New restaurants and places to play in Monroe – how you can help

At the annual Downtown Monroe sponsorship appreciation dinner on Monday, Sadie Krawczyk, economic development specialist for the City of Monroe, unveiled some exciting projects coming up in 2018. She also shared ways that the community can help make some of them happen.

There are several new restaurants on the way, including the potential for one in the old Jac’s building next to Rinse, the Silver Queen Cantina on Wayne Street that will soon begin construction and another one to go in at the old auto shop building at 202 Spring Street. The building has been purchased by the Monroe DDA for renovation and Krawczyk said, although she can’t reveal the details at this time, it will be home to another new restaurant. In the meantime, foodies can get a taste of the Silver Queen cuisine by trying out the menu from the Food Truck that will be in town from time to time.

A new mural was unveiled that will soon welcome visitors to Monroe when they enter the downtown area and there are many other projects already in the development stage.

One of the main things that has long been on the Monroe wish list is for more things for residents and visitors to do. With this in mind, Monroe Downtown has qualified to participate in The Local Crowd, a crowdfunding platform that allows the local communities to not only suggest ideas, but to help contribute and raise funds for projects to help bring them to fruition. A page has already been set up on the Website at FundMonroe.com and the first projects have been identified. These include slides and play equipment in Childers Park, improvements and interactive art in the Washington Street alley and a hammock park next to the Monroe Museum.

But that is just to get started. If anyone has an idea that has merit, it too can be promoted and funds raised through the FundMonroe.com project. Watch the video below, and then go to FundMonroe.com to find out more about the projects and see how you can help.