Crowdfunding campaign launched for ‘Point West Art and Trail Project’

$13,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC and MSHDA’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

Lansing, Mich. – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Saginaw Oakland Commercial Association today announced a new crowdfunding campaign through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. The campaign will support the project to add a new one-mile multiple-use trail within Dunnebacke and West Side Parks and will connect to a gateway public art project at the triangular plot of land where Saginaw Street meets Oakland Avenue in Lansing.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $13,000 by Dec 30, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MSHDA and MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: www.Patronicity.com/PointWest.

“Public Spaces Community Places is a great resource to help communities leverage their unique strengths into awesome spaces for the public to enjoy,” said MEDC Community Development Director Katharine Czarnecki. “We are excited to partner in this project and help enhance connectivity between the parks while beautifying the space.”

“The vision for the Point West Art and Trail project to connect multiple Lansing neighborhoods so residents can stay active and engaged in their local communities is remarkable,” said Kevin Elsenheimer, executive director for MSHDA. “We are pleased to partner with MEDC on the Public Spaces Community Places initiative to help realize creative projects just like this one in hometowns across Michigan.”

The Point West Art and Trail project will provide local park users with a one-mile long, safe, multi-use trail that will be accessible from both sides of the Saginaw-Oakland corridor. The trail will have landscaping, benches, public gardens, physical-fitness stations, and informational signs. The public art will be designed to represent the surrounding community and to produce a traffic calming effect for cars on M-43.

The project is a collaboration between SOCA, the Old Oakland Neighborhood Association, and the Westside Neighborhood Association. “The Point West Art and Trail project will be an asset to our neighborhoods and surrounding businesses. The project will provide improved access to fitness and recreation opportunities for young and old alike, as well as providing a gateway to the City of Lansing on the Saginaw-Oakland corridor,” said OONA President, Joseph Duris. “The Point West Art and Trail project will help to express the character of the wonderful neighborhoods on Lansing’s west side, and engage local residents to actively transform public space in Lansing. 

“SOCA is very excited to be launch this crowdfunding effort,” said Rory Neuner, consultant to SOCA. “The Point West Art and Trail project is an opportunity to transform and connect. Not only will we create a new trail and build public art on Lansing’s west side, this project will connect neighborhoods and businesses. The MEDC match and the willingness of the community to support this project will enable us to build this beautiful gateway into the Capital City.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, MSHDA, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic 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.

Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan. These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy.

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.