Volunteers Community Park, located in Williamston has plans to expand the park by adding a picnic shelter, allowing for a spacious room, an accessible walkway, and a place for the community to gather.
Adding the picnic shelter is phase two of the improvement master plan finalized by the City of Williamston. In 2019 Volunteers Community Park was freshly renovated, with the installment of a new playground set after the original was claimed to be unsafe.
A crowdfunding campaign has been put in place for the community to raise $29,000 by October 22, in order for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) to double that fund through the Public Spaces Community grant matching program.
Friends of Williamston Parks
The Friends of Williamston Parks organization put in place a crowdfunding donation website that can provide detail on the project as well as the opportunity to donate. This information can be found at patronicity.com/williamston.
“We hope to raise $58,000 to fund the concrete pad, picnic shelter, and some landscaping,” said Heather Galecka, president of the organization. “We have reached out to community groups, volunteers, past donors, and the public with marketing materials promoting this project.”
Thus far, the organization has been able to raise $26,237 through donations, close to the goal of $29,000, to ensure the MEDC matching grant program.
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
According to the MEDC website, the MEDC is a corporation established to “assist businesses in their growth strategies and foster the growth of vibrant communities across the state.”
The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for the community improvement projects throughout Michigan, said Kathleen Achtenberg, the Public Information Officer at MEDC.
“Throughout the PSCP program, community members donate to support a project for a public space,” said Achtenberg. “And the transformation idea is backed dollar-for-dollar by a grant from the state of Michigan, up to $50,000.”
Impact on the Community
Adding the picnic shelter and the new renovations to Volunteers Community Park will allow ample space for the community residents as well as visitors at the park.
“The picnic shelter will enhance the park’s usefulness as a gathering space and provide another outdoor meeting space for families and groups,” said Heather Galecka.
Ronza Potter, a resident of Williamston, often visits Volunteers Community Parks and is excited about the renovation plans.
“I think it will bring a lot of people together because also we can do birthday parties and other events outside,” said Potter. “With how things were in the past two years it will bring more opportunity for people to be outside, get together, and not be isolated. I just think it’s awesome.”
After the project of adding the picnic shelter is complete, there are also plans for phase three of Volunteers Community Park, involving a new main entrance off of Putnam Street and an accessible walkway connecting the main entrance to the playground area, said Galecka.
Details on this project as well as updates on the fundraising can be found at www.patronicity.com/williamston.
