Contact:
Stephanie Pohl, MEDC
517.489.0557
[email protected]

LaReina Wheeler
Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Ferndale
248.544.6767, ext. 501
[email protected] 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2026

$62,500 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – The City of Ferndale Parks and Recreation Department is developing a state-of-the-art, universally accessible inline skating rink. This project will be fulfilled through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Ferndale announced today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $62,500 by July 10, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program. This project will be seeking an additional $12,500 over the traditional $50,000 maximum match through the PSCP Universal Design and Accessibility Funding Extension. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/harding.

For over 50 years, Harding Park’s existing rink has served as a beloved gathering space for the Ferndale community. The city has maintained the rink for as long as possible, but it has reached a point where repairs are no longer feasible. The vision for this project is to create a safe, inclusive, fully accessible, and modern inline skating facility that will benefit skaters of all abilities for generations to come.

Funding from this campaign will support the removal and replacement of the old inline skating rink, the installation of brand-new sports flooring, the construction of barrier-free accessible pathways from the parking lot and walking paths to the rink, new benches, trash and recycling bins, new native landscaping to resolve standing water issues near the rink, and the addition of multiple handicapped parking spaces in the parking lot.

“Public recreation should be accessible and welcoming to all members of the community regardless of age or ability,” said Paula Holtz, MEDC Managing Director, Regional Development. “This universally accessible inline skating rink at Harding Park will be a great example of this principle in practice. We are pleased to provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

“The PSCP matching grant program plays a key role in bringing the Harding Park inline skating rink to life. By matching community contributions, we can turn an old facility into a modern, accessible place for people of all ages,” said LaReina Wheeler, Director of Parks and Recreation with the City of Ferndale. “This project will make a lasting impact for years to come, and we are very grateful for the support!”

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.

“Projects like Ferndale’s inline skating park are great examples of placemaking that includes everyone. The more accessible a public recreation space is, the better it is for the health of the community, both physical and emotional,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “The League is proud to support these improvements to Harding Park that prioritize the safety and inclusion of all.”

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 5, 2026, the MEDC has provided more than $14.7 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 428 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $16.8 million raised from 77,110 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning matching funds.

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.

Michigan Municipal League is dedicated to making Michigan’s communities better by thoughtfully innovating programs, energetically connecting ideas and people, actively serving members with resources and services, and passionately inspiring positive change for Michigan’s greatest centers of potential: its communities. The League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org. 

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