Downtown Ironwood is aiming for a more creative community feel by creating a new downtown Art Park.
It's doing so with the help of a crowdfunding campaign through a new Michigan crowdfunding platform, Patronicity. The city of Ironwood, the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation all are banding together to build the art park. If $10,000 can be raised through the crowdfunding campaign, it will serve as the local matching funds needed to obtain a grant through the MEDC's Public Spaces Community Places program. The deadline to do so is December 6.
The Art Park would be located on Aurora Street right across from the Downtown Art Place and the Historic Ironwood Theater, both of which are behind the project as well. It would offer up a public location to display art, host public performances and art classes, and establish an artistic center in the downtown.
The Patronicity campaign funding plus the grant would go toward constructing elements of the park, including a concrete sidewalk and performance area, art and sculpture displays, a mural wall, benches, tables, landscaping, and a parking lot.
"The Ironwood Art Park will be a great addition to the city by providing a creative destination that will bring the community together," says MEDC president and CEO Michael Finney.
Writer: Kim Eggleston
Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation
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