Crowdfunding Campaign Launches in the Village of Marcellus for A New Ray Gyllstrom Memorial Lions Club Park

LANSING, Mich. –  The Village of Marcellus is creating a universally accessible playground/park at a local park that is currently underutilized due to aging playground equipment that lacks safety and fails to meet basic accessibility standards. This project will be fulfilled through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Village of Marcellus announced today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.  

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $25,400 by Nov. 30, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/parkreno.

“Developing play spaces that are available and accessible to all members of the community should be standard in our modern placemaking efforts,” said Paula Holtz, MEDC Managing Director for Regional Development. “We are proud to provide resources for this effort through our PSCP program.”

The Marcellus Village Council and the Marcellus Class of 2026 created the initiative to revitalize the Ray Gyllstrom Memorial Lions Club Park. What started out as a Junior Class Project in 2025 has progressed into a dream of turning the underutilized area into a gathering place that strengthens connection and community by creating a universally accessible playground/park.

Funding from this campaign will complete the new park by removing broken and outdated playground equipment, installing ADA-compliant play equipment, sensory-focused activities including a Buzz Reaction Panel, Beat Club, and a Communication Board, laying the safety ground cover, and completing the playground border with surfacing guides by a professional GameTime installer.

“The Village of Marcellus is absolutely thrilled to utilize the Public Spaces Community Places grant program to breathe new, inclusive life into the Ray Gyllstrom Memorial Park. Our local fundraising efforts are substantially enhanced by the MEDC’s generous matching incentive, allowing us to bring top-quality, universally accessible playground equipment and smooth safety surfacing to the park,” said Debbie Garcia, Deputy Clerk for the Village of Marcellus. “This incredible partnership ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, will have a vibrant, welcoming space to play.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League and Patronicity, in which 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.

“Communities thrive by investing in future generations,” said Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League. “Children of all abilities need environments where they can play and be curious. The universally accessible design of the new Ray Gyllstrom Park shows the Marcellus community’s commitment to that. The League is proud to support projects that prioritize the safety and inclusion of all.”

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 September 22, 2026, the MEDC has provided more than $15.8 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 451 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $17.9 million raised from 81,367 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning 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 Threads.