The City of Monticello sought to create a compelling vision for 30 acres on the west side of the community, transforming the property into a destination for youth sports, recreation, and year-round community use.
Farnsworth Group developed a concept that integrates athletic facilities within a natural, park-like setting. The plan includes four baseball fields, four soccer fields, and two multi-purpose fields, complemented by ponds and open space for fishing, kayaking, and passive recreation.
A landscaped entry winds across the ponds into parking areas screened by native prairie plantings. At the heart of the complex, a 16-foot-wide brick promenade provides space for food trucks and connects visitors to a playground dedicated to first responders. Additional features include a traffic-calming raised intersection, an elevated viewing terrace overlooking the championship baseball field, indoor batting cages and storage, and access to a proposed sledding hill.
By blending competitive sports facilities with trails, water features, gathering spaces, and recreational amenities, the vision extends the site’s appeal beyond game days and creates opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the property throughout the year. The concept thoughtfully uses the site’s natural character to organize sports, recreation, circulation, and gathering spaces into a distinctive community destination.
_0-768x497.jpg)