paved parking for 280 vehicles is provided at the site. The Multi-Sports Complex, constructed in 1997, is located northwest of the North Dixie and E. Elm intersection.
Facility Summary: 70,000 square feet, 2 ice rinks, 1 rink can be used for dry floor events, pro shop, conference rooms, administrative offices, storage areas, food concession and paved parking.