Monticello
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2026
Continued growth at Bertram Regional Park
Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park is the city’ s largest park, and one that is still very much in transition.
A new phase of improvements at Bertram has focused on improving site access, with additional parking, accessibility, potable water, irrigation and pedestrian safety upgrades.
The project also included expanding the existing parking lot and adding a new parking lot. Other recent improvements include expansions of the trail system, adding drinking foundations, planting trees and installing Automated External Defibrillators( AEDs).
Even as the city and county work together to improve and fine tune the vast park, there are already tons of opportunities for fun to be had, with recent data showing that over 50,000 people visit Bertram each year.
The 1,200-acre property includes four lakes, acres of undisturbed shoreline, natural habitat and oak forest. The property is located directly west of the city limits of Monticello along County Road 39 and 90th Street.
A parking area is available off 90th street, along the southern portion of the park that provides users access to 4 miles of hiking trails, 10 miles of single track mountain bike trails, an access to Bertram Lake and a carry-in access to Long Lake, which will allow users the opportunity to paddle Long, Mud and First Lakes.
The park already features a number of user-friendly amenities, such as a swimming beach, playground, hiking trails, singletrack mountain bike trails, fishing piers, four lakes, an amphitheater and parking.
Additional popular activities include canoeing, kayaking, nature-watching and picnicking, with more activities and facilities planned for the future. Winter activities include fat-biking, snow shoeing and cross country skiing. Summer activities include paddle board classes, canoeing excursions, kids fishing programs, guided moonlight hiking and more.
Bertram Athletic Park
The Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park is recognized as a regional destination and city leaders believe it will continue to shape Monticello’ s recreational future.
While the larger 1,200-acre regional park is co-owned by the City of Monticello and Wright County, the 118-acre Athletic Park within it is operated solely by the city and provides active recreation opportunities to complement the passive recreation there.
Thousands of athletes compete there each year, with available fields booked seven days a week, May through October. It accommodates soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball and cross-country events, playing host to numerous large tournaments that drive local economic activity.
Many improvements are planned for the Athletic Park, including pickleball courts( slated for this summer), multipurpose recreational fields, a picnic shelter, additional parking, irrigation and landscaping. These upgrades are being funded through a half-cent local option sales tax, passed in 2024, which lasts 20 years or until the $ 15 million funding limit is met— whichever comes first.
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