Contact:
Kathleen Achtenberg, MEDC
517.489.0557
[email protected]
Daniel A. Washington
Founder and Executive Director, NW Goldberg Cares
313.522.6816
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2023
$11,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative
Rendering courtesy of RJ Miller
LANSING, Mich. – The NW Goldberg neighborhood of Detroit will soon transform a vacant corner lot into an intentionally designed green space and mini park to uplift the community through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the local nonprofit NW Goldberg Cares announced the project today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $11,000 by July 7, 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/minipark.
“This project will transform an underutilized corner lot into a safe, beautiful green space, creating a neighborhood asset for all to enjoy,” said MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project to complete the space through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
The McGraw Mini-Park is the sixth park as part of NW Goldberg Cares’ 20 BY ’25 INITIATIVE – a goal to bring 20 public community green spaces to the NW Goldberg neighborhood by the end of 2025. They will be working with internationally recognized artist Matthew Hoffman to create a life-size, climbable, permanent work of art that will be created directly from resident input.
The funding from this campaign will be used to complete the mini-park with a walking path, benches, seating options, fencing, plantings, and the artwork celebrating the community. The space will host a variety of wellness and relaxation programs in the space, such as Wellness Wednesday events, meditation workshops, stretching for senior citizens, and yoga classes.
“We are excited to use PSCP matching grant program to make our sixth park in our community a reality,” said NW Goldberg Cares Founder and Executive Director Daniel A. Washington. “We are proud believers in the power of crowdfunding and public spaces to create opportunity for everyone.”
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 supporter of placemaking projects happening around our state,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the League. “This project will help transform the NW Goldberg neighborhood and improve the human experience for all who will interact with it. This is what placemaking 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 April 30, 2023, MEDC has provided more than $11.4 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 343 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $13 million raised from 65,483 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.