Contact:
Kathleen Achtenberg, MEDC
517-489-0557
[email protected]

Joel Dye
City Manager of Allegan 
269.895.2033
[email protected]                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2024

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

LANSING, Mich. – Downtown Allegan’s Mahan Park will expand its gathering space with the creation of a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza and improvements to the existing infrastructure through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Allegan announced the campaign today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by July 31st, 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/mahan.

“This project will create a new space in Downtown Allegan that is inclusive of all users and modernize a beloved community place,” 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.”

Over the past 40 years, Allegan’s Riverfront has been a gathering place for community members to enjoy events including festivals, concerts, holidays, fireworks, and other celebrations. The City of Allegan has developed a plan to preserve the original layout of Mahan Park and keeping its best features like the terraced seating, while at the same time making the necessary improvements to make this space more accessible for those with mobility issues and address the deteriorating components of the park, including the wooden gazebo.

This campaign will complete the necessary renovation of Mahan Park with features like a new universally accessible pedestrian plaza, a new portion of riverfront boardwalk, new lighting, new landscaping, and new park furniture to ensure that this community jewel will be there for generations of people that love Allegan for decades to come.

“The Public Spaces Community Places grant program through the MEDC is an instrumental piece in realizing the transformation of Mahan Park to prolong its legacy as a community favorite space along the Kalamazoo River,” said Joel Dye, City Manager. “The funding of up to $100,000 will significantly contribute to our $400,000 improvement plan, enhancing the park with a new steel structure in place of a wood gazebo, beautified landscaping, an accessible plaza, and modern street lighting, ultimately remodeling Mahan Park to meet the standard of the updated Downtown Allegan.”

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.

“These improvements to and expansion of Mahan Park will create a positive impact for generations to come,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “The pedestrian plaza’s universally accessible design shows the Allegan community’s commitment to inclusion and belonging. This project will help bring more people together and spark connections.”

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 24, 2024, MEDC has provided more than $12.5 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 365 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $14.5 million raised from 70,284 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.

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