East Lansing has $1 million to improve Valley Court Park. Here's when you can weigh in

Bryce Airgood, Lansing State Journal
·2 min read

EAST LANSING — Community members are invited to provide feedback on East Lansing’s plans for a $1 million Valley Court Park farmers market pavilion and park improvement project.

The East Lansing Planning Commission will host a public hearing at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 to consider approving a city site plan to construct a pavilion and other site improvements within the 4.5-acre Valley Court Park, where the city’s farmers market is held.

“This is an exciting project for the community that will significantly enhance Valley Court Park, while also strengthening its connection to our downtown core,” East Lansing Planning, Building and Development Director Thomas Fehrenbach said in a release.

The project will be funded through a $1 million Michigan Economic Development Corp. Revitalization and Placemaking program grant. The program uses federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to support project investments that promote population and tax revenue growth to address negative COVID-19 economic impacts.

East Lansing submitted a grant proposal to the MEDC in June and was announced as one of the 22 recipients last month.

Lansing was also awarded $6.6 million for a comprehensive strategy to support small businesses, community nonprofits and housing needs, according to an MEDC press release.

East Lansing staff has initiated the public approval process for the proposed Valley Court Park project. Different proposed elements of the project include:

  • Construction of a permanent pavilion with public restrooms, storage and other infrastructure.

  • An existing playground will be re-located closer to active, public areas and will be designed to be fully accessible to better serve a broader range of children and families.

  • A possible connection to downtown East Lansing through pedestrian-scale infrastructure, which may include new sidewalks and crosswalks, lighting, public art, green infrastructure and café seating.

  • A park historic property will be renovated to continue to support events and other park activation and maintain integrity for future rehabilitation.

“We are thrilled about the possibility of having a permanent, covered structure for our farmers market and the other programming and events that would provide numerous opportunities for our community to visit downtown,” Fehrenbach said.

Comments can be sent to pavilion@cityofeastlansing.com. Written comments may be sent prior to the public hearing to the planning commission at City of East Lansing, 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823, or by email to coelplanningcommission@cityofeastlansing.com.

Contact Bryce Airgood at 517-267-0448 or bairgood@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: East Lansing taking public input on $1M plan to improve Valley Court Park