MUSKEGON, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The goal to win a matching grant through the state of Michigan’s Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to complete the next phase of restoration for a veterans memorial park in Muskegon is $50,000 but the campaign has only collected about $6,325 so far. The campaign runs through June 23rd.
This phase of improvements will focus on on restoring the limestone fountain, installing flower beds, creating universal accessibility of the space, and ensuring safety for vehicles and pedestrians traveling to, from, and past the park.
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Flower beds around the site will include daisies, hydrangeas, raspberry red blooms, bee balm, monarda balmy, endless summer crush, perennial lilies, shasta daisies, coneflower, blazing star, and marigolds.
The website for the project says, “Restoration work will include replacing the fountain’s external plumbing, professionally cleaning all of the stone surfaces, and installing new LED lights.
The improvement also include universal accessibility. The website says, “Our goal is to ensure that Veterans’ Memorial Park will be accessible to all people through improvements that meet the principles of universal design where presently lacking at the park. Currently, at the south end of the park, no universally accessible route exists to access the fountain area; it is only traversable from the parking area via stairs and an unimproved grass walkway. A simple barrier-free route will connect the existing sidewalk to the fountain, removing and replacing a portion of the steps with a gently sloping ramp to allow for a universally accessible route. Additionally, a six-foot-wide concrete sidewalk with a slip resistant finish will be constructed from the top of the new ramp to the fountain and will include an extended look-out area for people of all abilities to enjoy the fountain. Compared to current conditions, this will greatly improve access for elderly visitors, people with mobility issues, bicyclists, parents with strollers, and small children.”
MEDC Executive Vice President of Economic Development Incentives Michele Wildman says, “This project will allow for a beloved community space to become truly public and accessible to all. We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project to complete the space through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
The campaign is asking for the public’s help to fund their future plans. The website says, “Veterans’ Memorial Park is a landmark in the Muskegon community and ‘Michigan’s Most Beautiful Mile’ will remain such with the next phase of improvements to the park, but cannot happen without your support. Please consider helping make these improvements a reality with a donation today!”
If the campaign reaches the funding goal of $50,000, the donations will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the MEDC as part of the Public Spaces Community Places match program.
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