Detroit’s North Rosedale Park Civic Association kicks off crowdfunding campaign through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

$20,000 fundraising goal, matching grant supports Community House upgrades

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation and North Rosedale Park Civic Association today announced the launch of a new crowdfunding campaign through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. The campaign will support phase one of the northwest Detroit neighborhood’s Legacy Project, a community-led initiative to reinvigorate the North Rosedale Park Community House and adjacent seven-acre park. 

“This effort is a shining example of a neighborhood leveraging community pride into new vitality and creating a place where families and young talent want to live and entrepreneurs and businesses want to invest and grow,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “The Public Spaces Community Places initiative, one of the first of its kind in the country, is a great opportunity for residents, businesses, and others to pool resources and actively engage to transform public spaces in their communities.” 

The community has already raised $725,000 of the $750,000 needed to complete phase one of the Legacy Project through donations from nearly 200 friends, neighbors, corporations, foundations and the City of Detroit. If NRPCA attains its crowdfunding goal of $20,000 by November 1, MEDC will provide a $20,000 matching grant. To donate, please go to: 
www.patronicity.com/communityhouse.

“We are excited about this opportunity to promote the Legacy Project and our fundraising efforts to revitalize the Community House,” said Marsha Bruhn, steering committee chairperson. “We are hoping that our partnership with MEDC and Patronicity will help us reach our goal and build on the support we have already received.”

Now underway, phase one of the Legacy Project will underwrite the first major renovation of the Community House since the 1960s. It includes much-needed electrical upgrades for energy-efficient lighting throughout the building; a welcoming new lobby addition for community events and rentals; handicapped-accessible restrooms so all members of the community can visit; a parking lot expansion to host the popular Northwest Farmers' Market (completed); and a new patio for summer arts programming. Organizers, donors and elected officials will gather on October 1 at 2:00 p.m. for a ceremonial groundbreaking. Construction is expected to begin in early October and be completed in April 2015.

For more details about the project, please go to: http://www.nrpca.org/index/the-legacy-project/. 

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of transformational projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, non-profits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan. 

The historic North Rosedale Park community, located in northwest Detroit, offers numerous activities with a focus on family and community involvement. It is the only Detroit neighborhood that owns a community house and park, and all facilities are open to the public. The North Rosedale Park Civic Association is a membership organization of current and former residents and businesses dedicated to preserving the neighborhood and enhancing residential quality of life.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.