Monona’s Gateway Park receiving upgrades
The city of Monona is making some big updates at Gateway Park, including a restroom next to the park shelter and seven additional sites in the campground area. (Photo by Peyton Meisner)
This map outlines the location of the new campsites.
By Peyton Meisner, North Iowa Times
The city of Monona will see some new changes to Gateway Park in the next few months. The park is currently in the process of getting a new bathroom, as well as an expansion to the campground.
In 2016, the Monona visioning committee put forth the idea to update the park. The expansion will feature seven new campsites, with a combination of 30, 50, and 110 amps, and will also have water and sewer hookups.
The restroom will consist of a men’s, women’s, and handicap bathroom, all of which are wheelchair accessible, and will be equipped with hot water.
Monona’s mayor, Lynn “Marty” Martinson felt if the campground was going to expand, then there should be a new bathroom installed. “If you are going to add more campsites, then you are going to need a new bathroom, and this will be a major upgrade from the only current option, which is a porta potty.”
There will also be an addition of more than two miles of walking trails, which will connect Gateway Park to Spruce Street.
Martinson said there are even plans to add an all-inclusive playground to the park in the future.
Costs for the campground addition, new bathroom, and repainting of the shelter will come to around $90,000. The expansion of the walking trails will total around $100,000.
Dan Canton, Monona’s city administrator, feels the new changes will be great for Monona’s tourism: “When you look back in history, people thought the city of New York was crazy for building Central Park, and look at what it has become now. We feel that there are tremendous benefits in having a nice park for the town.”
All of the work necessary for the project is being completed by local businesses, something Martinson is proud of. “Hiring locally is what it’s all about, especially in a small town community.”
The final deadline for the project is set for Aug. 31, but Martinson and Canton believe the project could potentially be completed sooner, weather permitting.
