Crowdfunding campaign launched for ‘East Lansing Patriarche Park Pickleball Project’

$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

 

LANSING, Mich. – East Lansing’s Patriarche Park will be creating a new state-of-the-art recreation area complete with 10 new pickleball courts through a crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Patriarche Park Pickleball Association announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by February 28, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/ELpickleball.

“This new recreation area will create a place for people of all ages to gather and enjoy popular, healthy outdoor activities together,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The Patriarche Park Pickleball Association (PPPA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization working to promote and support the sport of pickleball in the tri-county area. The PPPA, in partnership with the City of East Lansing’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Arts, is working to construct a sports complex at Patriarche Park that will help meet the growing needs of the community by creating a beautiful and useable park for all.

Through this campaign, the PPPA is working specifically to create a new state-of-the-art pickleball complex with 10 pickleball courts and one tennis court. The City of East Lansing's Department of Parks, Recreation & Arts has received a $300,000 grant from the Natural Resources Trust Fund towards the construction of the new sports complex in Patriarche Park. The city has committed an additional $200,000 in city funding toward the project which includes the removal of four 50-year-old tennis courts. The city also has larger plans for the park's facilities already in the works.

"The matching grant program, Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) fits our project perfectly as we are working closely with our city partner, East Lansing’s Department of Parks Recreation & Arts to create a wonderful community asset,” said Gary Beaudoin, chair of the Patriarche Park Pickleball Association. “PSCP allows us to complete our project with important features that would not be possible without this valuable support.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“The Michigan Municipal League is a firm believer in building community wealth in ways that build on existing assets to enhance the human experience for everyone,” said Dan Gilmartin, the League’s CEO and Executive Director. “Adding a new recreation area with pickleball courts to East Lansing’s Patriarche Park does both. With the support of the East Lansing-area community, this effort will improve the human experience for everyone for years to come. That is what community wealth building is about.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of Jan. 1, 2022, MEDC has provided more than $9.6 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 300 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $11.1 million raised from 51,581 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning MEDC matching funds.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.