Monroe Center is a small brick road in Grand Rapids's Center City. It is home to many local businesses and landmarks, including the Grand Rapids Police Station, Four Friends Coffeehouse, Rosa Parks Circle, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and McKay Tower. Monroe Center is a one-way street that is entered at the corner of Pearl and Monroe Ave. and exited on Division Ave.
History
It was originally a street, but for most of the 1980's and 90's it was a grassy area and pedestrian walkway known as the Monroe Mall. It is currently a street again.
Technology
The current iteration of the street features buried heating coils beneath the red brick, which help keep the street free of ice in winter months.
Sport
Monroe Center is the home to Rosa Parks Circle, the city's primary outdoor ice skating facility. It is also considered "no man's land" for Urban Capture the Flag games held in the summer months.
