Celebrating 10 Years of Collaborative Placemaking in Michigan

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of MEDC’s grant match program, Public Spaces Community Places, we look back at the last decade of placemaking efforts in communities across the state

Supporting the vibrancy of our communities and places across Michigan is a key pillar in the state’s Make It in Michigan economic development strategy, which focuses on People, Places, and Projects. 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP), a grant match program that utilizes donation-based crowdfunding to generate public interest and funding to revitalize or create public spaces.

About Public Spaces Community Places

Designed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in collaboration with Patronicity, an online crowdfunding platform, and the Michigan Municipal League (MML), PSCP can provide matching grant funds for crowdfunded public space projects. Communities, nonprofits, and municipalities can submit projects by applying for a PSCP campaign through Patronicity’s website.

Projects that meet the program's parameters and successfully crowdfund their goal will receive a matching grant from the MEDC of up to $50,000. Since 2014, the MEDC has matched over $13 million in funds for PSCP projects, supporting community-led change and growth throughout the state of Michigan.

In celebration of the program’s milestone, the MEDC, along with the MML and Patronicity, kicked off a statewide tour to highlight successful projects across Michigan.

Learn more about some of the marquee projects from across the state’s 10 prosperity regions that have made a significant impact on Michiganders living in those communities, including project photos and testimonials. Through placemaking efforts, the MEDC and its partners are making Michigan the place to be.

Public Spaces Community Places Projects by Region

Region 1: Marquette Skatepark

One of the first PSCP program crowdfunding campaigns, the Marquette Skatepark project raised $12,470 in September 2014 and received a $10,000 match from the MEDC. Funds went toward landscaping, benches, and skate-able art, further enhancing the Marquette Area Skate Plaza that opened after eight years of work by the community and over $200,000 from individuals, corporations, foundations, and the city. The Skatepark project has provided a gathering place for people of all ages in the Marquette area to enjoy.

“Giving the kids this spot where they can all congregate – where they can all explore and learn and better themselves together in a safe way – has been huge. The kids needed that opportunity to have it in a safe place. There’s been a lot of studies on that sort of individual play and how that helps the development of kids; it really allows them to become creative. And I think the business community and the entire community has really embraced it.” – Jon Swenson, Director of Community Services, City of Marquette

Region 2: The Market at Cadillac Commons

The Market at Cadillac Commons is an open-air farmer’s market structure, home to the community’s two established community markets, the Cadillac Made in Michigan Artisan and Farm Market and its traditional farmer’s market. In 2016, PSCP funded both the performing arts pavilion adjacent to the city park and the market structure at Cadillac Commons, while providing the final funding to finish the gathering space with a fireplace, splash pad, and small synthetic ice rink for children. The campaign raised $57,715 and received $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC.

"The Market site was dilapidated buildings that were cleaned up and contaminated soils were hauled away. The entire downtown has been transformed with the development of the Cadillac Commons area which includes the Market. Cadillac Commons is drawing more people than ever to the downtown area.” – John Wallace, Community Development Director, City of Cadillac

 

 

Region 3: AuSable Artisan Village Performing Arts Center

In 2023, the AuSable Artisan Village expanded its impact to create a new cultural arts space in downtown Grayling. The new performing arts center expanded the impact of Artisan Village as a cultural hub and held its grand opening in April 2024. The campaign raised $67,200 and received $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC. Thanks to the project, Grayling-area residents have further exposure to the arts and opportunities to enjoy live performances.

“We hear it a lot where people think, ‘OK, Grayling is really Up Northy and outdoorsy.’ And then they tend to look around and see this is a very artsy town. There are lots of concerts happening, there's lots of that kind of vibrancy.” – Radal Rosin, Assistant Director, AuSable Artisan Village

Region 4: TOP Riverfront Pavilion

In 2019, the Otsego Main Street Downtown Development Authority led a project to create a year-round community gathering space along the Kalamazoo River near downtown Otsego. Since then, the public pavilion has been used for numerous community events, including the summer nights concert series, an artisan market, the winter ice rink, and a seasonal farmer’s market. The PSCP campaign raised $52,692 in funding with an additional $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC. With the TOP Riverfront Pavilion, residents can experience events, purchase local foods, and gather in a communal space year-round.

