Crowdfunding campaign launched for Zip Lines at Muskegon Winter Sports Complex project

$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – Muskegon’s Winter Sports Complex will soon be transformed into a year-round facility with the help of a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex partnering with Muskegon Sports Council announced today. The campaign, offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity, will support the project to build out a dual mega zip line at the sports complex within Muskegon State Park.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by November 13, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: https://www.patronicity.com/project/zip_lines_at_muskegon_winter_sports_complex#!/.

“Public Spaces Community Places is a good resource for communities to add to their recreational opportunities for residents and visitors,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “It is important to expand on the Muskegon Winter Sport Complex to make it into a year-round place for continued engagement within the community.”

The project is to create year-round recreation for the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex. The first phase of the project will include a Dual Mega Zip Line which will be open while continued development of the canopy tour, rock climbing wall and sports pavilion follow in the next phases. 

“For over 30 years the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, located in Muskegon State Park, has been providing recreation in the form of luge, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating. The partnership with Patronicity and the MEDC to build the Lake Michigan Dunes Mega Ziplines provides our not for profit organization a unique opportunity to extend our mission year-round,” said Muskegon Winter Sports Complex Executive Director Jim Rudicil. 

“The zipline will serve as the anchor for expanded facilities and programming in non-winter months. The construction of these ziplines will also incorporate an educational component, teaching users about the unique ecosystem created by the protected dunes along Lake Michigan. In the same spirit that built the winter complex three decades ago, we are beyond excited to partner the MEDC and join again with the greater community to bring this exciting placemaking opportunity to Muskegon County residents and visitors alike,” Rudicil said. 

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity in which 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, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“Michigan residents and tourists look for recreational opportunities in all four seasons,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “Adding a zip line to Muskegon’s Winter Sports Complex will make it an inviting destination all year long.” 

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of August 31, 2017, MEDC has provided $4,117,333 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 134 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $4.8 million raised from 25,269 individual donors.

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.