Glovik Community Park

Located at the corner of East Pleasant Street and South Main Street, this site had remained empty since a 2008 fire swept through that area of downtown. For years, it served as an informal home for concerts and community events, inspiring a long-term vision for a permanent public space.

Many discussions around redeveloping the space transpired over the years after the 2008 fire, but it was local committees of the Maquoketa Betterment Corp, in coordination with the City of Maquoketa, that really got this project off the ground two and half years ago.

[Quote from Josh?]

The city and a planning committee of Maquoketa Betterment Corporation enlisted the assistance of engineering students from the University of Iowa's Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities to help design the park. With input from the committee, the city, and members of the communty, the initial plans were completed. [architectural firm___ and ___ refined the plans, and Sheets Design Build was selected to be contractor for the project.]

A grassroots fundraising effort, led by fundraising committee co-chairs Nancy Kilburg and Chuck Current, raised $1.3 million for the project. Many donors, including individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, contributed to this project.

The park is named in recognition of the Glovik family, longtime Maquoketa residents whose children grew up just blocks from the site. A major gift from Barbara (Glovik) Rechterman and her husband Frank helped launch the project. The couple chose to support the greenspace as a tribute to Barbara’s parents, “Big Al” and Marge Glovik, and to the sense of community they fostered.

Glovik Community Park is designed for year-round use. Amenities include:

• A permanent performance stage with electrical hookups and stage can lights

• A sensory play area

• Restrooms and storage facilities

• Benches, trees, and landscaped seating areas

• Drinking fountains for pets as well as people, and comfort amenities for the owners of pets

• Space for concerts, festivals, and community gatherings

Event organizers say the improvements will meet long-standing needs for groups that have used the space for years. Individuals interested in reserving the space for an event should contact Maquoketa City Hall, 201 E Pleasant St, (563) 652-2484.