Region 5: Middle of the Mitt Miracle Field

In 2020, the city of Midland announced plans to build a fully accessible, soft-surfaced baseball field to allow children and adults with special needs to enjoy the sport. Middle of the Mitt Miracle Field is the first universally designed playing field with PSCP and helped encourage the development of the universal design funding extension, which expands the MEDC’s impact on improving accessibility in communities. The PSCP campaign raised $51,500 with an additional $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC. Thanks to the Middle of the Mitt Miracle Field, the Midland area is able to offer accessible recreational opportunities for its residents.

Region 6: Factory Two

Flint’s first community makerspace, Factory Two is a place for residents, students, entrepreneurs, artists, small businesses, crafters, and inventors to call home. Factory Two in downtown Flint provides tools, equipment, and training, as well as a co-working space. In 2017, the PSCP campaign raised $66,400 with an additional $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC. The project builds on Flint’s innovative spirit and offers budding entrepreneurs and residents the opportunity to learn and create.

Region 7: ArtPath 1-7

ArtPath, an annual public art program on the Lansing River Trail, was designed to simultaneously highlight Michigan’s creative talent and revitalize blighted spaces with temporary works of public art along the river trail. Led by the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center, ArtPath has been activating space along the historic Lansing River Trail through public art since 2018 through the support of PSCP campaigns. In its seven iterations, the projects have raised $59,727 in crowdfunding combined with an additional $55,000 in matching funds from the MEDC. Through ArtPath, Lansing-area residents have easily accessible exposure to the arts in a natural environment.

“What’s important about ArtPath is it’s providing this opportunity for artists to produce public art, which not a lot of artists have the opportunity to do, and sometimes it’s their first time doing it. It’s really cool to provide that opportunity for them, as well as for visitors on the Lansing River Trail to happen upon and experience art in public spaces, and experience art in spaces that they might not normally see it. Not everyone always feels welcome in galleries, or maybe just don’t even think to go in them, and so to be on the trail and come across the art and experience it that way, it breaks down those barriers that sometimes working in a gallery or having art in a gallery or museum might have.” – Sarah Hopkins, Exhibitions Director, Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center

Region 8: Children’s Nature Playscape

Children’s Nature Playscape at Bronson Park is a transformative project that added natural elements and engagement to an urban hardscape in downtown Kalamazoo. In 2022, the crowdfunding campaign was launched to assist with phase one construction of the playscape, which was redesigned using community input to best serve the children of Kalamazoo. The PSCP campaign raised $57,014 with an additional $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC. 

 

Region 9: Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace

In 2015, local nonprofit Growing Hope created the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace by reclaiming an unused warehouse and former bank drive-thru in the center of Ypsilanti’s downtown and transforming it into an indoor-outdoor farmers market. The project reclaimed two underused properties in the community’s city center, extended food assistance at the market year-round, and strengthened the local food economy. The PSCP campaign raised $86,600 with an additional $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC.

Region 10: Curtis Jones Park

The Curtis Jones Park project in Detroit is a continuation of the public placemaking work by hyperlocal nonprofit NW Goldberg Cares, which works to make their neighborhood better one space at a time. This project transformed a vacant lot into a beautiful park, featuring a dual-purpose outdoor basketball court and event space that honors a local basketball prodigy. In 2021, the PSCP project raised $52,925 with an additional $50,000 in matching funds from the MEDC.

“It's really for me about changing the hearts and minds of my people, understanding that in this work, there can be a change, there can be a resolve, there can be overcoming, there can be better for them. And that's why we do this work. So I tell people, you can marvel at their physical transformation, that's great. But what I marvel at is seeing the hearts and minds of my people changing. And that happens every day on this court, happens every day at all of our spaces." Daniel Washington, Executive Director, NW Goldberg Cares

Learn more about Public Spaces Community Places and support in-progress crowdfunding projects on the MEDC’s Patronicity page.

Contact Us

To contact a business development specialist, click here or call 1.888.522.0103.