Crowdfunding campaign launched for Garden City fitness court

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

LANSING, Mich. – A vacant portion of City Park in Garden City will be transformed into a vibrant outdoor fitness court through a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, National Fitness Campaign, and city of Garden City announced today. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by July 17, 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: http://www.patronicity.com/gcfitnesscourt.

“The Garden City Fitness Court is part of a much larger movement to bring accessible public fitness into our communities across the nation,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “We are pleased to provide resources to create this active space.”

This campaign will create a world class outdoor gym re-imagined to fit in and transform this underused public space. The National Fitness Campaign design supports an ecosystem that combines a simple, seven-minute, high quality workout with connected, digital platforms to build fit communities through bodyweight circuit training.
With the installation of this outdoor gym, City Park will become the perfect place to walk, run, bike and work out for free. The Fitness Court will build community, make fitness engaging. and allow residents and visitors to get outside and get active together.

“Garden City is excited to bring free fitness to its residents with the National Fitness Campaign's outdoor Fitness Court,” said Garden City Mayor Randy Walker. “The Public Places Community Spaces program will help transform an underutilized space in Garden City Park and create a free fitness club without walls for people of all fitness levels to enjoy.”

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 athttps://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“Attractive amenities that engage the community are key components of placemaking,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “Garden City’s Fitness Court has the added bonus of getting residents involved in fun, healthy activities.”

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 May 14, 2018, MEDC has provided $4,912,666 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 163 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $5.8 million raised from 29,863 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.