Crowdfunding campaign launched for the ReImagine Project in Grand Haven

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

LANSING, Mich. – Grand Haven’s beloved imagination station will be redesigned and updated to create a safe and inclusive playspace through a new crowdfunding campaign,the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Grand Haven Area Community Foundation announced today. The ReImagine Project will be creating a fully-inclusive, safe, community-designed playscape in the heart of Grand Haven that will serve the entire tri-cities region. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by July 27, 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/reimagine.

“The ReImagine Project is a great example of community-led placemaking,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “We are pleased to provide resources for and serve as a partner in this collective effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

This campaign will complete the final phase of the Reimagine Project’s redesign and rebuild of the original imagination station. After a year of visioning, consulting, and evaluating, the Imagination Station steering committee has come up with a design that will serve all members of the community and include elements to highlight the local culture. The new playspace will highlight iconic features of the community while being fully accessible.

“It is obvious that the Imagination Station holds a place in the hearts of this community,” said ReImagine Fundraising Co-Chair Katie Appold. “People have rallied for this playspace and given generously since the campaign launched. The matching funds from the MEDC will only help this already incredible momentum.

The new imagination station will include a poured-in-place foundation to allow wheelchair accessibility on second-level play spaces, multiple colors to assist the visually-impaired, sensory stations, an inclusive orbit, and multiple swing styles to allow children of all abilities an opportunity to swing together. The local features of the design include the lighthouse, a Pere Marquette train, and even a “wobbler” catwalk bridge.

“The Public Spaces and Community Places grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is a perfect fit for the ReImagine Project,” said ReImagine Fundraising Co-Chair Mary TenCate. “Improving our public spaces for all to enjoy not only shows significant support of all residents, but it also encourages tourism within our state.”

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.

“Creating public spaces that can be enjoyed by people with all levels of abilities is key to being a welcoming community,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan

Municipal League. “Grand Haven’s ReImagine Project is setting a good example for all Michigan communities.”

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 June 5, 2018, MEDC has provided $4,938,166 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 166 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $5.9 million raised from 30,187 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.