Crowdfunding campaign launched for Sandusky’s “George Haupt Memorial Park” project

$20,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – Sandusky will gain a new neighborhood park in an under-resourced part of town through a crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Sandusky Community Schools announced today. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $20,000 by September 1, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/sanduskypark.

“Community partnerships that encourage youth to be a part of their neighborhood’s vitality and development is key to a community’s future,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “We are pleased to provide resources for the George Haupt Memorial Park project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The Sandusky High School Key Club’s mission is to build character and develop leadership skills through community service and volunteerism. The group has led several successful community projects, including the Sanilac County's War Memorial and the creation of outdoor fitness stations. This campaign will allow the key club to build a new park for the residents in the eastern quadrant of town, so they can safely play in their own communities.

While Sandusky does have a larger park in town, the issue is that any child not residing in the western quadrant of town must cross a state highway to get to the park, making it dangerous to travel there. In addition, many senior citizens live in residential facilities in the area where the memorial park is projected. More families will be able to utilize the new pavilion and park while visiting elderly family members.

“MEDC's Public Spaces Community Places grant program will help the students of Sandusky Junior/Senior High School bring a much-needed park to the eastern quadrant of Sandusky, MI. We are grateful for the opportunity to qualify for the match grant the MEDC is offering for our city,” said Erin Carlson, teacher at Sandusky High School. “Please join the students in bringing a park to our city that our younger citizens can safely reach without having to cross a state highway.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League and Patronicity, in which 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.

“Placemaking is all about creating spaces that attract people,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “With the public’s support, George Haupt Memorial Park will be a source of community pride and a space where families and residents will gather for years to come.”

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 24, 2019, MEDC has provided $6,580,696 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 215 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $7.7 million raised from 40,243 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.