Maquoketa breaks ground for their Green Space Redevelopment Project

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (KWQC) - The city of Maquoketa held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for its green space redevelopment project. City leaders gave the community details on what changes the community can expect.

The area is expected to feature a stage, a sensory play area, and several other pieces of park furniture according to the project plans. The comes years after a fire in 2008 destroyed buildings that once sat there.

“It sat as a demolition pile for probably about three years. And because of asbestos and lack of funding to get it cleaned up, but it was really quite an eyesore. And they came out came up with the idea just to at least, let’s get it cleared off and turn it into kind of a town square type thing and see where it goes from there. And it’s really developed and really blossomed,” said Maquoketa Mayor Tom Messerli.

According to the Maquoketa Betterment Corporation, the fundraising committee for the project says it’s expected to cost at least $1.4 million. Mayor Messerli says he feels the revitalization will be a true game changer.

“I think it will. I think it will. We have a lot of activity in this park. The fire department has its giant fireman’s ball every year here and there’s churches use this park. It’ll be great for it,” said Messeril

Nancy Kilburg is the chair of the Maquoketa Betterment Corporation. She says being able to move forward shows continued effort from the city it make the area better.

“We’ve been having a renaissance here for a long time since 2013. We replaced the streetscape. We’re doing the facade. It the town has and continues to come alive. The art experience was started in 2009. And has grown. We draw a large population here. We rent space to Maquoketa Chamber. So I think we’re continuing to move forward. But I think that’s begun a long time ago. We’re just going to keep moving forward,” said Kilburg.

The area is expected to feature a stage a sensory play area and much more. Mayor Messerli seeing the turnout gave him a great feeling.

“It lets me know people you know, don’t remember what it was and have a vision of what it can be. And you don’t like to say out of out of the ashes something good rises,” said Messerli.

Construction is expected to begin in April 2025 according to city leaders. To learn more about the project or make a donation, click here.

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