Main Street Park Kicks Off 2025 Construction Campaign
2024 was an exciting year for Main Street Park Alliance! The blighted buildings were torn down, 191 double gravel trainloads of contaminated soil (9,000 tons) were removed from the site, construction documentation was completed, and significant progress was made towards the funding of the park.
In December, the Michigan DNR Trust Fund board recommended that the Michigan legislature approve a $1,012,500 grant for Main Street Park. Additional recent funding activity includes:
Chelsea Milling Company contributed $250,000
Washtenaw County approved a $100,000 Connected Communities Grant
Chelsea Wellness Coalition (part of 5 Healthy Towns) awarded a $7,500 grant
Chelsea Community Fair committed $5,000
Chelsea Hospital contributed $100,000
Chelsea Lumber contributed $100,000
An anonymous foundation contributed $150,000
These donations bring us to 77% of the total project cost. We are asking the community to help us reach the finish line by donating to our 2025 Construction Campaign. An anonymous donor has pledged to match up to $250,000 in donations; our campaign goal is $1 million. Now is the time to help us as we prepare to break ground in April for the final environmental remediation, with park construction scheduled for June.
This project started in 2021 as a grassroots effort to transform a blighted property into a welcoming gateway into our community. With significant community input, plans for an inclusive, multigenerational park were developed, environmental cleanup commenced, and we are on track to transform the southern gateway of historic downtown Chelsea in the spring of 2025. Main Street Park Alliance is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Please make your tax-deductible donation using this link to help ensure we can complete construction this year. If you prefer to send a check, send it to P.O. Box 222, Chelsea, MI. 48118. You can contact info@mainstreetpark.org for information about stock donations or other ways to get involved.
Your donation supports the construction of:
1/4 mile walking path
8,000 sf skate park designed for multiple ages and abilities
Sensory musical play area
11,000 sf multi-sport and basketball courts
Two residential-sized bocce ball courts
Michigan’s first outdoor recreational bouldering wall
Four family restrooms
Flexible seating and a hammock grove
Outdoor fire pit for year-round park use
A performance area and shady pavilion
100 new trees and 30,000 sf of native plantings and landscape beds
Thank you Chelsea State Bank!
Chelsea State Bank will provide bridge financing during construction to ensure work continues on schedule due to the timing of grant money distribution. Chelsea State Bank previously invested $125,000 in the project to coincide with its 125th anniversary. Main Street Park Alliance is excited to collaborate through fundraising and marketing for the construction campaign in the upcoming months.
MSPA Welcomes Kristin van Reesema to the Team!
As the project enters an active construction phase, MSPA is pleased to announce that Kristin van Reesema will join our volunteer team as a project management consultant and city liaison. Kristin will facilitate joint meetings among key MSPA and City team members to ensure all parties are up-to-date on project progress, outstanding issues, and communications. This role will ensure a smooth transition from construction to the park’s opening and ongoing management by the City of Chelsea.
Chelsea Planning Commission Approves Park Site Plan!
The construction documents for the park were reviewed and approved at the January 28 planning commission meeting. The city planners, engineers, and Viridis Design Firm have worked together to refine the electrical, water, storm drainage, and structural engineering of all park elements. These construction documents provide a detailed road map for how the park will be built.
Your Support Matters - This Is Our YEAR - Check Out the New Online Store!
What better way to spread the word about your support of the park than with some great swag?
