The state's placemaking initiative,
Public Spaces Community Places, is turning its attention to the St. Clair River community of Marine City.
The initiative, a partnership between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, will award a $10,000 matching grant to fund improvements to the city's public beach if organizers are able to successfully raise $10,000 through a crowdfunding campaign.
The Marine City Public Beach is located in downtown Marine City, on the shores of the St. Clair River. The crowdfunding campaign is being held on the Michigan-based website Patronicity. Organizers have until June 20 to raise $10,000. If successfully reached, the total jumps to $20,000.
The money raised will be used for a number of improvements that include restroom renovations, additional beach sand, privacy fence, signage, buoys, security, playground equipment and supplies. It will be deposited into an earmarked account in the Marine City Parks and Recreation Department and used only for beach improvements. Any money left unused this year will be used next year.
"Marine City Public Beach is one-of-a-kind in this area," says Marine City Mayor Raymond Skotarczyk. :It is a wonderful source of fun and recreation for thousands of people each year. Up to now it has been maintained and made available at no charge to the public. This fundraiser will help make some much-needed improvements while keeping the access free to the public. I know that it will be a great success especially when people realize that Patronicity will match their donation dollars. I’d like to thank Gary Kohs and Laura Scaccia (of the Mariner Theater) for organizing this and encourage everyone to donate generously."
The crowdfunding campaign is an all-or-nothing campaign, meaning that if $10,000 is not raised by June 20, no funds will be awarded to the Marine City Public Beach improvement efforts.
The status of the fundraiser can be viewed on Patronicity.
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