Located within easy reach of Toledo, Ohio and Detroit, the city of Monroe is situated in southeastern Michigan, right along Lake Erie. The third oldest community in the state, Monroe attracts residents and visitors with a broad range of recreational activities that include a network of 35 parks, a riverfront walk and a multipurpose sports complex. Unsurprisingly for a city founded in 1785, Monroe also features several nationally significant historic sites, including a battlefield from the War of 1812.
City Parks
- Monroe's network of 35 parks provides active fun, rest and relaxation. Veterans Park, Soldiers and Sailors Park, Altrusa Park, Roessler Field and Hellenberg Park all sit along the banks of the River Raisin. Hellenberg Park's boat launch provides river access. Many of Monroe's parks offer children's playgrounds, while nine parks offer ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, and facilities for roller sports and bocce ball. Munson Park highlights winter fun by featuring a skating pond, sledding hill and cross-country skiing trails. Loranger Square in the midst of downtown invites down time with a water fountain and benches. City recreational programs encompass athletics, art, gardening and town walking tours.
Historic Sites
- Monroe provides history buffs with a wealth of opportunities to explore the past. The city is home to the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, site of the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812. The park's visitor center contains artifacts from the conflict that include original military firearms. Exhibits also feature life-sized figures of militiamen, British infantry and Native Americans.The Monroe County Historical Museum is located at the homestead site of General George Custer. The museum features an exhibit on the life of Custer and his family. Other exhibits showcase Michigan's early history.The Historical Museum War of 1812 Battlefield Site is a short walk from downtown. Visitors may tour the grounds and view a fiber-optic map detailing the Battle of Frenchtown.
Special Events
- Every August, music, sun and hot sounds combine to create fun at the annual four-day River Raisin Jazz Festival at St. Mary's Park. The region's largest free festival has two stages that spotlight headliners and up and coming acts. The festival typically coincides with the Annual Downtown Monroe Fine Art Fair, an event that features in excess of 50 artists and their works.The historic Monroe County Fair takes place in late July at the county fairgrounds. A traditional fair, it highlights the area's agriculture, food and music, among other things. A midway, various types of entertainment, a demolition derby and a monster truck show add a modern flavor.
Sports Complex
- The Monroe County Multi-Sports Complex is the local hub for ice sports. Whether you're a player or a spectator, the 70,000-square-foot facility offers year-round fun. With two rinks, the complex is home ice for area high school hockey teams. The rinks also host youth and adult hockey leagues, drop-in hockey, and youth and adult tournaments. There are also open skates, figure skating lessons, clinics and camps. The center's Field House supports youth and adult soccer leagues and tournaments. Inflatables promote family fun through the center's Bounce Mania program.
