Give Now

Maquoketa Greenspace Redevelopment Project

At a Glance

Maquoketa/Betterment/Hometown Pride is a nonprofit that has been active since 1979.
2008 Fire on Main Street burned previously existing business and left a vacant space
Results from a community survey found that 66.9 percent of residents wanted a green space where the 2008 fire had occurred to be used as a community gathering place.

About Us

In early 2008, fire ravaged downtown Maquoketa. Several businesses on the east side of Main Street were destroyed.

After some time, the rubble was cleared, and the area was made available for sale. For several years, the property remained available to developers but remained vacant. A 20-year comprehensive plan for the city was completed in December 2019. The results from this survey found that 66.9 percent of residents wanted a green space where the 2008 fire had occurred to be used as a community gathering place. It is estimated that over 7,500 people visit the space on an annual basis today.

The Green Space was released for development by the City of Maquoketa as a gathering space in 2022. The Maquoketa Green Space Redevelopment Project has begun, designs are completed and fundraising has started. Estimated project costs are $1,465,000. As of March 2024, commitments and donations collected to date were $641,100.

Mission

The Maquoketa Betterment Corporation works to improve quality of life, accessible to all, by bettering the lives, jobs and education of the people of Maquoketa through: 1) supporting and growing existing businesses and industries, and working to attract new professionals to the community; 2) revitalizing the downtown area; and 3) working to attract and expand new recreation, arts and tourism opportunities.