Interactive musical parklets ring out along the Bridge to Bay Trail in Algonac and Marine City

While local stakeholders gathered recently to announce $1.9 million in grants from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, which will help fund the completion of Phase One of the Bridge to Bay Trail project, two more projects along the trail are coming to fruition.

Riverfront RockOut and the Musical Parklet – in Algonac and Marine City, respectively – are adding a sense of musicality to the Bridge to Bay Trail.

Each project was a winner of the Play Everywhere Challenge, a grant-awarding contest from KaBOOM! and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

The Play Everywhere Challenge funds projects that bring a sense of play to public spaces. The winning projects in Algonac and Marine City, first announced in July 2019, were part of a larger group awarded $1 million in total.

"Play is an essential part of childhood, but kids are too often denied the benefits of play. Play is an equity issue, and the opportunity to play should not be determined by zip code, socio-economic status or race," James Siegal, CEO of KaBOOM!, said at the time.

"The Play Everywhere Challenge helps address this critical need, and we thank the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation for their commitment to ensuring every kid can experience the joy of a play-filled childhood."

In Algonac, a dedication was held Tuesday, July 7, at the city’s Riverfront Park for Riverfront RockOut, an interactive musical park for children ages two and up.

The project encourages children to play the instruments installed along the waterfront, a group that includes the melodic Imbarimba, Swirl chimes, the Yantzee bass, and drums.

Meanwhile in Marine City, work is underway on their own winning play feature, the Musical Parklet. The parklet, which is located behind the Marine City Library, also features interactive musical instruments.

Both parks are accessible from the Bridge to Bay Trail.