Blog Contributed by David West
In a tucked away space, on a historic street in downtown Monroe, Georgia, is a tiny park. This “pocket park” is the reinvention of an abandoned space, where a bank once stood. After a colossal storm in the mid-1990s, the bank building was destroyed, leaving only the original bank safe behind.
In 2014, a group of Monroe’s community volunteers joined together to recreate the space into a small park. Suddenly, this lonely space was restored! The pocket park has since become a centerpiece in Monroe’s downtown events, a space where locals and visitors alike can listen to live music, take photos and even enjoy the occasional art show.
In 2015, the pocket park was put to use as a theater for the annual viewing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It even won an award for Excellence in Design from the Georgia Downtown Association in 2014.
In honor of this charming space and to show our appreciation for the incredible community of Monroe and Walton County, Great Estates Landscaping took part in a beautification project. We provided design, labor and installation and plant material for a revitalization of the pocket park, at no cost to the city.
“As long-term residents of the region, members of the business community, Great Estates Landscaping is pleased to be a part of this project that will reflect the pride that our businesses have for this community,” said Keith Kelly, president, Great Estates Landscaping.
“We felt we could use the resources at our disposal to make a positive impact on a space used by residents on an ongoing basis.”
Be sure to visit www.monroedowntown.com to find out more about the future development plans for downtown, and to check out exclusive photos of the pocket park’s landscaping revamp.
David West is not only a manager on the landscape maintenance, installation and turf management team of Great Estates Landscaping, he is also an avid outdoorsman and enjoys spending as much time with his family as possible.