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

LANSING, Mich. – The city of Muskegon will gain a fitness station to launch a fitness and environmental trail along the Lakeshore Trail at Beachwood Park through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and city of Muskegon announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $20,000, 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/mkg3.

“Amenities that improve access to community health and wellbeing are an important part of great public placemaking,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

This campaign will allow the city of Muskegon and the Beachwood Bluffton Neighborhood Association (BBNA) to complete a special space in the city of Muskegon’s prized Beachwood Park. The first phase of the fitness trail will be a 10-person fitness pod that provides upper and lower body strength training.

A special neighborhood fitness trail committee has worked through the COVID years to design a safe outdoor space for fitness equipment that would be available to those of all ages and physical conditions. Working with the city of Muskegon’s Park’s Department, the committee has found a location adjacent to an existing children’s playground and pickleball courts. The vendor GameTime has been selected along with its Thrive 450 fitness station.

The success of this campaign will mean that the fitness pod will be completed with equipment can be ordered and installed by Fall 2022. This will include pull up bars, sit-up benches, medicine balls, ladders, step-up platforms, and fitness flooring. Funds raised beyond the goal will be used for future fitness trail installations. Other fitness pods will be located along a 1.6- mile beach loop of the city’s Lakeshore Trail.

“We are excited to provide a fun place for Muskegon neighbors and visitors to gather outdoors and get moving,” said Chris Willis, Beachwood Bluffton Neighborhood Association (BBNA) chair. “The fitness trail project has long had neighborhood support, but outdoor recreational equipment is prohibitively expensive. This project is made possible by a partnership with the city of Muskegon for installation, and the Public Spaces Community Places matching grant, amplifying every generous donation we receive.”

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.

“The Michigan Municipal League is a firm believer in building community wealth in ways that enhance the human experience for everyone,” said Dan Gilmartin, the League’s CEO and Executive Director. “Adding a fitness station to Beachwood Park, with the cooperation of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation speaks directly to the public health pillar of community wealth building. With the support of the City of Muskegon, this project will help create spaces within the community that will improve the human experience for all for years to come, which is what community wealth building 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 March 31, 2022, MEDC has provided more than $9.8 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 307 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $11.4 million raised from 52,500 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning our 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.