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

The city of Southfield and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) launched a new crowdfunding campaign through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. The campaign will create an interactive art installation along the new Northwestern Highway Pathway in Southfield’s City Centre. 

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by August 4, 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: http://www.patronicity.com/redpolepark 

“Supporting projects that find innovative ways to engage the public in their environment is what Public Spaces, Community Places is about,” said MEDC Community Development Director Katharine Czarnecki. “We are pleased to be able to resource this productive effort.” 

Funding raised during this campaign will support the creation of Red Pole Park as a destination that will exemplify Southfield’s redevelopment as connected and pedestrian friendly community. This redevelopment began with converting an old goat path into a brand new bike-walk accessible greenway to join a growing network of trails and new sidewalks throughout Southfield. The greenway will include a series of outdoor “rooms” or art installations that residents and visitors will experience when using the path, of which Red Pole Park will be the first. 

“Red Pole Park will give Southfield’s newest bike/walk trail a sense of place, and be the first big step towards making it not just a route but a destination in and of itself,” said the Director of Planning for the City of Southfield Terry Croad. “Southfield was built for cars, and so building appealing places for pedestrians, cyclists, and mobility aid users to get around is an important transformation here. The matching grant for this will make it possible for us to build this at a large enough scale to make it visually interesting.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, MSHDA, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where 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, non-profits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan. 

“Southfield is really on the right path with this project,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “Creating art-filled places along the city’s bike-walk greenway will encourage residents and visitors to get out of their cars and explore the community in a more up close and personal way.” 

Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan. These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit michiganbusiness.org. 

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