Maquoketa Gets Big Funding for Splash Pad

A popular local park project is getting a major boost, bringing a brand-new way for the community to cool off in the summer months. The City of Maquoketa and the Maquoketa YMCA have officially secured key grant funding for the upcoming Maquoketa YMCA Splash Pad, set to open in late spring of 2027. The major push comes thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Dubuque Racing Association or DRA. Powered by partnerships with Diamond Jo Casino and Q Casino, the DRA invests roughly $1 million every year back into local Tri-State communities. This isn’t the first time the DRA has stepped up for Maquoketa. Back in 2023, early DRA funding served as the launchpad for Glovik Community Park. City leaders say this new splash pad project carries that exact same momentum. Construction is already moving into its next phase. Sheets Design Build has officially been awarded the general contractor bid. If the weather holds out through late fall, crews plan to get a head start on ground construction along the west side of the YMCA campus before winter hits, leading right into full construction next spring. Local officials are extending a huge thank-you to the DRA for continuing to invest in projects that make the Maquoketa community a vibrant place to live, visit, and grow.