Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for the "New Bayview Sports Complex" in Alpena

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

LANSING, Mich. – The Friends of Alpena Courts in partnership with the City of Alpena is raising funds to replace the current dilapidated Bayview Park tennis/basketball complex with a new state-of-the-art, lighted, tennis/pickleball/basketball complex. This effort will be fulfilled through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Friends of Alpena Courts announced today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. 

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by May 3^rd, 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: patronicity.com/bayview. 

“This restoration project will create a variety of public recreational uses at a new sports complex in a great location in Alpena,” said MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.” 

The current Bayview Park tennis/basketball courts are in disrepair. This campaign will allow the community partners to create a brand-new sports complex complete with a new asphalt playing surface, three regulation size tennis courts, five regulation size pickleball courts, and three regulation size basketball courts, new LED lights illuminating the whole complex, new fencing surrounding the tennis and pickleball areas, and windscreens surrounding the tennis and pickleball areas.  

In 2026, the Friends of Alpena Courts will add a stunning pavilion of timber frame construction, cedar shakes and copper-topped peak to the Sports complex. The construction of this adjacent pavilion will not inhibit the use of the completed courts and will be designed and built by Mike and Spens Kendziorski. The planned pavilion will greatly enhance the project by providing an architecturally unique structure as a place of gathering for the community. 

"The Public Spaces Community Spaces program from the MEDC will be the final piece of funding allowing the Friends of Alpena Courts to complete the Bayview Reconstruction Project.  The Bayview Reconstruction Project will demolish the current broken down Bayview tennis/basketball complex and replace it with a state-of-the-art, LED-lighted tennis/pickleball and basketball complex,” said Ron Rusina, project manager for the Friends of Alpena Courts. “The new Bayview Sports Complex, in the second phase of the project, will also house an architecturally unique timber framed pavilion. Once completed, we believe the new Bayview Sports Complex will promote physical activity and act as a gathering place for the entire community.” 

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. 

“The Bayview Park restoration project is a great investment for Alpena,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “These multi-sport courts, as well as the unique pavilion, will enrich the human experience of park visitors and allow for greater usage year-round. This is what activating spaces in communities is all about.” 

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 February 19, 2025, MEDC has provided more than $13.6 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 400 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $15.5 million raised from 73,921 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning matching funds.

  

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.